It’s the end of August, & that means a new school year is starting. & with a new school year comes a whole new class of freshman waiting to be orientated, start college &…go through rush. I remember being a freshman like it was yesterday. I didn’t know anyone & within the first month, I had to figure out how to be a college student, where I was going abroad my sophomore year & if I was going to rush. Needless to say, there were a lot of decisions to be made.

As a Canadian with no experience whatsoever with Greek life, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was still trying to learn how to pronounce each chapter’s name while other girls were planning rush outfits & getting reference letters. But, when it comes to rushing, you really have nothing to lose. So, I paid the rush fee, put on my snappy casual outfit & got my small talk on.

Fast-forward two years later…

^^ & I became acting president of my chapter.

Yup, the girl who didn’t know anything about Greek life became the Greek-est of them all, taking on her sorority as a part-time job. So, since I’ve both gone through rush & helped run the recruitment show, I thought I would share my tips for anyone out there rushing this fall.

Go in open-minded.

Like anything in life, you should go in open-minded. & when I say open-minded, that applies to both your perceptions of each chapter & Greek life in general. A lot of people start out in college & tell themselves, “Greek life isn’t for me”. They also like to do research beforehand on sites like Greek Rank, which are often home to a lot of false information. In my opinion, the best thing to do is go in fresh & let your gut do all the work. There’s nothing that will give you a better sense of a chapter than talking to one of it’s members. If you wanna do some online investigating though, check out each chapter’s website & their social platforms. Check out my lovely chapter’s website here. (shameless promo…#thetapepperdine)

Ask questions.

Good conversations are a two way street. As much as actives want to know all about you, be sure to hold up your end of the conversation. From my own personal experience as an active on the rush floor, it can be exhausting asking question after question, so don’t be afraid to come up with your own. Ask about the chapter’s philanthropy, what kind of events they put on, what they like to do in their free time or even more personal questions targeted towards the individual you’re talking to. Feel free to even ask them why they joined this particular chapter when they went through recruitment. Every question on your part shows interest in the chapter you are rushing & gives the conversation a more natural, back & forth flow.

Avoid the 5 B’s.

Booze, boys, bills, beliefs & Bush (politics). It’s simple – don’t bring up any of these topics.

Wear something that makes you feel confident, can start a conversation & makes you memorable.

When I rushed, the dress code that Panhellenic gave everyone rushing was “snappy casual”. Still to this day, the combo of dressing “snappy” while also looking “casual” still perplexes me. But, after 3 years on the rush floor, I think I’ve managed to get a better sense of the term. People often describe it as something that you might wear to dinner with your boyfriend’s parents or to a upscale lunch date for a friend’s birthday. Don’t show too much skin & keep your hair & makeup on the more natural side. Wear something you are comfortable in, but also shows your sense of style & personality. Now is not the time to wear those sky-high heels or take that new dress you ordered online for a test run. Also, don’t be afraid to wear a bolder, unique piece. It can often start a conversation & make you more memorable at the end of the night.

Never write a chapter off.

Also though you may find that you necessarily don’t jive with a chapter, doesn’t mean you should write them off or treat them any differently when you get invited back. Things can change day to day & you might just not have had much in common with the active you talked to on your first visit. Even if you are sure that a chapter’s not for you, the worst thing you can do is let that show. Being rude or disinterested in one rush room can easily circulate & can affect how you are seen in another chapter’s room. In the end, Greek life is a community & we all treat each other with respect, no matter our differences.

Be yourself.

The only way that you can find the chapter that is really meant for you if you are not truly yourself. If you put on a front or pretend to be someone you’re not, you won’t be happy in the long run. Open up, be goofy & share your passions. Where others might laugh or judge, real sisters will embrace you & say, “I love that” or “me too”.

^^ my pledge class back in 2012!

^^ welcoming our most recent pledge class to the family!

Whether you decide to rush or not, I know that becoming a member of Kappa Alpha Theta was one of the best decisions I made in college & I can’t imagine what my life would be like without these women.