informal explained

Informal is not a mini rush for a second chance at a bid from the house you want that dropped you. The spots that are available are few and far between and not every house will have them. The houses do not have to hold events to offer bids, do not have to announce that they have bids to offer, and can just offer bids to anyone at any time. There is no organized process or second bid day, and panhellenic has the form to fill out as a courtesy. If you declined a bid during formal or accepted one and then dropped you are not eligible for another bid for a full calendar year. Chapters are only eligible to offer bids if they 1) did not make quota by bid day, or 2) are below Chapter Total Membership, which is reset by panhellenic every semester. The number of spots in each house will be determined in the week after formal but will not be announced.


With all that said, your best chance at an informal bid is already knowing members in a house. Or, if you dropped out of rush because you didn't like your remaining houses, give those houses a second look during informal because your options for actually getting to experience sorority membership are now a lot slimmer. If one of these houses offers a bid, you are one of the fortunate ones and you should seriously consider it with your grown up rational brain. You will not be prettier or uglier or liked or disliked for the letters you wear. It's entirely up to you whether you are a top tier person or a low ranked one in your social life. This is not high school after all. Don't miss out on the only chance you'll have in your life to be a sorority sister because you listened to other people and stupid rankings.