How is Sorority Rush going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's tough everywhere, OP.

The universal problem at every school is that all of the girls rushing want the same top, few sororities. If she can be happy anywhere, you'll be fine. If your daughter insists on being an XYZ, she's likely to be disappointed.

Depends on the girl and any hooks she has.

What kind of hooks?

Pretty, uber rich, skinny

Two out of three are often enough.

And a really good Instagram showcasing 2 of the three things … cute rich friends help too. It’s not right but that’s how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's tough everywhere, OP.

The universal problem at every school is that all of the girls rushing want the same top, few sororities. If she can be happy anywhere, you'll be fine. If your daughter insists on being an XYZ, she's likely to be disappointed.

Depends on the girl and any hooks she has.

What kind of hooks?

Pretty, uber rich, skinny

Two out of three are often enough.

All three often isn’t enough at the really competitive schools. A celebrity parent will do it, but often you need a connection to that sorority, I.e. a legacy or knowing older girls from high school or a college activity.

[Anonymous]

Went through sorority rush back in the 90s at an Ivy. The process was crushing to some of my friends who didn’t match at their preferred house. I got into my top choice house, but I found it remarkably unfulfilling. Many of my “sisters” are still friends and I see them getting together for wine tours and things on FB. I will encourage my DC to avoid schools with Greek Life or at least look for a low percentage who rush/pledge, because there can be a perception that you will be left out socially if it seems most of your friends are rushing. My friend group ended up being centered around a shared interest rather than just the alcohol and hook-up culture of Greek Life, so I spent less and less time at the sorority house until I deactivated entirely. I’d rather have my kid attend college and live at home than pay huge dollars to be on their own in that setting. The girls I met were smart and high achievers, but I realized I’m not a “joiner” just for a social scene. I’d rather get to know people in a more organic way. Good luck to your DC. Certain personality types are better cut out for Greek Life than others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so messed up. Glad my daughters are completely uninterested in Greek nonsense.

This.

As a Brit couple that has been living in the DC for the last 12 years, it is beyond comprehension how absurd what these girls and families are willing to do to be a part of the Greek system. Such an American idiotic pay to play group…..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so messed up. Glad my daughters are completely uninterested in Greek nonsense.

This.

As a Brit couple that has been living in the DC for the last 12 years, it is beyond comprehension how absurd what these girls and families are willing to do to be a part of the Greek system. Such an American idiotic pay to play group…..

Be careful….These moms act the same way as the pageant moms down south…. Just wealthier

Now I’m just waiting for the DC Sorority Moms to come in here and crush you…. 10….9…..8….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went through sorority rush back in the 90s at an Ivy. The process was crushing to some of my friends who didn’t match at their preferred house. I got into my top choice house, but I found it remarkably unfulfilling. Many of my “sisters” are still friends and I see them getting together for wine tours and things on FB. I will encourage my DC to avoid schools with Greek Life or at least look for a low percentage who rush/pledge, because there can be a perception that you will be left out socially if it seems most of your friends are rushing. My friend group ended up being centered around a shared interest rather than just the alcohol and hook-up culture of Greek Life, so I spent less and less time at the sorority house until I deactivated entirely. I’d rather have my kid attend college and live at home than pay huge dollars to be on their own in that setting. The girls I met were smart and high achievers, but I realized I’m not a “joiner” just for a social scene. I’d rather get to know people in a more organic way. Good luck to your DC. Certain personality types are better cut out for Greek Life than others.

I have an almost identical story but my DD has her heart set on schools with big Greek systems and rushing so sometimes the kids don’t listen to their parents!

[Anonymous]

Why is it harder at Indiana? I heard similar.

[Anonymous]

OP rush is different at different schools. There are lots of DMV area kids at Indiana. Does she know any? If there are particular sororities she is interested in, she can reach out to kids from the area over the summer and try to meet up with them before next year to ask about rush, connect, etc. Some schools particularly in the south do recommendation letters so she should find out if those would be helpful. Many schools do not do this anymore. Basically if this is something that’s important to her, there are things she can do and research to try to be prepared. As pp’s mentioned, going in with an open mind is a really good idea.

[Anonymous]

My DD joined this Fall as a freshman and I think it really helped her adjust to school. She was/is out of state, but so were many of the girls. The first round (at least at her school) is as people are describing above- they look at your application and Instagram and make judgments based on that. My DD got cut from some of the houses based on that. However, she was not upset as she knew they weren't the right group for her. She kept going and as she went through each round she knew where she belonged. Rush was really painful, but at the end she is so happy to have the girls. She is also living in the house next year and is excited for it- and it is saving a ton of money for us.

For those schools with Spring rush, I would assume the girls already have an idea of what houses they fit into, so that might make it harder if they get cut by a house that they think they have a good connection to.

I encourage the OP's kid to try to make friends with all kinds of girls and see where they fit.

[Anonymous]

It can be soul crushing OP. My DD rushed at a southern school and got her last pick. The bottom house. Dropped her bid before initiation. Stayed at the school another year. Was miserable—social scene was heavily driven by Greek affiliation. Eventually transferred to a BA public university. Rushed again last Fall. Got a big from a mid-tier sorority and is loving it. The top tiers can be really problematic in terms of inner cliques. The whole process sucks in my view. But DD was determined and it does provide a structured, stable social circle when it works. Good luck to your DD!!!

[Anonymous]

Sorry—VA not BA and bid not big!

[Anonymous]

What is rush like at Wake; Duke; Vanderbilt and Northwestern?

[Anonymous]

Adding one more: What's Rush like at Upenn?

[Anonymous]

As long as the girls are open minded they will find a home. The problem is most of them want the “top” house which is likely not nearly worth the reputation. My dd is in a mid tier house which was not on her radar when she initially rushed but it turned out to be a great fit. And no, most sororities don’t care where you summer or what you’re wearing, only those infamous “top” houses do. And do you really want to be part of that anyway?

[Anonymous]

Yall are weirdos. Let your kids navigate this themselves!