How do I know if I am eligible to rush?

We have our eligibility requirements posted here. We know that there are more technical majors than we accept so we are working on adding more majors to this list but for now if your major is not on it our Nationals unfortunately does not allow us to extend a bid to you.

How long is your rush?

Typically one week. Our full schedule for spring recruitment is here.

What is a Legacy? What is the policy/process for Legacies?

Legacies are relatives of Phi Rho sisters who are trying to rush. Our chapter does not give any preferential treatment to legacies.

What is the process to declare interest or receive a bid?

You declare interest by attending our recruitment events; we will have a separate invite-only social at the end of Week 1 if we think that you’re a great fit, and then Bid Day where we offer you a place in the sorority if we’re totally sure. All you have to do is attend what events you can, let us get to know you, and answer our emails to get that far.

Are there payment plans, scholarships, or other ways to offset fees?

Yes! We offer a variety of ways to pay (cash, check, Venmo, and Zelle) in one or two installments. If paying dues would be financially difficult for you, you can apply for our chapter’s financial aid to significantly reduce your dues or to pay in smaller installments. Phi Sigma Rho Nationals and UCSB CPC also offer scholarships for sisters that any active member can apply for. Please email our VP of Finance here (ucsbpsr.vpfinance@gmail.com) if you have any questions!

Which philanthropic organizations do you serve?

Community service is definitely an important part of being a Phi Rho sister! We have large quarterly philanthropy events to try to raise money and support for various causes. We have organized Phi Rho Run and Phi Rho Cookie Dough events to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the past, along with volunteering to help the Girl Scouts and Isla Vista’s Adopt-A-Block.

Is there room for me to share my passion for a specific philanthropic organization, and will I get support from members to be involved with me?

Yes! We love to get information about ways we can contribute to our community, and sisters are always on the lookout for opportunities to volunteer their time.

What academic resources does Phi Rho offer?

We form quarterly study groups of sisters who are taking the same classes and upperclassmen are always willing to help out others who are taking courses they have experience with. Since our sisters come from a wide variety of majors, it's very likely that one of them might be in one of your classes or have experience with whatever topic you're struggling with!

How does the chapter support and reward academic success?

Scholarship is one of the fundamental pillars of our sorority; we take our coursework seriously and support each other through all the hardships involved in seeking to become professional women through majoring in technical studies. We recognize sisters who have greatly improved academically and who have shown consistent excellence.

What is the chapter’s GPA? How does it compare with other chapters?

Our chapter GPA was 3.34 Winter of 2020, which is a little lower than most other CPC chapters at UCSB. However, many of our sisters also take five or more classes per quarter (including multiple lab classes!) to fulfill their required course load on top of work, internships, and/or research, so this GPA does not mean our commitment to academics is any less than the other chapters of CPC. We are also the only social STEM sorority at UCSB, so the difficulty of these classes can affect GPAs.

Are members required to go to every social event?

No! We understand that academics are a top priority for sisters, so sisters only have to attend a few hours worth of social events per quarter. Our social calendar of optional events is very full to try to make sure that sisters can stay involved no matter when their midterms are.

Which organizations do you usually pair/mix with?

We often meet up with other chapters of Phi Sigma Rho nationally, other social sororities at UCSB, the professional fraternities of UCSB, and various professional organizations. In person we have gone ice skating with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, had game nights with SWE and Theta Tau, and organized spa socials with Kappa Alpha Theta, among many other socials.

When you get together with another organization, what does that typically look like?

Our socials are usually very casual gaming, study, spa, or paint nights. Official social nights are always substance-free and food is usually provided.

Do you visit other chapters or meet people from other schools?

Yes! We have yearly National Conferences for all Phi Rho leadership (and involved members) to meet up, and we have a Discord with all the other Phi Rho chapters at UCs so sisters can socialize as much or as little as they want to.

What are the signature events everyone gets most excited for?

The event that most sisters are most excited about is recruitment since we get to meet you! Other than that, winter retreat is a full weekend of hanging out with each other (in person this means traveling together with no costs outside of normal dues), Orchid Ball is our yearly formal in the spring with a fun theme, and everyone loves crafting things together.

When and how do you network with alumni?

We often have social events with alumni, including professional panels where sisters can ask questions about their career paths as well as more casual social events to get to know each other. Since Phi Sigma Rho was founded as a sorority in 1984, there is a huge nationwide network of women that sisters can reach out to, often through the sorority Facebook page.

How much does it cost to stay a member after graduation?

There are costs associated with being involved in an Alumni organization, however we have not yet founded one, so for now it costs nothing to stay involved. If you want to visit for our events after graduating, we may ask for a fee for materials, but that would be it!

Do members stay involved with the sorority after graduation?

Yes! Since alumni can attend some of our events, we often see them at our socials when they have time. We also have a variety of alumni advisor positions to allow alumni to contribute their experience and stay involved in planning after graduation. Our wonderful Director of Alumnae Relations also publishes a biquarterly newsletter to ensure our alumnae are kept up to date on our news.