You all must remember that it varies from school to school!

For example, I noticed a few posts that said AOII are elite. At my school, during rush, girls would rather put down chapters that had dropped them the first night than to risk getting a bid by AOII. Thier chapter got shut down and we don't have to worry about them for a couple of years.

I've alway considered the rest of the chapters at my school to be elite or at least damn close.
We have (In ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
Alpha Chi Omega
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Alpha Theta
Pi Beta Phi
Sigma Kappa

I went to a very small school in West Virginia, we only had 4 social sororities: Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Zeta, Phi Sigma Sigma, and Sigma Sigma Sigma. We had 5 fraternities, but one lost it's charter, they are: Alpha Chi Rho, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Sigma Kappa, Theta Xi, Tau Kappa Epsilon. Those are the only one's I've experienced first hand, and I really consider all of the sororities elite. But because it's a small school in a small town, in a poor state, I think that all MUST be pretty elite nationally to make it there. But then again, that's just my opinion. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif



[This message has been edited by mgdzkm433 (edited May 30, 2000).]

I think we all know that there are sororities nationally that are “elite” and ones that are not. (Since there are 3 times more NIC fraternities than NPC sororities, I think that’s why people didn’t go off on this question on the fraternity side.)

But I think with the problems the Greek system is having today, all the Greeks - individually, locally, and nationally - have to get together and help each other out, and that includes not furthering stereotypes. If we keep saying “ABC is prestigious” and “XYZ sucks” all 26 sororities will never get on an equal footing. Any organization is only as strong as its weakest link, NPC included.

I’m not accusing anyone of disrespect, and I know people are just honestly answering a question. There was a thread a few months ago where I said I thought it would be a bad idea to post hazing or disciplinary stories on here because people (including prospective rushees) would see “ABC” and “hazing” together and that’s all they would remember. The same goes on this – if you keep seeing “ABC is not elite” eventually it makes an impression on your mind, even if this is just a message board. I only replied to a question like this once, because I had something positive to say. Not to be Mary Poppins about it, but if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

Stepping off soapbox.

Thanx and much love 2 all of yall who posted, just to get a wide perspective how bout naming some of the elite BGLOs.

We all found what was special in our own organization and that makes it elite for each of us! I will say this though, at my school, the so-called "elite" sorority just lost about 65% of its sisterhood due to cocaine abuse!!! They have also been called before campus affairs because of their ritual - one of the new members about to go over refused to get in a coffin in order to be initiated. Of course they couldn't prove it since ritual is secret, but still... If being "elite" means that then I'll do without! I'd rather have sisters that I can call on anytime than call myself (or my chapter) elite!

Honestly to answer your question from the beginning, everyone wants to believe that their own sorority or fraternity is known as "elite" or even the best. And every person on here could tell you that their own is elite or the best for different reasons such as how old they are, or how big they are at their school but the thing is, everywhere you go things are different. Some of the sororities that everyone thinks are the best, don't even exist at some schools. And boy do they change from state to state, I am a phi mu, and my cousin went to a school that had it, but it's just not the same at her school, she's now an achio, and she loves it,that was for her. So, when you say it is not about what is in your heart, you are wrong. It's about taking what you have to give, finding the people that you want to give it to, and making those friendships "elite" that is what's important.

I just happened on this site by accident and found it so interesting, having been in a sorority a few years ago myself. It's sad that this attitude still haunts rushees and sisters nationwide. My campus had a relatively large greek system and, coming from a small town, I was a little intimidated. During rush my freshman year, I cut all the houses I heard "sucked" or weren't any good for whatever reason. I saved 2 "elite houses" for pref night, and guess what -- I got cross cut. I didn't figure out what happened until I was a rush counselor a few years later. Anyway, the next year I rushed again with a new attitude and chose a house new on campus that didn't yet have a reputation. We didn't have a fancy house and ended up years later not being one of the "elite." But now after I've graduated, I'm happy with my choice because I've remained friends with so many of them, despite distance. I guess I wouldn't have fit into one of the so-called "elite" sororities -- I've met many of their members over the years and have found so many to be shallow and overly-concerned with their reputations and presence. What's important about sorority life is the acceptance, independence, group activities, self-esteem, motivation, togetherness ... I could go on and on. My sisters are doctors, CPAs, consultants, Olympians, along my me -- the lawyer, and I owe a lot of my success to those years in the sorority. Be mature and honest in your evaluation and decisions regarding those sororities.

in order of founding:

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

You're right Kappa-girl. Several different groups claim to be the "oldest." I think the way it goes is ADPi was the first secret collegiate society for women. Pi Phi was the first to expand to another school, making them the first national. Also Theta was the first to found themselves with a greek name and specifically modeled after the men's groups. Therefore, they all claim to the first - and I guess they are all sort of right.

Ya know what? You are completely right about ADP and Phi Mu being the first GLO's. However, I think it is interesting that Pi Beta Phi takes the claim of being the first. So in their eyes, they must be the elite?

Well put

I'm not clear on everything but out of these nine, which would you say are the elite?

The elite sororites in the nine are:

(In order of founding: )

Alpha Kappa Alpha
Delta Sigma Theta
Zeta Phi Beta
Sigma Gamma Rho



[This message has been edited by ZetaAce (edited June 02, 2000).]

Thanks ZetaAce http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

and the elite fraternities out of the nine are, in order of founding:

Alpha Phi Alpha
Kappa Alpha Psi
Omega Psi Phi
Phi Beta Sigma
Iota Phi Theta

------------------
Kelli
12-DN-94
SSU c/o 1997

I have two words
Go Kappa (...Kappa Gamma)
: ) Actually, I am biased, obviously! All sororities are good in one way or another. And we all have our "bad seeds" in our pledge classes! But, the best advice is to choose based upon who has been rushing you, and how you fit with the girls in the organization. There are alot of factors that influence your decision. As for me, my mom and my aunt were in the same sorority as I am at a southern university, and I came here and absolutely loved the girls. Our chapter is steeped in tradition. So that happens sometimes, you just find a group of girls that seem to fit you. And big piece of advice- which you are already doing, ask around, get people's opinions-of course it is your own that will be the most important...