Some Rushing Do's and Do Not's

Happy Monday everyone! It is so weird to think that last Monday was my first day of school! Our first week of school is called syllabus week! This week is usually somewhat easy because our teachers are  just touching on the topics that we are going to cover during the semester and no real homework is assigned. Well unfortunately this was not the case for me. I was swamped with all sorts of work! I started off my week with 2 quizzes and tons of reading. So needless to say I was not a happy camper! But I am sure you guys didn't click on my page to hear me complain so let's get to the real topic of today's post! The do's and do not's of rush week! Rush week will be one of those weeks that you will either love or hate, for me personally it was a little mixture of both! You are going to be flustered, scared, nervous, excited and much much more! But regardless of how you are feeling here are a few tips to remember!

DO:

• Do be respectful of each and every house! You may go into rush week thinking that you already know what you are going to be. You might think that there are houses that you should skip because you already know that you won't like them. Well let me tell you going in with an attitude like that will get you no where. Regardless of what you think or how you are feeling always go in with an open mind and if nothing else a nice and courteous attitude. Being rude for any reason at any house because you already "know" that it is isn't for you is not lady like or frankly becoming. So make sure you show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T, trust me it can go a long way and may be the difference between you receiving or not receiving a bid from a house that you like.
• Do know how to hold a conversation. Now I am not saying that you have to be the most outspoken person in the room, or that you have to have the socializing skills of Ms. America. However, it is important for you to know how to keep a conversation flowing. Ask questions. Be attentive. Look the person in the eye. Verbal and non verbal queues are extremely important. If the girl asks you questions please answer her with something more than a "yes" or "no". Conversation is key not only for rush but also in life. So if you have trouble holding short conversations try practicing with friends or family members!
• Do dress appropriately. At my school the girls are given specific t-shirts to wear for 3 out of the 5 days. You attire is one of the first things a sorority girl will see when meeting you. Now I am not saying that you have to have designer clothes or anything of that nature, but little things like tucking in your shirt and brushing your hair are always appreciated. For the days when we were given specific shirts, I for example wore them with Jcrew chino's and my Tory Burch sandals. I looked comfy yet put together! You do not want a house to remember you as the girl that wore mismatched socks or something like that. So the bottom line is, it is okay to show character but tastefully.
• Do write down notes. When your Pi Chi's tell you to write down details about each house do just that. Without notes all of the houses will blend together. Write down details from the conversations you had, what the house looked like, their sign basically whatever will help jog your memory when it is time to preference!

DON'T:

• Do not talk about any of these....Boys, Alcohol, Sex, Politics, Finances etc. Anything that could be taken offensively or would put the person you are talking to in an awkward position should't be talked about. You are trying to put your best foot forward here! So starting off a conversation with how wasted you were last week is NOT the way to go. Now don't get me wrong I am not saying you can't talk about these things ever, you can just after rush week!
• Do not ask how they pick girls. EVER. I cannot tell you how many girls asked me about our system. "So I heard you guys cut like this" or "is it true that you guys stay up all night and rate us on a powerpoint?" Let me tell you those girls no matter how nice or cute were an automatic no for me simply based on those questions. So if I were you I would steer clear.
• Do not feel like you have to take anything they are offering whether it be food or drink. I  remember going through recruitment thinking that I had to take water from every house even if I wasn't necessarily thirsty because I was afraid that if I didn't  they would think badly of me. This isn't true and my friends and I laugh about it now!  I promise that water will not be the determining factor between you receiving or not receiving a bid.
• Lastly, don't make your choices based on what others think. Being in a sorority is a lifelong commitment and you want to make sure that you are somewhere that you are going to enjoy. Choosing a sorority based on other people's opinions could lead to heartache down the road so always do what is best for you! These next for years of your life are going to fly by, so make sure you are spending them with sisters that you love! Follow your heart and I guarantee that you will end up right where you are supposed to be!

So those are a few of my tips. I literally could go on forever but I tried to condense it down to the ones that I felt were most important! If you guys have any specific questions please feel free to ask me on my tumblr! Do any of you sorority gals out there agree? Any tips to add?

xoxo,

lRn