I'm also a sophomore at UGA. Something else you could do is to follow the sororities on social media. I know for my sorority we look at the girls that are following us beforehand because it shows interest in our sorority. So those girls already have our attention before rush even starts. However, only do this if your profiles are clean. If not it could end up hurting you. Also, go in with an open mind about every sorority and rush in general. The girls that had the most houses to return to were girls who had a really carefree attitude. If they didn't get invited back to certain houses or if they were to get released they were totally okay with it. If you're stressed out and trying to be perfect, it shows. Remember ALL of the 17 sororities at UGA are perfect and it's really just a personality difference between them. If those aren't for you then DPhiE is colonizing after formal recruitment. From being on the other side I can promise you we are just as nervous as you are. We've been preparing since January, and we are SO excited to meet all of you!!

I want to hear about Sparkles. :D

ditto on hearing about sparkles!!!!

Sparkles
 

Sparkles, much like another GreekChat legend, went through rush my sophomore or junior year at UGA. She was rather pale, had super blonde hair, kinda not very skinny ( Okay FINE she was a little chubby), and wore head to toe pink - including a matching glittery pink purse. I can't remember but I think there was some other glitteriness somewhere else on her outfit and pigtails (I may be making that up about the pigtails but this is what I remember in my head when I think of her). She was also socially awkward and way too excited about rush, like annoyingly excited. Later in the semester we saw her at a Greek week event, doing one of those rock climbing wall things. She was wearing a skirt. A short skirt...and it was not pretty. I remember seeing her letters and thinking, "oh, that's fitting."

{end mean girls rant}

Did she pledge anywhere?

Yes.

Oh dear....bless Sparkles heart!

So what you're basically saying is that whatever letters she had didn't belong to a "good" sorority in your standards. Considering every sorority at UGA is exceptional that is extremely rude to say and inaccurate.

I believe I'd switch out "perfect" for "great". I'd hate for new members to go into the Greek experience thinking that every day, every interaction will be perfect because life's not that way. We get a lot of new members coming to us in the fall because their bigs aren't with them 24/7 or they feel left out in the sorority or--I could go on forever. I warned my daughters that Greek life wouldn't be perfect but then again no club ever is.

Relax. It's impossible to go through rush and not form an opinion of each house, whether it's justified/accurate or not. We're judging the PNMs, and they're judging us right back.

I went through at UGA in the 90s, and there was one house where, I kid you not, every sister I talked to had exceptionally thick eyebrows - think Brooke Shields, not Frida Kahlo. So for the remainder of my time in college, any time I saw those letters, I would immediately check their eyebrows. They may have had some thin-browed girls, but I never met one.

I think the fact that Sparkles found a home speaks to the inclusive nature of the Greek System at UGA. But it's likely that some houses would try to tame her, and others would let Sparkles be Sparkles.

BraveMaroon, that's a fantastic post!

Ha... ha... ha... ha... BraveMaroon-- I think I know what house that was! I think My best friend in HS pledged there (and yes she had THOSE eyebrows)-- I went to visit one weekend and every time I met another sister all I could think was OMG they ALL have the exact freaking eyebrows!!!!! ha ha ha.... It was distracting... :D:D:D

Now THAT'S a composite I'd like to see!

That's correct. I meant perfect more in the way that every house is pretty equal in terms of looks, involvement, etc.

I haven't been on here in forever, but it seems like yesterday that my daughter was going through recruitment at UGA and everyone was so supportive! She is now a junior and happy as can be!

Today was the first day of first round and she felt really good about how prepared she and her sisters are! It is exciting no matter what side you are on. I asked her how many PNMs they were expecting and she said 1475 but I don't know if that is anywhere close to accurate - it seems smaller than last year.

Good luck mommas and girls!