For most, going back to school means buying a few supplies, some new shoes, and maybe even a backpack. However, for aspiring sorority girls, “rush,” the week before school, where the girls go through a sorority selection process as potential new members (PNM’s) and, hopefully, get a bid to a house, takes months and hundreds of dollars in preparation. 

The rising popularity and pressure placed on sorority rush is a relatively recent phenomenon, taking off during the pandemic in 2020. At the heart of the craze was the University of Alabama, sparking the now-popular term “Bama Rush.” 

Almost instantly, rising freshmen documenting their rush experience on social media became the focus of immense scrutiny and pressure from their increasingly growing audience.

The drastic climb in popularity taking over rush everywhere raises questions about its effect on mental health and the impact the pressure has on college freshmen. 

A majority of schools in the SEC conference have recently grown infamous for their Greek life, which caused several alumni of sororities to question the modern-day version of their experience. You can often find videos from sorority alumnae comparing their experience to the present-day rush environment. 

Laura Severin, Director of Student Services at HBHA and former Phi Mu Class president at Northwest Missouri State, loved her rush and sorority experience as a whole, stating that, “It was absolutely phenomenal. I loved it, it gave me something to always be able to look forward to.” 

As someone who always “loved school spirit,” and was ”a community kind of person,” Severin thrived at her sorority. Phi Mu was school and community focused in its philanthropic endeavors, and was also involved in their college town. 

She also believes that rush is a great experience for people who may be less outgoing or more hesitant to step outside their comfort zone and meet new people. 

Severin remarked, ”I had a really close friend who was very, very shy…her parents were shocked that she wanted to do rush.” Severin explains her friend’s experience, saying, “She was kind of forced into it…and because she did, she met a lot of great people.” 

For many, the benefits of joining a sorority consist of new friendships, sisterhood, and philanthropic opportunities. This can help to outweigh the pressure. However, many people argue that the whole process is not worth the stress. 

Sophie Stang, a sophomore at the University of Kansas and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, when speaking on rush, said that “It was really overwhelming because it felt like I had to talk a certain way when you actually don’t.” 

The feeling of needing to act differently than your true self is not a unique one in the rush process. Stang said, “I thought I was going to have to talk highly of myself…and show a side of me that wasn’t fully me.” 

As a sophomore who participated in recruitment again this August, Stang is now able to look back on those feelings with the perspective of someone on the other side of rush, saying that “Being on the other side this year, I realized how relaxed it is.” 

As Stang’s rush experience was just this past year, she was definitely able to feel the impact social media had on the process. However, it was not all negative. 

“I think with TikTok…it can definitely come off more scary than it is,” Stang said, and “It definitely helped…a lot of people get their inspo from TikTok, so I think it’s a good thing that it’s on there so girls know what to expect.” 

Stang raises a good point about the drama surrounding rush. While it can definitely have a negative effect on some people, most of the content surrounding rush is informative and helpful to people who might not know much about the process.  

Severin also thinks that all of the speculation around rush has been blown out of proportion. “It can definitely have a negative connotation…I definitely think social media, no matter what, can have a very powerful negative impact on mental health. Whether it’s rushing or anything.” 

Rush is a deep and respected tradition, but social media has changed it into a much more publicized process. Whether or not that change is a positive or negative one will continue to be an ongoing question, but one thing is for certain: sororities will evolve with the trends and continue to learn how to turn that extra publicity into great PR.