Meaning of Rush in College

I came across the term 'rush' on some college forums and I'm a bit confused about what it means. Can someone please explain what this term refers to and how it relates to the college process?

Rush, in the context of college, is a term related to the process of joining Greek life organizations, such as fraternities and sororities. It is not directly related to the college admissions process itself. Instead, it generally occurs during the first few weeks of the academic year when students are already enrolled in college.

Rush is an opportunity for students who are interested in joining one of these organizations to attend open events hosted by the fraternity or sorority on campus. The primary goal is to learn more about the organization, its members, and the values they uphold, as well as to express their own personal interest in joining.

During the rush period, each fraternity or sorority typically organizes a variety of social events, informational sessions, and mixers to give potential new members (PNMs) a chance to meet current members and begin forming connections. Throughout this process, both the prospective members and the Greek organizations evaluate each other to determine if they would be a good fit.

Once the rush period concludes, the fraternities or sororities may extend a "bid" to students they feel would be suitable members. A bid is a formal invitation to join the organization. If a student accepts the bid, they enter the next phase, which is often called the membership or "pledge" process, in which they learn more about the organization's history, values, and traditions before becoming a full, initiated member.

In summary, 'rush' refers to the process through which students explore and potentially join fraternities and sororities in college. It is not directly related to the college application process and typically takes place once students have already begun their studies at a college or university.