UCF Sticky Situation

roxygirl365 · #1 02-27-2009, 08:29 PM

So.....here it goes. I need some advice

I rushed in Aug as a freshman. I was really optimistic. I had a good GPA. I am also a pretty, and social girl. The second day I got called back to only 4 houses. And for pref day I got invited back to none.

Everyone was really shocked. All my friends and rush friends were really confused. I don't know what I did wrong. I think that I just did not know what to say, or how to act during rush.
But, Im not going to give up. I still really want to be part of a sorority at UCF. I want to rush again in the fall, but because they dropped me before does that mean that they will this time as a sophomore? And next time what can I do to really stand out? What should i do? Do I have a chance?

- rejected

#2 02-27-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roxygirl365

So.....here it goes. I need some advice

I rushed in Aug as a freshman. I was really optimistic. I had a good GPA. I am also a pretty, and social girl. The second day I got called back to only 4 houses. And for pref day I got invited back to none.

Everyone was really shocked. All my friends and rush friends were really confused. I don't know what I did wrong. I think that I just did not know what to say, or how to act during rush.
But, Im not going to give up. I still really want to be part of a sorority at UCF. I want to rush again in the fall, but because they dropped me before does that mean that they will this time as a sophomore? And next time what can I do to really stand out? What should i do? Do I have a chance?

- rejected

Your story is similar to many PNM experiences we've read on GreekChat.

Unfortunately, no one here will be able to tell you how successful/unsuccessful you'll be when you go through rush the second time around. We weren't there. We were not the ones rushing you. We can't tell you what to do except keep your grades up, get your recs, and get to know the girls in the sororities. We won't be able to tell you if you stand a chance next Fall. WE JUST CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.

roxygirl365 · #3 02-27-2009, 09:00 PM

another thing...do i tell them i rushed last year, and that I got dropped?

FSUZeta · #4 02-27-2009, 09:04 PM

check your pm's.

BellaBerlee · #5 02-27-2009, 11:49 PM

I had a very similar situation to yours, however mine was a tad off in the details. I was cut slowly over the first 2-3 days of recruitment at UCF (mind you this was 4-5 years ago). By Pref day I was down to 2 houses that neither of them I thought I wouldn't have wanted.
My Rho Gam said I should order them - and not to order sororities I didn't go to Prefs at. I was upset. I put the sororities down. I received a bid from my first choice sorority. But after going to Bid Day I left feeling this wasn't choice wasn't right for me. I dropped and focused more on myself and growing as an individual that year.
Then recruitment came around again. EVERYONE encouraged me to do it again. But then hurricane 1, 2, and 3 hit. I thought about signing up prior to hurricanes but the weather wasn't right and I was scared - just as apprehensive as you are.
I ended up going through COR (continuous open recruitment) but was only able to hang out with 3 sororities. Luckily, I found the perfect place for me. I have had the most excellent experience with my chapter and am a proud alum.
I knew the second time around that I found girls that I wanted to be with and knew I could come crying to in my PJs about my boyfriend breaking up with me (which happened [minus the PJs] - right before a semi formal!).
It's scary to go through again, but most girls understand that girls get cut and try again. It's hard because there's the possibility of getting cut again - but you just have to hope and have your best foot forward. Girls may ask, answer as comfortable as you feel - I often said "Yeah, I rushed twice and was still figuring out what it was like to be a freshman and what being in a sorority meant."
My advice is to take this time that you have before recruitment and develop into a stronger woman (not that you aren't already but there's always times when you blossom more) and get involved. Greeks are everywhere at UCF - if you're in some type of club you'll find some type of Greek there. As long as you're confident in yourself go through a second time with hope of a light at the end of the tunnel!

KSUViolet06 · #6 02-28-2009, 12:09 AM

We obviously don't know why you didn't receive a bid last year. There could have been any number of reasons for that.

As far as trying again, you really have nothing to lose. Yes, there's the possibility that you'll get cut again, but you'll never know unless you try.

Girls do get bids as sophomores at UCF, but I always say that if a girl is going to rush a second time, something that's important is making friends with sorority members from other clubs/groups/etc.

APhiAnna · #7 02-28-2009, 03:42 PM

I think at Greek Chat everybody emphasizes stuff like GPA, recs, accomplishments, etc. properly, but conversation rarely gets talked about.

I know in my chapter that women would come through with outstanding resumes, but at the end of the day if their personality did not come off well in recruitment there is no way we were going to take them. This is simply because we know we can find women who also have outstanding resumes but at the same time have great social skills.

Maybe it was the way you acted or came off during recruitment. If you are planning on rushing again, I would definitely work on that.

For example, the questions they are going to ask you are never surprises...there are like 15 ones that everybody nation-wide seems to use haha. So use that to your advantage. For all of those frequently asked questions, craft a response that will steer the conversation towards a direction you know you can be confident talking about.

Say the sister asks you, "How do you like your dorm?" Instead of simply giving a standard answer that will leave no other alternative for the sister except asking another standard question, steer it in a different direction. If you love Sex and the City and know you could talk about that for days, you could say "I love my dorm. The girls are amazing. We've had a lot of fun bonding...haha we've essentially had Sex and the City marathons since the day we moved in! Which is fine by me, I'm obsessed with that show." Then the sister, relieved she won't have to ask you the next question she's been asking all day, will most likely take the bait and you guys will be talking about Sex and the City in no time.

I have no idea about UCF and if they take sophomores or not, but if they do it's hard not to like a girl during recruitment who is outgoing and confident without being arrogant or obnoxious, and we especially love when we can have a "real" conversation instead of the same "Q&A" we've done with every other PNM so far in the day. So use those questions to your advantage and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the results!

APhiAnna · #8 02-28-2009, 03:45 PM

Oh, and if UCF does take sophomores, it is highly likely that they have already been figuring out which sophomores they are interested in. At many schools that take sophomores, if you are not on their radar before recruitment it becomes that much harder...I think the theory is more or less that "she's had a whole year to get herself noticed, if we haven't heard of her already because of friends, leadership, sports, dance, grades (or whatever) then we are not going to take the risk."

So get involved! Get leadership, make friends in sororities, give them a reason to put you on that watch list.

KSUViolet06 · #9 02-28-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by APhiAnna

I think at Greek Chat everybody emphasizes stuff like GPA, recs, accomplishments, etc. properly, but conversation rarely gets talked about.

I know in my chapter that women would come through with outstanding resumes, but at the end of the day if their personality did not come off well in recruitment there is no way we were going to take them. This is simply because we know we can find women who also have outstanding resumes but at the same time have great social skills.

SO TRUE. How many times has a girl been so-so on paper, but just really great and friendly in person? Alot of times.

I think every school has PNMs who come through who look STELLAR on paper, but have the conversation skills of a wet mop and just don't come across well.

Things like recs and grades are the STANDARD things that get your foot in the door. But you have to really be able to connect with sorority members and make them see you as someone they want to hang out with and be sisters with.

Bamamom13 · #10 03-01-2009, 09:07 PM

I agree with what everyone says, concentrate on your gpa and get involved so you can meet sorority girls. But, don't just get involved in activities for leadership, get involved in something you are passionate about so that when you are going through rush again you will have something to talk about. It will be easier to see your personality if you are talking about something you believe in and are involved in. This may help you with conversations as you go through the rush process.