- High school is not over. The bitchiness, the cattiness, the all-out girl-on-girl war: it’s as present as ever. Keep you head high and try your best to ignore it.
- Bids are not unlimited. This is war.
- Try, but don’t try too hard. No one likes a kiss-ass.
- Your life will not be defined by this one week.
- If you hate the chapter that extended you a bid, do not accept or sign it. Odds are, your school has spring recruitment, and signing that bid card makes you ineligible to rush another sorority for a calendar year.
- Don’t pretend to be a different person. You want to be in a sorority that wants you, not the girl you think they want you to be.
- Tiers exist. They also change constantly.
- Be careful what you say in front of your recruitment counselor. She is not your friend.
- Seriously. Do not drink.
- The system works. Trust it.
- Band-Aids are your new best friend.
- The girls in each chapter already know everything there is to know about you.
- Letters of recommendation are great. They do not, however, guarantee a bid.
- Do NOT suicide (only place one chapter on your list the final night of recruitment). Playing with fire is dangerous.
- Keep mints, a bottle of water, bobby pins, a teasing comb, oil blotting sheets, Band-Aids, concealer, powder, and mascara in your bag.
- Spray your clothes with undiluted vinegar or vodka and water to prevent sweat from showing. One third vodka/vinegar, two thirds water.
- After a long, hot day, your hair will get greasy and fall flat. If you run out of dry shampoo, baby powder works wonders. Powdered bronzer can work in a pinch, too.
- Rubbing dryer sheets over clothing prevents static. Keep one in your purse.
- Don’t bad mouth any of the chapters. Sure, maybe they weren’t the best fit for you, but you never know who’s listening.
- Your makeup should be classic, not trendy.
- The actives know that you’ve stalked them. Still, don’t be creepy.
- If you smoke, wear a nicotine patch under your clothing. Smoke breaks during recruitment aren’t exactly encouraged.
- Don’t chew gum. It’s rude.
- Follow the fingertip rule when it comes to dresses and shorts. The only skin the actives want to see is that of their hookup buddies, who, coincidentally, they’re not allowed to see that week.
- On Bid Day, do not, under any circumstance, refer to the older girls as your sisters. You will one day be a sister, but for now, you are a pledge. Got it?
- Not everyone gets a bid. This is something that everyone likes to lie about. But it happens. And it sucks.
- If you notice a small group of girls (likely very beautiful, often with regional accents) who do not fit in with the chapter, there is a chance that they were brought in from other schools in an attempt to help that chapter’s recruitment numbers. If something seems fishy, trust your gut. You don’t want to walk into your first chapter meeting and see that everyone you spoke to has disappeared.
- If the chapter you love is dirty rushing you, keep your damn mouth shut about it. Snitches may not always get stitches, but they certainly do not get bids.
- Don’t talk money, religion, or politics. Nothing good will come from any of these.
- Be friendly to the girls in your recruitment group–they could end up being your pledge sisters.
- If you truly get emotional during pref night, one or two subtle tears are allowed. Full-out bawling is not.
- Do not wear any jewelry featuring sorority symbols. Maybe you really have always loved keys or anchors or owls or whatever, but it will be perceived as trying too hard. It’s just not worth it.
- It’s okay. You really are allowed to eat the food they give you.
- Yes, there’s a lot of pressure. But at least try to have fun.
- Dress for the weather, pack an umbrella, and for the love of God, bring tampons.
- Don’t forget to call your parents at night. Yes, you’re exhausted, but they worry. This is likely your first week away from home, so do the right thing and check in.
- Have fun on Bid Night. You’ve earned it.
Nice Move990
Respond
Catie Warren
From Rush To Rehab (@catie__warren) is a semi-fuctioning adult who has been celebrating her 21st birthday for the past three years. She attended college in the nation’s capital and to this day is angry that Pit Bull lied to her, as you cannot, in fact, party on The White House lawn. Prior to her success with TSM, Rehab was most famous for being featured in her hometown newspaper regarding her 5th grade Science Fair Project for which she did not place. In her spare time, she enjoys attributing famous historical quotes to Marilyn Monroe and getting in fights with thirteen year olds on twitter. Email: catie@grandex.co
@catie__warren
@catie__warren
