Why I Decided to Rush a Sorority
By: Pauline Zilch ‘14
“So, are you going to rush?” As a freshman, I absolutely dreaded this question. I had already been a student at the University of Delaware for a whole semester and I still had no idea what to major in, so deciding whether or not to rush a sorority was the very last choice I was ready to make. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I even began to take this question seriously.
After a long summer of decision-making, I had finally picked a major and my anxiety about starting my second year of college started to dwindle. Once I got back to Delaware in the fall, I found myself enjoying school a lot more and to my surprise, I had a lot of extra time on my hands. So when spring semester approached and I was asked the originally dreadful question “so, are you going to rush?” I actually had an answer: yes!
Don’t get me wrong, I had already made great friends as a freshman, but at a school of 16,000 students, I wanted to feel more involved on campus. I heard from several friends and classmates that being in Greek life was a great way to meet people and feel connected, which was exactly what I was looking for. After a long, cold two weeks in February, the formal rush process was over and I finally received a bid from my sorority.
Not to sound cliché, but after accepting that bid, my life has changed for the better! I have met so many great people and have made amazing new memories I know I will remember forever. In addition, I have gained numerous network connections on and off campus for future internships and jobs, which is a perk such an organization gives you that you may not be able to find anywhere else.
Now as a junior at Delaware, my advice to freshman girls who are faced with the same question about rushing is that it is okay not to have an answer! Freshman year can be overwhelming enough and social decisions do not always have the ability to come first. However, if you feel yourself wanting more out of your college experience and wanting to meet more people, rushing is definitely worth a shot. Do not feel like you missed your opportunity if you did not choose to rush your freshman year. Try it out, see if you like it and hopefully you can find your niche on campus. Once you do, I promise your college experience will not only be that much more fun, but also that much more fulfilling.