You may want to check if her campus has an upperclass quota. UGA is even trying on this year, and it might change the game a bit.

But your daughter should probably prepare herself to have some harsher cuts that the freshmen going through.

Do we know that the bold part is true even if she maximizes her options and sees it all the way through?

I know that it's much harder for a junior at a competitive campus to get a bid at some chapters, but have we really seen stats that say that junior straight up get cut out of recruitment more even if they are open to all groups?

The mom didn't pin it down to being UF.

ETA: I'm not challenging the conventional wisdom that it's much harder to rush as a junior, but I think part of why their results are "bad" is that they get much harder early cuts and drop out when they don't like their options. I'm not sure that those that stick it through are that much worse off if we're using "get a bid, any bid" as the standard.

She is also a transfer student, and from a community college at that. Junior who do get bids at competitive schools tend to already be stand out individuals on campus who know women in the various houses.

OK, disclaimer, my "n"=1 in this example, but maybe there are some cases where the stars align?

My sister-in-law transferred from community college to FSU and got a bid to a great chapter. She certainly did experience some cuts, but by no means would it be classified as heavy cuts. She certainly had choices throughout the entire week and got her favorite chapter after pref.

However:
--she had a 4.0 coming in from CC
--she is from Florida and knew girls in all the houses from high school and had maintained many of these friendships the first two years of college
--her high school and CC resume included plenty of activities and leadership
--she maintained a classy appearance and attitude throughout Rush
--she is a great conversationalist (and witty!) and is very comfortable talking to new people

By no means am I disagreeing that juniors have the odds stacked against them. They do. However, at least in my SIL's case being a transfer was not too detrimental. This also should help other transfers/juniors know what they are up against. Houses will not keep you around "just because." For those that have the above type of resume/presentation there may be more of a chance. Emphasis on "may."

It's much harder to be a junior in a competitive recruitment. Period.

But I'm not sure if that translates into there being a good chance at no bid at all.

That's all I was getting at.

The junior PNM has to be open to every chapter in a way that a frosh might not.

Some insight on this (from a chapter perspective):

Chapters at some bigger schools tend to prefer freshmen because they'll be part of the chapter for 4 years. This means 4 years of participation (and more opportunities to take on officer positions) and dues. Theoretically, a transfer is going to be at the school for less than 4 years.

This all may be true, but what's "really fair" and sorority recruitment at competitive recruitments don't often met.

If what you've outlined emerges as big trend, chapters will have to respond certainly. But "fairness" rarely has anything to do with it, sadly.

Yep. Prepare in advance with recs and expectations for dress and activities. Wait and see and keep an open mind. Go all the way through pref if you can and see if there's a group you can see yourself in. That's about all you can do no matter what year you are.

And if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out.

My best suggestion is to talk to your friends, and women you know who have daughters at the school your gal will be attending, or even similar schools. They can give you really specific and helpful information that a bunch of people on the internet, while well-meaning, simply cannot.

FWIW, I had brunch a few weeks ago with friends who went to UF and the subject of recruitment came up. None of them did the stuff that we typically suggest--some were even juniors and sophomores!!--and it turned out fine for them. Clearly, you should be well-informed, but you can't rely on people who didn't go to UF, or SEC schools, or aren't from the south. Good luck!

I just saw your new signature, and I love it. :D

Thanks! I'm not usually into making fun of typos, but these circumstances are extraordinary.

i agree - there is no stigma with a pnm having an AA from a community college. the negative, as seen by some chapters is that, in most cases, the pnm would have only 2 years to contribute to the collegiate chapter.

This is so true! Thanks for mentioning this.