This past school year, I’ve had a lot of self growth. I moved into college, left my hometown friends and family behind, and came to a new place with a clean slate. At Rowan University, there are over 200 clubs and organizations, Her Campus included. Rowan is the kind of school where students aren’t limited to Greek life. It isn’t like an SEC (Southeastern Conference) school where being in Greek life makes or breaks your social status. Last semester, I made so many amazing friends and relationships. I applied to Her Campus and I focused on myself and my school work. I battled with the thought of rushing, was I a sorority girl? Or should I stay with the life I’ve already created for myself at school? As the date to sign up for recruitment inched closer I became more conflicted because I wanted this but the majority of my friends didn’t. I decided to rush with four of my friends and I have no regrets.Â
Before rush, there are requirements that need to be done. Once you sign up for recruitment, you have to wait for your gpa to be approved. Once you meet the gpa requirement, you get put into a course on canvas where there are quizzes and videos explaining rush. The videos also explain what is and isn’t okay, such as hazing.
Over winter break, I had done the course and when I came back to school I was counting down the weeks until rush. I couldn’t wait to find my home at Rowan, and I don’t mean Holly Pointe. The sororities were posting outfit inspiration, links to sign up for recruitment, their recruitment videos, and their sisterhood.
Finally, the week of rush was here. A few days before formal recruitment the PNM’s (Potential New Members) had to attend PNM 101. During PNM 101, we had to check in and receive our PNM number as well as our shirt for the first round of recruitment. They gave us rush groups, Rho Gammas (recruitment counselors), and all the information necessary for rush. During PNM 101, I met so many new girls and gained new friendships.
Rush consists of three rounds and bid day. The first round is called “Round Robin”. In my experience this was the most stressful day, since it was the first day. During this round we had to meet every sorority. The sororities Rowan offered for when I rushed are Delta Phi Epsilon, Sigma Delta Tau, Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and Theta Phi Alpha. We had to check in at the front desk in the ballroom at the student center. After checking in, we found our group with our Rho Gammas. I was in group nine. We were handed a name tag with our PNM number on it and our numbers were called to go into the first two sororities. I was so nervous to meet the sororities but luckily they grabbed us by the arm and were so welcoming. In each sorority we played games like ice breakers and got to know the girls. At the end of the day, I returned to my Rho Gammas and ranked each sorority from which one I wanted most to which one I wanted least.
The second day was Philanthropy. During Philanthropy day, the sororities that invited you back explain their philanthropies. These are the organizations and causes that they support. Most of them provided us with an activity to help their cause. This was a very heartwarming round because not only were the sororities passionate about their cause, but we simultaneously got to help their cause and learn more about it. At the end of the day, each girl has to rank two sororities that they want to get invited back to.
Preference day is the most important day of rush in my opinion. On preference day, there will be two sororities left to attend. They have special ceremonies showcasing their sisterhood and how being in a sorority helped them in their lives.These ceremonies show a different side of each chapter and are a very emotional experience for those in the sorority and those going through recruitment. This round brings clarity to both parties, especially the girls going through recruitment. This round is a very transformative experience for all involved.
The last part of the process is bid day. Bid day is the day where you find out what sorority you end up in. This day is full of happiness and celebration. After receiving your bid card, you run home to all the girls in the sorority you ended up in and celebrate with them. It was so amazing to look around at the girls I will call my sisters. So yes, I was nervous about rushing but the second I ran home I realized I found where I was meant to be. I can’t wait to call Alpha Sigma Tau my home for the rest of my college years.