To Rush or not to Rush...

Rushing a sorority.

As I entered college, I was unbelievably excited to rush a sorority. My mom was in a sorority and absolutely loved it. My god-mothers are two of her sorority sisters, so needless to say, her sorority experience was extremely impactful. Because she had such an incredible experience within the Greek system, I sought to create my own.

While I wanted to rush, I had no idea what sororities even existed on Cal Poly’s campus. I didn’t realize how rush is different at a school such as Cal Poly where Greek life makes up about 18% of the student population, vs. a southern school, for example, where Greek life is much more prominent. I was unaware of basically everything regarding sororities except for the fact that I knew wanted to rush one.

As I’ve joined a sorority and become more involved in Greek life, I have become more aware of the stigmas and stereotypes regarding Greek life and sororities specifically.

Sororities and “sorority girls” in general are stereotyped a lot, and specific, larger national sororities are targeted individually. We all receive a lot of pretty unfair assumptions about our morals, authenticity, and priorities.

Whether you decide to rush or not, it is important to remember that within a sorority are individual girls, with individual stories, and individual hearts.

There will always be not so nice people everywhere you go, in every club you join, in any school you go to. Groups are simply easy to target. If one knows a "not so nice girl" in a sorority, they are more likely to label that sorority accordingly, especially if they are not involved in Greek life.

However, this article isn’t about these stereotypes or how to combat them. Combating them will come by disregarding them, being your own true self, and continuing to spread positive change within the community.

This article is about if rushing is worth it. Should you rush a sorority?
The short answer is yes. The slightly longer answer is absolutely yes. The longer answer is this…

You should only rush a sorority if you are going to go into it without prior judgements and with an open mind. Every sorority is going to have its own reputation because most girls that are invited to join are going to have similar values. However, if you choose a sorority based off of the reputation you think a sorority has based off of what other people have told you, you are preventing yourself from making your own decision based off of who you have the most genuine conversations with. Once you move past any initial assumptions, the facade that you’ve created in your head will begin to fade, and that is when real connections are made. 
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Very specifically laid out, you should join a sorority because…  

1. Transitioning to college can be scary. Being in a sorority, a space in which you are constantly surrounded by love and sisters, is a really great way to make this uncertainty of college more homey and certain.
2. You will meet a ton of new girls who are excited to get to know you for you.
3. You get to participate in philanthropy events in which you make real change.
4. You will forever have a support system to lean on, even after college.
5. You will become a part of something larger than yourself. This can help provide a sense of purpose during your college life. I know it did for me.
6. You have the opportunity to be on exec and run aspects of your sorority, teaching you so many life skills that will prepare you for post-grad life.   
7. You are given a platform to speak out against injustices because you have x amount of girls who are there to listen and help you initiate change.
8. You gain so many sisters!
9. You can help promote greek life by being a positive face of sorority life to non-greek life friends.
10. It is fun!!!  

While these 10 reasons are extremely compelling, (hehe) and there are so many more not listed, I also think it is important to address a big reason why people tell others not to rush: “because by rushing you are merely buying your friends.” I can contest that yes, a reason I joined my sorority is because I wanted an opportunity to meet more girls whose values aligned with mine. However, I did not pay for my friends. I paid to be a part of an organization that makes positive change through philanthropy, sisterhood events, and so much more. I am helping provide funds for these events and opportunities to create this change.

Just because you are in a sorority does not guarantee lifelong friends. If you act meanly towards your sisters, chances are they will not want to surround themselves with you, as would any girl not in a sorority. Just because you join a group of girls in a sorority does not mean that you lose your identity. It is up to you to make those friends for yourself by being kind and open. Being in a sorority brings you together with a ton of girls who are both different and just like you! It provides opportunity for friendship.

Sororities are “worth it” if you take these opportunities and run with them.

I am proud to be a sorority girl. I value deep connections, laughter, honesty, and sisterhood. Rushing can be intimidating for sure. However, when you know you are in the right place, the shoes you’re wearing and how you look truly won’t matter to you anymore. You will be too lost in amazing conversations with your future sisters to care:)