sophomore rush

i rushed in the spring of freshman year, so, disclaimer, i can't directly relate to your situation. but, i've heard from women in my chapter who rushed as sophomores. Here are some of their experiences:

They got asked "why did you decide to rush as a sophomore?" They have seen interest drain from actives' faces because those actives were looking for a little. A freshman little. Certain chapters' nationals regulate how many sophomores they take. Aephi only offers bids to sophomores if an active promises to take her as a little. Certain chapters avoid sophomores just because they worry that taking sophomores will make them look undesirable.

tldr; sophomores get treated differently

This is true, but also remember that the chapters willing to take you on as a sophomore will be willing to take you on because they really do like you and think you'd be a great addition to their chapter. So make of it what you will. I know and know of at least a few sophomores in various chapters who went on to become VPs and even Presidents of their chapters after they joined. But then there are other sophomores who joined and then didn't really do anything with the chance they were given.

And I personally think the sophomores making you less desirable argument is stupid. Yes everyone would rather have freshmen, both actives and nationals, for littles reasons and for dues-paying reasons (guess who's more interested in who). But if someone is a really good fit for your chapter, what year she is in school shouldn't matter. I would rather have a sophomore who would be a perfect addition to my sorority than a freshman who would be an okay fit but we decided to take because she'd be around for longer.