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Guide for freshman interested in Greek Life.
A few thoughts from a senior who has experienced it all.
(Seriously, there is nothing left to experience...)
1. How it works
This is a free-be. I’m going to explain how it works. Girl’s rush is a confusing mess - basically an unnecessary gauntlet. All I know is you visit every house, eliminating a few everyday until finally you and the sorority both decide that’s where you want to be. There a lot of crying involved, awkward conversations, and four very long days that freshman girls stress out about for nothing, seriously relax. Guy’s rush is a week where each fraternity hosts two dry parties and the interested pick where they go. If you want to rush one place go to those parties, if you want to rush all of them, go to all of them. Then the fraternity votes on you and may or may not extend you a bid. (This all gets explained in more detail later)
2. Lose the Facebook group.
Seriously, upperclassmen are laughing at all of you. Whether you’re girl or a guy, joining a Facebook group “So I’m thinking about going Greek...2010,” is not doing you any good. "So I'm thinking 
about not letting that kid in... ever." Sorority and fraternity members alike think it’s a pretty lame thing to do, and if there is one thing you don’t want to do in the months leading up to rush, it is to smother someone who is in the organization. When you show TOO MUCH interest you weird people out, look like a loser, and basically shoot yourself in the foot. So be cool, be yourself, meet as many older kids as you can, get opinions but don’t push the issue. When rush season opens it is appropriate to advertise yourself, within reason, to older students. Anyway, they will be coming to you when the time is right.
3. Don’t “Know” where you’re going before winter term.
We don’t care who you know, where your friends think they’re going, what parties you like more, what girls tell you, etc. It’s all bullshit, if you think you know where you want to go two weeks into school as a freshman, you’re a f#$^*% idiot and should jump off a cliff. I mean you have four and a half months of college before rush happens. A lot can change in that amount of time and you can meet a lot of different people in that time. This decision is going to shape your college experience for three and a half years, so it rightfully deserves some thought. During the fall semester of your freshman year, feel it out. Decide if you want to rush at all, figure out if Greek Life is something you want to dabble in. Then, during winter term, if you want to rush, get to know some older people and you can figure out where you want to think about rushing. (Note: dress nice for these, you don't need a suit and tie, but mesh shorts and a t-shirt show us that you don't care, so why should we?)
4. Make the decision alone
This is the most important. I know all of you will have a group of friends all wanting to go in together blah blah blah. But seriously you should make the choice based on how you yourself feel, because once it’s made, your friends can’t help you. There is also the chance that one of your friends could jeopardize your chance by doing something stupid. And what if your closest friend doesn't get a bid to the same place you do? all considerations to make. No point being miserable in a group for three and a half years because you followed your friends. If you want to join a different group then your friends balls up and be yourself. You’ll feel better about yourself, you’ll still be friends with those people anyway, and you’ll enjoy college a hell of a lot more.
5. The Process
Every greek group goes about the selection process differently. Some do ballot voting, others by voicing opinions, ect... much of this is secret to each fraternity and sorority. You can be sure that what you have seen in Animal House is only partly true...the part about, well nevermind. What does happen is that every group which accepts you will offer you a bid. These are invitations to join that fraternity or sorority. You may get one bid, two bids, or even more. Elon has set up the system so that you get the afternoon to think about what you want to do, then you take your bid and notify the organization you wish to join. (Usually in Moseley). This is followed by a night of well mannered rejoicing and thought provoking conversation.
