UVA Greek System

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two at UVA both in Greek system, both in houses considered “middle tier” meaning not the super rich people. Most of the sororities are pretty low key, there are 15 of them so really a good range. Going through rush she’ll get to meet all of them and then both sides whittle down the list as rush goes on. As long as she doesn’t have hopes for any particular house, she will be fine. Dies for mine are about $800-1000 per semester, more the first semester. There are wide variances on dues FYI depending on the house.

immigrant here who is totally clueless on Greek life... can you explain more what "tier" means... are these fraternities/sororities sorted out by economic status?

It is just part of the grossness.

My kid chose schools that ban organizations which are not open to all students.

Please don’t think that Greek life is embraced by most Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are considered “top tier” sororities?

Varies by the college but at UVA Tri Dela and Kappa I think are still top tier.

*Tri-Delta (sorry for typos)

Tri-Delta is top tier at UVA, Univ of Michigan, Duke, etc... I have heard it is still top tier at UVA but not sure. Pretty girls, etc.. There are other options as well I am just answering the pp's question.

Ycch. Girls exclude possible future friends (“sisters”) because they are not as pretty or rich as them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a Tri Delt at a different school and back in the day a rushee had to have a letter of recommendation from an alumna in order to be considered for membership. I think that requirement has loosened (if not gone away altogether) but I'm still asked to write references from time to time. Your DD will likely need a resume and a good photo/head shot. When I complete references now they ask for social media handles so be away and advise your kids to clean them up if need be.


"Tier" is a loose term to describe the strength and popularity of a chapter.

My understanding is that at UVA the stronger sororities have parties with the stronger fraternities and that all the frat parties are run with strict guest lists and wrist bands.

What school?

[Anonymous]

This thread helps to emphasize why some students, genuinely (and not because they didn't get in) ... genuinely do not want to attend UVA.

Just saying'. Not to take away from the hope, Op, that your DD has a good experience.

[Anonymous]

Why do they choose based on looks? I am genuinely asking what kind of person would choose that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a Tri Delt at a different school and back in the day a rushee had to have a letter of recommendation from an alumna in order to be considered for membership. I think that requirement has loosened (if not gone away altogether) but I'm still asked to write references from time to time. Your DD will likely need a resume and a good photo/head shot. When I complete references now they ask for social media handles so be away and advise your kids to clean them up if need be.


"Tier" is a loose term to describe the strength and popularity of a chapter.

My understanding is that at UVA the stronger sororities have parties with the stronger fraternities and that all the frat parties are run with strict guest lists and wrist bands.

They don’t use recommendation letters and no resume/headshot is needed at UVA.

Yes the top tier sororities mix with the top tier fraternities but I would not call them “stronger”. Almost all the sororities are the same size so there is only one that struggles with rush and getting good numbers. There are 30+ active frats and most of them do great and get large pledge classes, so again just because one is “top tier” doesn’t mean it’s any more quality than another except it’s probably populated by rich kids who do alot of drugs.

Top tier according to my DD is KKG, DDD and Theta and unless you know someone, your kid is not getting in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread helps to emphasize why some students, genuinely (and not because they didn't get in) ... genuinely do not want to attend UVA.

Just saying'. Not to take away from the hope, Op, that your DD has a good experience.

And again this is not unique to UVA, but again your kid doesn’t have to go if she doesn’t want to. I experience rush in the late 1980s at New England SLAC and it was essentially the same.

There are plenty of normal girls in the UVA Greek system, literally 90% of them.

[Anonymous]

But it is not “normal” to join an official organization that excludes other students because they are not pretty enough.

Really, if that is true I am not sure how you can defend it.

[Anonymous]

Not Op necessarily, but UVA Boosters need to comprehend that many families/students choose schools without prevalent Greek Systems, for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But it is not “normal” to join an official organization that excludes other students because they are not pretty enough.

Really, if that is true I am not sure how you can defend it.

