COB ADVISE + SORORITIES THAT PARTICIPATE

Here is the deal: First of all, there is not a sorority mini rush in spring; if any sororities are below Chapter Total they may offer bids, but they aren't necessarily going to make an announcement or hold rush events, especially if they have just few bids to offer. Houses that need to really fill out their membership will actively recruit, but houses that only have a few spots to fill will already know the girls they are interested in and will just offer bids without announcing they are looking. Second, based on all that, your best shot at getting a spring bid is to reach out to members you personally know in houses and tell them you are interested, whether you think they are offering bids or not. Who do you know from class, from dorms, from friends of friends? If these actives like you and could see you as a sister they will speak for you. They don't know you are interested unless you tell them. Third, if you want a bid you are not 'doing COB,' that is what sororities do, not pnm's. COB is a sorority term for Continuous Open Bidding and sororities can do it at any time during the year if they qualify. So again, you are not participating in an organized spring secondary rush; each sorority is on its own to offer bids or not. Last, getting a spring bid is worth it if you know for sure that you would fit and be wanted at a particular sorority with bids to offer, or if you just want any bid just to be in a sorority. Otherwise, your best chance for a bid is fall rush where you can meet members in all the houses and have some kind of shot at all of them. And being in a fall class means that you have many more chances and events to bond with your fellow new members and sisters. Spring new membership is a more low-key experience, and your chance to really bond in your new house will mostly happen in fall as you participate in rush as a sister in that house. It's up to you where you fit in all that.

Chapter Total is a not-to-exceed chapter membership number that is decided by panhellenic and is adjusted each semester. NPC sororities (National Panhellenic Conference) follow this as part of a standardized set of rules to keep equity among the sororities. This is also why there is Quota during formal rush. It helps all chapters thrive and offers the best chance for potential members to get a bid. Sororities under whatever Chapter Total is may offer bids at any time of the year but are not required to offer any at all, and they may offer them in their own way without making an announcement. Fraternities have never had such a system.

Registration for COB is one thing you can do to try to get a bid, so you should do it. It is especially important to any sorority who wants to offer more than a handful of bids and wants to meet new girls. Connections are always important no matter what but especially so if a house has only a few bids to offer. Use all the tools you can.

I’ve heard a lot of sororities look at your instagram and registration to see if you fit the vibe/take you out to lunch and/or invite you to the house. Are these predetermined bids they’re ready to hand out?

Is there anyway I could get chapters attention and/or show that i’m interested without DMing chapter instagrams?