Katie, Ole Miss

Biography

Name: Katie Jamison

School: Ole Miss

Sorority: Phi Mu Alpha Delta

Class: 2026

How does rush week work at your school?: We go through a week long recruitment process. We start with Go Greek day and Convocation. This is where we watch videos of each sorority, listen to speakers, and rank our sororitys. Then we go into a two day long Philanthropy round where we go into each house and we get to learn more about each chapter’s philanthropy and the organizations they support. Then we rank our sororitys the second day. Then we get one break day to catch up on sleep and relax to really think about what we like in each sorority. Then we go to a two day long Sisterhood round. This is when we get to learn more about the sisterhood of each sorority and get insight into their values. Then we rank again on the second day of this round. Next we go into Pref day where we have a max of two sorority houses to visit. This is the day where you rank for the last time and you pick your top sorority to get a bid from. The least day is bud day! The most fun and rewarding day. All the girls that have gone through rush meet in the Pavillion and listen to the Panhellenic council speak and our rush councilors reveal to us which sorority they are a member of. Then we all count down together and open our bid cards. We run home by house and get to spend the day with our bid day buddy from the house you run home to. Take pictures, go to a venue set up just for your sorority and celebrate eachother and the sisterhood you are now a part of.

What did you do to prepare before rush week?: I researched each sorority at The University of Mississippi. And made sure i had all my outfits planned out and made sure i had my rush bag all ready with anything i might have needed during rush week.

Tell us a little about your sorority rush wardrobe essentials.: My sorority rush wardrobe essentials would include: The shirts the Panhellenic boards gives us for Philanthropy days and Go Greek day, Cute athletic shorts/skirt for Greek day with comfortable shoes. I would also bring a cute skirt for each day of Philanthropy with either cute sneakers such as Golden Goose or sandals are even a platform sandal. Then i would bring a cute girl at dress or romper for each day of sister hood with platform sandals. Then for Pref day i would bring a cocktail style dress with heels. This is the most formal day and you want to look the part. For bid day i would bring some comfortable tennis shoes and athletic clothes such as an athletic skirt/ shorts and a tank top!

What was the most surprising part of rush to you?: The most surprising part of rush for me was how amazing the process is. Really trust in the process. Be yourself. Be authentic Don't change yourself just to fit a sorority you think you want to be in find the sorority that fits you for who you are.

Blair, University of Arizona

RUSH Q&A

How does rush week work at your school?

Rush week at the U of A is a week-long process. There are two days for set 1 when you visit all 12 houses (more casual) and two days for set 2 when you visit 9 houses for philanthropy day (slightly more dressed up). The next day is set 3, or house tours and skit day, where you visit up to 6 houses & wear a sundress with wedges or cute sandals. The last day of recruitment is set 4, or preference day, where you visit two houses to help you make your final decision. After that it's just bid day aka the best day of your life! :)

What was the most surprising part of rush to you?

The most surprising thing about rush week for me was how formal and serious the process is.

Biography

Name: Blair Seaman

School: University of Arizona

Sorority: Pi Beta Phi

Instagram: bllaaaiir

What did you do to prepare before rush week?

I looked up outfit ideas on Pinterest and watched tips videos on Youtube!

Tell us a little about your sorority rush wardrobe essentials.

I definitely relied on fun necklaces and sandals to dress up some of my more casual outfits.

Paige, Penn State

BIOGRAPHY

Name: Paige Marecic

School: Pennsylvania State University

Sorority: Sigma Kappa

Rush Q&A

How does rush week work at your school?

Rush at Penn State is a 10-day process. The 10 days consisted of open houses, first-rounds, second-rounds, Preference Night, and Bid Day! As the rounds go on, the sororities rank you just as you rank them. Every day you receive a list of sororities that you have been matched with to come back. The paper gives you a time to be at their suite on that specific sorority's floor. As rounds go on, the dress code becomes less casual and you begin to go back to less sororities. On Preference Night, you visit your final two options. You rank them, show up at bid day two days later, and open your envelope (that you have to sit on before it is time to open it!) to find what sorority you have been invited to pledge. That begins the full-out RUSH of about 1500 girls to Old Main lawn that are eager to find their new sisters...and the theme that you will be participating in for the rest of the evening together :)

What was the most surprising part of rush to you?

The most surprising part of rush to me was definitely the amount of time that you devote to visiting sororities. There are 18 at my university. There are many breaks between visiting the sisters, so I was sure to bring a snack and some homework.

What did you do to prepare before rush week?

I made sure to bring the correct style of outfits to school with me when I moved in. Dress code is pretty strict and can definitely contribute to the way you are viewed by the sisters. A first impression is a lasting impression! I was also sure to prepare a few facts about myself that I wanted the sisters to know about me. I also prepared my answer for the VERY common question:
"Why did you choose to rush?"

Tell us a little about your sorority rush wardrobe essentials.

