OP message resonates with me. My kid started college excited about joining a sorority and is about to go through sorority rush in January. I hope she has a positive outcome, but worried for her bc her social circle is all rushing and it will be hard if she's excluded. I personally don't care, but I know it's important to her. I've tried to advise her that there are limited sports and to keep an open mind and not to fixate on the 'top' houses. I was in a sorority a gazillion years ago when it was very chill, before social media, before campuses were so delinated by wealth/connections, etc. There now seems to be a lot of pre-vetting in the fall term, which I've recently learned is called dirty rush. My kid is very social and has made an effort to meet older girls from each house, but is not feeling very confident bc the process is very competitive and a lot of girls are connected through private schools, siblings, etc. Of note, she is a great student and already involved in a number of clubs- but this is a very academic school and greek life provides the primary fun social outlet (at least for freshman/sophomores). We will see what happens...

They weren't too bright to begin with... the Greek system is a formal way to exclude others, particular others who aren't white and well-off. Despite weak attempts at selecting on other criteria, looks and a certain type of social posturing are really the only criteria that matter.

What I find particularly offensive is the way these exclusionary groups have hijacked the term "Greek" and splattered its alphabet on their houses. That's offensive to Greece and all Greeks, past and future.

This happened to someone I know at UVA. It was very surprising because she was pretty, seemed popular in high school, went to a feeder private school, seemed to be the mold. She rushed again her sophomore year and got into her top house.

I felt very bad for her that it happened and still don’t know why. I have major respect for her for putting herself back out there. It must have been very hard. Posters who make fun of teens being upset but this must not remember what it was like to be 18.

I guess . . . Put a keg in your own dorm room and do shots with your suite mates?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You accept the fact that Greek life is for losers anyway and move on.

The "losers" in Greek life have higher GPAs, higher graduation rates, and higher starting salaries than the "winners" who stay independent (often, as evidenced by this very thread, because no one gave them a bid). Greeks also tend to hold most of the leadership positions on campus and date the most desirable members of the opposite sex. But sure, keep telling yourself they're losers.

You again?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You accept the fact that Greek life is for losers anyway and move on.

The "losers" in Greek life have higher GPAs, higher graduation rates, and higher starting salaries than the "winners" who stay independent (often, as evidenced by this very thread, because no one gave them a bid). Greeks also tend to hold most of the leadership positions on campus and date the most desirable members of the opposite sex. But sure, keep telling yourself they're losers.

As someone who was scholarship chairman in his fraternity, I can assure you this is not true in the slightest.

Every Greek life thread on this forum has numerous posts that start with "I was [insert lofty title] of my fraternity/sorority" and immediately shifts to say something negative about the Greek system. And every one of those posts was written by a geed who never actually got a bid to a top-tier house.

That is not true, sorry. I’ve posted on here before as a member of Panhellenic and a spouse who was President of IFC. We both had different experiences at one of the top five largest Greek systems. Got out what we put in as in anything else, both had pros and cons in each of our experiences. I’ve always said I’m glad mine aren’t interested and I stand by that, but I can also acknowledge there were definite positives and some my spouse still benefits from today.

They take the opportunity to mature and realize picking a school for a club they might not be allowed to join was stupid, and they focus on what the school they're at DOES have to offer them. They take the opportunity to put effort into making friends rather than buying them. They focus on getting all they can out of their college experience. They grow up.

Ummm - if that's your only reason to go to college.... not even sure what to say, clearly we have very different values.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You accept the fact that Greek life is for losers anyway and move on.

The "losers" in Greek life have higher GPAs, higher graduation rates, and higher starting salaries than the "winners" who stay independent (often, as evidenced by this very thread, because no one gave them a bid). Greeks also tend to hold most of the leadership positions on campus and date the most desirable members of the opposite sex. But sure, keep telling yourself they're losers.

As someone who was scholarship chairman in his fraternity, I can assure you this is not true in the slightest.

Every Greek life thread on this forum has numerous posts that start with "I was [insert lofty title] of my fraternity/sorority" and immediately shifts to say something negative about the Greek system. And every one of those posts was written by a geed who never actually got a bid to a top-tier house.

Lol. PP here. Only a geed would think scholarship chairman (or any other chair within a house) is a lofty title. If you want lofty, you are either president/VP of your house or something on the Interfraternity Council. You should know this but you are the one that is a massive f’ing geed, pretending not to be.

If it's a school where Greek life dominates maybe they will want to transfer. Otherwise, focus on finding another niche.

Force them to face the truth that they’re not wanted by the Greek system. Honesty above all else

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You accept the fact that Greek life is for losers anyway and move on.

The "losers" in Greek life have higher GPAs, higher graduation rates, and higher starting salaries than the "winners" who stay independent (often, as evidenced by this very thread, because no one gave them a bid). Greeks also tend to hold most of the leadership positions on campus and date the most desirable members of the opposite sex. But sure, keep telling yourself they're losers.

As someone who was scholarship chairman in his fraternity, I can assure you this is not true in the slightest.

Every Greek life thread on this forum has numerous posts that start with "I was [insert lofty title] of my fraternity/sorority" and immediately shifts to say something negative about the Greek system. And every one of those posts was written by a geed who never actually got a bid to a top-tier house.

My dd for whom rush didn’t work out is now a junior. Her friends are dropping their sororities. It’s very big freshman and sophomore year and then kids lose interest.

I know a kid who rushed, got in and then before they had a chance to participate in their first every/party, the house was suspended for activities that happened during rush. So they were hanging out in the wind with no other house options because rush had ended. Was a weird situation.

I guess I share this to say nothing is guaranteed in Greek life even if you make it in.

If you don’t get in, some will transfer and some won’t. Most of the anti Greek parents don’t understand this. It happens.

You will quickly figure out if you want to stay or not.