How to Rush a Sorority

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 8, 2023

Rushing a sorority is an experience that can be both exciting and intimidating. You may know that you want to join a sorority, but feel unsure about what the process of rush is all about. Learning how to rush will help you feel more confident as you head into a truly memorable experience. By properly preparing for rush and going through the recruitment process, you can choose the sorority that is the best fit for you.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Registering for Rush

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Contact the office of Greek life to learn more about rushing. Call or refer to the website for the office of Greek life at your university to find out when rush will take place, how to register, and the registration deadline. It is a good idea to do this at least 3 months in advance so that you have time to fill out any registration forms and gather together any additional requirements.
- Some universities begin recruitment in the fall and may even begin before classes have started. Other universities hold rush in the spring or have a less formal rolling recruitment process.
- Rush can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. At most schools, going through rush will take up quite a bit of your time, so make sure that you research how long rush takes at your school and plan accordingly.^{[1]
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- Make sure that you are aware of any prerequisite requirements that you will need to fulfill before your registration will be accepted, such as obtaining a minimum GPA.
2
Register for rush. Register for rush online by visiting your school’s recruitment website. Fill out all any registration forms online with as much detailed information as you can. Sororities will be looking for members who will positively contribute to their culture and who will actively engage in social, educational, and charitable events, so list any extracurricular activities that you have participated in on your registration form.
- There will likely be a registration fee, so make sure that you are aware of these costs and plan accordingly.
- At some schools, the office of Greek life will require or recommend that you include letters of recommendation with your application. Ask for letters of recommendation well in advance as these can take some time for people to complete.
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3
Explore the different sororities at your school. Look into which sororities have chapters at your school. During recruitment, you will have the opportunity to talk with several members of each sorority. Researching ahead of time will make you aware of the types of social events and charitable organizations each sorority is involved in so you will know what to ask about during rush.
- If possible, go to charity events or other extracurricular activities put on by sororities on campus prior to rush. This will give you an opportunity to get to know some of the members ahead of time.
- After submitting your registration, you may be assigned a recruitment counselor who can provide you with some resources to help you familiarize yourself with the sorority chapters at your school.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Going through the Recruitment Process

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Plan your outfits according to the dress code for each round. Refer to your school’s recruitment website to find out if there is a dress code for each round of rush. If no requirements are listed, ask your recruitment advisor or talk with experienced sorority members to assess the appropriate attire for each round.^{[2]
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Research source} At most schools, each round gets a little dressier, so it is a good idea to plan your outfits ahead of time.^{[3]
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- The dress code for rush varies widely, but as a general rule of thumb, try to avoid wearing anything that would be inappropriate for class. While you want to be yourself and show off your individuality, you also want to make a good first impression and demonstrate how you will positively contribute to sorority life.^{[4]
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2
Visit several sororities during the recruitment rounds. Participate in all the rounds to help you narrow down which sorority is right for you. Usually, there are 3 to 5 rounds that are identified by a theme or activity, each lasting about 30 minutes to 1 hour.^{[5]
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- As part of the first round of rush, you will likely attend open houses at several sororities. Some universities will require that you visit every open house during the first round to maintain rush eligibility, so make sure that you stick to a schedule and follow the rules. The first round is usually the shortest, meaning you will spend about 30 to 45 minutes at each sorority.
- The middle round or rounds of rush generally focus on teaching potential members about each sororities’ social events and philanthropies. The middle round or rounds usually involve a skit that allows each sorority to express their personality and values.^{[6]
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- The final round, often called Preference Night, tends to last longer than the earlier rounds (about 1 hour), giving you more time to get to know the members. This round is usually dressier and more serious in tone, providing members with the opportunity to share about their sorority experience.
3
Get to know the sorority members. Talk to several members during each round and ask questions to get to know what daily life in each sorority will entail. Rush provides a relatively short period of time for you to determine which sorority is the best fit for you, so it is helpful for you to get to know as many members as possible, particularly in the later rounds.
- In the first and second rounds, you may not have much time to talk to many members for any significant amount of time. As the rounds go on, however, you will be able to spend more time at each, learning more about the sorority and its members.
- Ask members about the activities they are involved in. For example, find out if they are involved in any intramural sports, or how often they schedule social events. This will help you figure out which sorority will provide you with the types of opportunities you are looking for and will help you get a sense of which sorority is right for you.
4
Rank your favorite sororities after each round. At the end of each round, reflect on your experience at each sorority and consider what you have learned about each to help you rank your preferences. Each sorority will be asked to do the same, and cuts will be made based on both sets of rankings.^{[7]
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- At most schools, you will submit your rankings via email or on the school’s recruitment website immediately following the end of each round.
- While it varies from one school to another, you will usually be notified via email, the recruitment website, or by your recruitment advisor whether you have been cut from a sorority or not. You will be notified before the next round of rush begins.
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Submit your preference list at the end of the process. After the final round of rush, you will make a final list of your top choices. Depending on your school’s protocol, you will likely submit the names of the two or three sororities you most want to join. This can be an emotional time so it can be helpful to make a pro and con list to help you decide what qualities are most important to you.^{[8]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Deciding on a Sorority

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Receive your bids. At the end of rush, after you have submitted your preference list, you may or may not receive bids to join one or more sororities. You might receive bids from several sororities, one bid from one sorority, or you may not receive a bid at all. If a sorority on your list does not fill up, you may also receive a “snap bid,” a bid to join a sorority after the initial bids are distributed.
2
Decide which sorority is the best fit for you. Once you have received your bids, assess all the options available to you. If you received a bid from your top choice, your decision to join will likely be very easy, although this is not always the case. While some of your options may not be ideal or work out the way you wanted, keep an open mind when weighing your options – a sorority that was not your first choice may end up being a great fit.
- If you receive several bids, reflect on your experiences and what you know about each sorority to help you make a decision. For example, if you are interested in pursuing a career in childhood education, you may want to join a sorority that works closely with a children’s charity. Or, if you want to join a sorority to make a new group of friends, reflect on your experience during rush and think about where you felt most comfortable.
- If you receive a bid to a sorority that was not your top choice, you may want to assess whether or not you actually want to join. Joining a sorority is a huge financial and time commitment, and if you did not feel that the sorority who offered you a bid was a good fit, you may decide to decline to join.
3
Accept a bid to join the sorority of your choice. Choose the sorority that best complements your personality and interests, and accept a bid to join. After you accept a bid, you will begin the process of pledging before becoming a full-fledged member.
- How you will notify a sorority that you have accepted your bid varies from one school to another. At some schools, you will receive your bids via email or on your profile on your school’s recruitment website, and accepting a bid will be as simple as clicking a button. At other schools, your recruitment advisor will deliver your bids to you, and will ask you to fill out a form accepting your bid.