Madison Wuu

Joining a Sorority at Dartmouth: My Rush Experience

About 60% of Dartmouth students are involved in Greek life. Since we're a pretty small school in a pretty isolated place, being part of a Greek space is a helpful way to stay socially connected—at least in my experience. That said, you definitely don't need to join a sorority or fraternity to have a great social life here. But Greek life is still a big part of the culture.

What I really appreciate about Dartmouth is how inclusive the Greek scene feels. There's a space for everyone, and within those spaces, you meet so many cool, interesting people. Plus, through different social events, you end up connecting with people from all kinds of houses, not just your own. It's a great way to branch out and meet new circles of friends.

Going into Dartmouth, I already knew I wanted to join Greek life. I had stayed with my sister during her sophomore summer in her sorority house, Sigma Delta. Between playing pong in the basement and meeting everyone in the house, I got a feel for how fun and easygoing Greek life could be. Right away, I got the sense that Greek life was a space where people could just show up and have a good time.

Now onto my rush experience. During my freshman spring, I went to a bunch of pre-rush events—basically casual get-togethers that sororities host to give you a feel for their houses and meet some of the sisters. I made bracelets, went to BBQs, snacked on charcuterie boards, went on sister dates, and more. Each sorority offers different types of events, and I tried out several.

I found the pre-rush events incredibly helpful. They eased so many of my nerves about rush, and each sorority genuinely felt special in its own way. Everyone was so welcoming, too! I met amazing upperclassmen—some of whom, even though they're not in the sorority I joined, are still some of my closest friends. Overall, I'm really glad I took advantage of those events. It was just nice to relax, chat, make new friends, and get to know people.

We started the official rush process during Week 2 of the fall term. There were info sessions and online prerequisites we had to complete beforehand, so if you plan on rushing, make sure to check your email regularly so you don't miss any deadlines. Throughout rush, you'll have a Rho Gamma to support you, answer questions, and guide you through everything. The whole rush process usually lasts around two weeks.

Rush has three rounds, and they're all pretty conversation-based. In Round 1, you spend about an hour at each house. You are usually set up with another partner while you talk to different girls in the chapter. It's a great way to get a sense of each house's vibe while also giving the sisters a chance to get to know you and see whether you might be a good fit.

Even though rush can definitely be stressful, and it can feel like it is all anyone talks about while it is happening, I really believe it is an experience you shape for yourself. It might seem a little performative at times, but it does not have to be. I went into it with the mindset that whatever happens, happens, and I just tried to show up as my real self. You deserve to feel confident in who you are without feeling pressured to change or act a certain way just to impress people. I knew I wanted to end up in a sorority that appreciated me for me, and keeping that in mind made the whole process feel so much lighter. It eased a lot of the pressure and helped me have real, open conversations that showed my true self. And if a sorority I liked did not pick me, I trusted that I would still end up exactly where I belonged.

After Round 1, you'll rank the houses. The top four you choose are grouped together with equal priority, and the bottom two receive lower priority. The chapters also rank you, and a few days later, you'll then hear back from 2–4 houses that have invited you to Round 2. You'll visit all the houses that invite you back and have similar conversation-based interactions. In Round 2, most conversations are one-on-one, which gives you a stronger sense of each house's personality and whether you might be a good match.

Then you'll rank the houses again. Your top two choices share the same priority level, while your third and fourth choices are ranked lower. In Round 3, you usually hear back from one or two houses, which means there's a pretty good chance you'll end up in one of them. The format is similar—you visit the houses, talk with the members, and then on Bid Day (the day you are officially invited into a sorority) you get a card that tells you which sorority you've matched with.

The moment I found out I was joining Kappa Kappa Gamma!

Throughout the rush process, I was able to bond with so many of my peers by going to events, being paired with people I had never met before, and finally, celebrating together after Round 3 when we received our letters inviting us into our chapters. Now I am in Kappa Kappa Gamma, and I could not be happier. I really love my rush class. Everyone is kind, fun, and brings such great energy. Plus, I've grown close to girls in my sorority who I never would've met and connected with otherwise.

So much joy packed into one unforgettable day. Feeling so grateful for this amazing group of sisters.

Additionally, now that I'm a sophomore and affiliated, I've been enjoying all the social events we do with other fraternities and houses. I'm so glad I decided to rush and would definitely recommend it to anyone considering it. After visiting all the houses and talking to the members, I realized I would've been happy in any of the sororities because each one is genuinely great in its own way.

Celebrating the beginning of our KKG journey together.