Mythbusters: Sorority Rush Edition

For high school seniors recently accepted to the Gator Nation, coming to a large school like the University of Florida can be quite a shock. It was an especially big one for me considering the fact that my high school graduation class consisted of a mere 175 students, and my current freshman class here at UF has around 10,000. Upon my arrival, I knew that I had to do something to find my niche — a smaller community within the university.

I had heard many people talk about how big of a deal Greek life is at southern schools like UF, but I heard pretty mixed reviews. When I decided that I’d rush in the fall just for the heck of it, I thought I would ask around for some advice from girls that had gone through it before.

Now that I’ve gone through it myself and am a current member of a sorority, I realize that some of their advice was completely ridiculous. I’m glad that I took the advice of my mother instead of theirs because it brought me to 200 girls with whom I have so much in common. Here are some of the most common myths to be aware of when it comes to sorority recruitment:

Myth #1: “What brand is that dress?” 
Girls commonly think that in order to be accepted into a sorority, they have to wear certain brands of clothes, namely ones like Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Lilly Pulitzer, and Jack Rogers. Boy, are they wrong! I went through recruitment wearing clothes I already owned; I didn’t go out of my way to buy something super preppy that normally wouldn’t suit my style. This is definitely the way to go because you’re trying to portray your true self to the girls who may be your future sisters. Buying these clothes may make you look classy and put together, but they will give a false impression of yourself. 

Myth #2: “Did you hear that’s the ugly sorority?” 
Going through rush is a huge process, and gossip is inevitable when you’re surrounded by hundreds of girls all day for a week straight. It’s vital to try to shield your ears from the rumors and stereotypes about each house, and go into rush with a completely open mind. Make the judgment yourself because only you know yourself and where you belong best. If you hear a girl in your rush group say that a certain house has a bad reputation around campus, take it into consideration, but don’t let it weigh too heavily on your decision.

Myth #3: “How many letters did you send in?” 
Friends that had gone through recruitment in other, more intensely Greek schools told me that it’s necessary to send in letters of recommendation in order to be accepted into a chapter. This is totally untrue for UF’s Greek system. I did not send any letters to the sorority I am currently in. If you just so happen to know someone who was a member of XYZ sorority at UF, then sure, get her to write you a letter. But don’t feel the need to go out of your way to have a letter of recommendation from past members of every single sorority.

Myth #4: “What are you going to say?” 
Rushing a sorority can be slightly tedious at first because the first round is like speed dating. You’re bombarded with questions as the girls try to get to know you in a very short amount of time. Some girls suggested that I prepare answers in advance to certain questions such as, “What do you like to do for fun?” or “Tell me about yourself.” I personally don’t think this is the way to go. Reciting answers to questions like these will probably end up making you sound rigid. Instead, allow answers to come to you on the spot, and let the conversation flow naturally.

Photo Credits: 
www.preppylane.blogspot.com 
www.dirtydianasdiary.com 
www.artcraftpressinc.com 
www.cutetoob.com

• greek life
• rush
• rushing
• sorority
• sorority recruitment