Ok. I am not looking to have another fight about the Greek system. Neither I nor my DD joined a sorority that is “exclusive” and based bids on looks and wealth. But you can continue to say that if makes you feel good. I am trying to help the OP and am not going to get into another fight about Greek life. OP people will now pile on with awful shaming of anyone who was or wants to be Greek. That’s how it goes on this page. Good luck to your DD. When she gets to UVA she will see that most of her friends will want to rush and being in a sorority is alot of fun and a great way to meet people. My DD just called me to say she met two people in her sorority that she had not really gotten to know prior and was so excited to have more friends in her circle to hang out with. These sororities have about 200 girls on them so a great way to make friends.

[Anonymous]

Based on wealth? How do they know how wealthy your family is? Besides, this is UVA, a state public school. Most people I know who are genuinely wealthy opt to go to private colleges. Most people I know who are gunning for UVA, WM, VA Tech are donut hole families (so not uber wealthy).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not Op necessarily, but UVA Boosters need to comprehend that many families/students choose schools without prevalent Greek Systems, for a reason.

And no one is saying they are wrong to do that. They can choose whatever school they want, no one cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on wealth? How do they know how wealthy your family is? Besides, this is UVA, a state public school. Most people I know who are genuinely wealthy opt to go to private colleges. Most people I know who are gunning for UVA, WM, VA Tech are donut hole families (so not uber wealthy).

Well you are probably one of those people who think that UVA only appeals to Va residents. Most of the “wealthy” kids at UVA come from out of state and those top tier sororities are almost exclusively populated with OOS kids from NYC, New England, CA, IL etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a Tri Delt at a different school and back in the day a rushee had to have a letter of recommendation from an alumna in order to be considered for membership. I think that requirement has loosened (if not gone away altogether) but I'm still asked to write references from time to time. Your DD will likely need a resume and a good photo/head shot. When I complete references now they ask for social media handles so be away and advise your kids to clean them up if need be.


"Tier" is a loose term to describe the strength and popularity of a chapter.

My understanding is that at UVA the stronger sororities have parties with the stronger fraternities and that all the frat parties are run with strict guest lists and wrist bands.

They don’t use recommendation letters and no resume/headshot is needed at UVA.

Yes the top tier sororities mix with the top tier fraternities but I would not call them “stronger”. Almost all the sororities are the same size so there is only one that struggles with rush and getting good numbers. There are 30+ active frats and most of them do great and get large pledge classes, so again just because one is “top tier” doesn’t mean it’s any more quality than another except it’s probably populated by rich kids who do alot of drugs.

Top tier according to my DD is KKG, DDD and Theta and unless you know someone, your kid is not getting in.

Know someone as in an alum of the sorority? Does that help even if not from that college? Or must they know girls already at that sorority?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a Tri Delt at a different school and back in the day a rushee had to have a letter of recommendation from an alumna in order to be considered for membership. I think that requirement has loosened (if not gone away altogether) but I'm still asked to write references from time to time. Your DD will likely need a resume and a good photo/head shot. When I complete references now they ask for social media handles so be away and advise your kids to clean them up if need be.


"Tier" is a loose term to describe the strength and popularity of a chapter.

My understanding is that at UVA the stronger sororities have parties with the stronger fraternities and that all the frat parties are run with strict guest lists and wrist bands.

They don’t use recommendation letters and no resume/headshot is needed at UVA.

Yes the top tier sororities mix with the top tier fraternities but I would not call them “stronger”. Almost all the sororities are the same size so there is only one that struggles with rush and getting good numbers. There are 30+ active frats and most of them do great and get large pledge classes, so again just because one is “top tier” doesn’t mean it’s any more quality than another except it’s probably populated by rich kids who do alot of drugs.

Top tier according to my DD is KKG, DDD and Theta and unless you know someone, your kid is not getting in.

Know someone as in an alum of the sorority? Does that help even if not from that college? Or must they know girls already at that sorority?

At UVA recommendation letters are not needed. Ignore the PPs comment as it is not applicable.