Going back to how I prepared, I was sure to bring a few pairs of plain colored, not-too-short, pairs of shorts to match the shirt we would be wearing for open houses. For first-rounds, I wore a bit fancier shorts, a blouse, classy sandals, and a statement necklace. Second rounds included a flowy, white/navy dress with wedges, and a floral romper with wedges. Preference Night included a white, 3/4 length sleeve cocktail dress and magenta scrappy heels. (Hint: Jewelry is fun and can really dress up a more casual outfit. Show them your style!) Bid Day was all up to you because you'd be receiving your new sorority's shirt upon finding your new sisters!

Kori, Mizzou

BIOGRAPHY

Name: Kori Younger

School: Mizzou

Sorority: ZTA

Rush Q&A

How does rush week work at your school?

The first two days are Open House Round, potential new members visit all 15 sororities and will meet with active members for 25 minutes. PNMs preference 11 houses after this round. Philanthropy Round is two days where Potential New members attend a maximum 11 45 minute socials. PNMs preference 7 houses at the end of this round. Sisterhood Round is a day to get a develop a personal connection with the active members, PNMs visit a maximum of 7 houses during this round but it is not uncommon for a PNM to not visit the max number of houses during this round as well as the others. PNMs will also watch a skit the actives have prepared for them. Preference round PNMs may visit a total of 3 houses. This day is more serious. Saturday, bid day, PNMs gather on Farot Field where they anxiously count down to 1 to open their bid cards. Ladies then run to the senior representatives of their new house, where they run to the house together.

What was the most surprising part of rush to you?

The most surprising part of rush was how competitive it was. It was astonishing how many girls did not receive a bid. With the second largest rush, i assumed it would be competitive, but i didn't realize the magnitude of it until i lived it. Just because a girl was pretty and popular in high school didn't necessarily mean she was successful during recruitment. Sororities looked for girls that would impact their house in a positive way.

What did you do to prepare before rush week?

Preparing for recruitment is a lot more than dieting and tanning the month before recruitment. Preparation begins in high school. I personally feel that one of the biggest factors that set girls apart is their involvement in High School and participation and leadership in service events.

Tell us a little about your sorority rush wardrobe essentials.

During the first two rounds PNMs are given matching t-shirts to wear, so I would dress these up with a chunky necklace and post earrings or layered necklaces and statement earrings. Everyday i carried a bright pink Rebecca Minkoff cross-body which carried things like deodorant, lipgloss, and makeup for touch ups. But this accessory also stood out and gave active members and extra something to remember me by. Everyday i wore my nude Tory Burch sandals because they go with everything (DUH), a rose gold Kerry by Michael Kors watch, and Alex and Ani bracelets on the other wrist. Accessorizing is a must for recruitment! Not only does looking great give you a boost of confidence, each accessory is also a potential conversation starter other than the run of the mill "How are you liking recruitment?" "What's your major?" "Where are you from?"

Dylynne, Texas Christian University

Name: Dylynne Dodson

School: Texas Christian University

Sorority: Gamma Phi Beta

Instagram: therealdylpickle

Rush Q&A

How does rush week work at your school?

The PNMs (Potential New Members) wake up and get ready early for our morning meetings where we would get our schedules for the day. The first two days were simply open house in which we were in groups with about six Rho Gammas (members of a sorority that had temporarily disaffiliated from their chapter) that led us from house to house. Then at the end of the second day, each PNM selected 9 houses that she'd like to return to during the next round, which was philanthropy day. The next day, each PNM received a schedule to visit up to 9 chapters. After that day, each PNM would select up to 6 chapters to return to for skit day. A PNM would visit up to 6 chapters the next day and at the end of the day would rank up to 3 houses to visit during preference round. At the end of preference round, each PNM would rank the houses that she went to during preference round in order of which she'd like most to receive a bid from to the least. The next day, each remaining PNM would meet in the ballroom where each chapter had a table set up with Bid Day t-shirts. Each PNM was handed her Bid Card in a manila envelope which she had to sit on until everyone was told to open it. Then, once each PNM was allowed to open her Bid Card, she ran to the table that her new sisters were at, picked up a Bid Day shirt, and then ran outside to the Commons to meet the rest of her new sisters.

What was the most surprising part of rush to you?

The most surprising (and overwhelming) part of rush were all of the songs that the chapters sang as we walked in and out of the houses. They would be right in our faces scream-singing at the top of their lungs and then when the song stopped and each PNM walking in had been picked up, they would kneel on pillows in front of their PNM and talk to them. Each chapter room was crowded and incredibly loud. I don't know what I had been expecting, but it definitely wasn't that!! I was definitely taken by surprise when the doors to the first house opened!

What did you do to prepare before rush week?

Nothing. I'm the first in my family to go Greek and only a few of my friends are sisters in sororities, so I didn't know how to prepare before I went through recruitment. I bought a couple new dresses and shoes and hoped for the best!

Tell us a little about your sorority rush wardrobe essentials!

Definitely need at least one pair of super cute heels. Classy dresses are a must; I'm definitely a cute but conservative type of girl when it comes to my style. And if you're me, you wear your cowboy boots on Skit Day and just like each chapter member in the skits, you show off a little of your own personality. That's the biggest part of choosing a recruitment week wardrobe: making sure you're comfortable and that you are able to show your personality through your style choices.