Rushing in high school
May 13, 2010
Filed under Opinion, Uncategorized
Sororities gone wild! In society today, college rush week has spun out of control. Planning to be in a sorority requires preparation in the steps towards becoming a member. With the advent of social media, it has become easier for sororities to begin the recruitment process while potential members are still in high school. Not only is this creepy, but it takes away from the appeal of “starting over” after high school.
In high school, many students plan to test the limits and find a steady group of friends. Thinking about how one should look or how one should act to be accepted into a sorority does not come to mind. However, many sorority scouts have already begun looking at prospects to join in their “sisterhood.” The most common place you will find chapter members creeping is on facebook. Even if you are “blocked,” sorority members find access to pages they want to see. Pictures, posts, and videos can either make you or break you entering rush week. “Come as you are” is no longer in effect because, chances are, they already have an idea.
Back in our mom’s days in college, sororities were something fun to try to make new friends. Now, at some schools, girls feel that joining a sorority is vital for acceptance. The dash to become a sorority member provides a great deal of unnecessary competition between girls. Some girls have gone as far as to hire “rush coaches” who teach proper social skills, what to wear, and how to present yourself in front of the desired sorority. Aside from facebook, chapter members write down names that they believe would be a good fit at their house. At in-state schools, this could work to your advantage by already knowing members of a house. However, members that already know you can judge you for the decisions you made in the past, ultimately working as a disadvantage.
Members and alumnae of sororities claim their affiliations provide, not only life-long friends, but career opportunities that would not otherwise present themselves after graduation. Members can connect with “sisters” all over the country making sororities a strong networking system. Because of the immense possibilities it provides, it’s important that rushees “creep” on sororities, just as they are doing to you, because these are the people that you will be associated with for the rest of your life. Aren’t you glad that your link crew group was not as selective as sororities have become?