Just regular dinners :)
I have friends that really want me in their chapters, so...they invited me to dinner to meet other girls. I guess to make connections. It's not an event, just dinner :D

Do you know how many/which chapters will be participating in informal recruitment, if any? Friends in chapters inviting you to dinner means little if they aren't able to take any new members in the spring.

By "competitive" and "southern", do you mean SEC or Big XII South?

You'll have an uphill battle, and you may not get a bid merely because of your class standing. I'm glad you are aware and able to accept that possibility. Best of luck to you.

SEC. Yes the chapter that I am going to for dinner is doing Spring Rush. And another friend wants to do the same with her chapter who is participating in Spring Rush, however, I don't know if I should go to both. I don't know for sure how many are participating, but the ones I have connections to are. They haven't formally announced who will be participating yet.

Thanks for the advice!! I didn't know if that was like...bad you know...like I'm shopping around or something. I didn't want to be disrespectful

No, they will expect this. Keep in mind that they could have 50 potentials going for five spots - you need to keep your options open so that you can maximize your chances to get a bid.

This is very true, especially for an SEC school. The participating sororities will likely have more women participating than they can extend bids to.

eek!
Gosh, I hope that I can get a bid. This is kinda sad :(
I wish my University did that "upperclassmen doesn't count in the quota" thing that other schools do.
I guess all I can do is be myself and hopefully that will be enough...
So here is my next question (thank you all by the way for responding!!)
What should I wear to dinner ???

Dark wash jeans and a cute top - no cleavage, bare arms or back.

I am not sure on the protocol with houses (we didn't have them), but is it appropriate to bring maybe a dessert, like homemade cookies? I am going on the idea that it's always nice to bring something when invited to dinner. Thoughts?

Hmm. That's an interesting idea. Firstly, is the dinner AT the house or is it on campus? Sometimes we'll do on campus dinners so it's easy for potentials to make it.

If it IS at the house, I can't think it would make you stand out negatively to bring something. If a potential brought something, especially homemade (like cookies or brownies or something) I would definitely remember that person in a positive light...and actually REMEMBER them!

It is most def. at the house! Bringing something is an excellent idea! I never even thought of that! I will bring brownies with sprinkles in them, who can turn that down!? Its colder here now at night, so I will be wearing long sleeves anyway :)
Thank you so much for the advice!

Sounds like a good plan!

For dress, just remember two words:

CLASSY

and

CONSERVATIVE.

You can't go wrong.

If you know the women who invited you to dinner, you might ask them if there's a dress code. I know that some houses have special codes for various days.

She said that jeans and a cute top is fine. I am not going on a chapter night, so its casual :) .. I am so excited and nervous at the same timee...I hope they like me. I know it sound pathetic but I really want this to be successful in helping me get a bid with girls that I already like and know (atleast the ones that I do know...)...BUT i am still open to other sororities as well :)

Make sure that if you wear jeans, they are dark wash and don't show any belly or crack. Conservative is always your best bet. Good luck!