Rushing at University of Florida...
 

Hi there, I've been looking on Facebook at some of the sororities I'd like to rush at UF in addition to their websites. I'm considering Tri-Delt, DG, and DZ.
How is the competition for the Greek life there, however? It just seems like the Beautiful People (namely, the Beautiful Girls) are innumerable!
Yes, I'm thin. Yes, I'm fit. Yes, I'm "pretty". Yes, I'm involved in the community at home and intend to get involved in college. I also plan to work toward a 3.8-3.9 GPA. But is it enough?
I apologize if this question has been asked already... :)
Any input for a baby Gator?

It doesn't work that way. You can't pick and choose. It is a mutual selection process. You need to enter the process with an open mind.

Just QFPin'.

No, it's not enough. You need to be open to EVERY sorority, not just the ones "you're" considering. If you go into rush with the mindset you have now you will most likely be disappointed.

Don't put too much stock in FB and the websites. Those are both things that can be manipulated to show only what someone wants you to see - and none of what they don't want you to see. Not to mention, you don't even know these women - you could walk into a rush party with one of the groups you're favoring and end up having the worst time of your life.

I guess I do need to see how each and every one plays out in-person. I'll try to keep an open mind but I have friends (one or two per house - not a plethora) already in each of these Houses...so I guess I'm a little biased.

Before posting one more time - PLEASE read the sorority recruitment stickies. They will help you get a better understanding of the way recruitment works. THEN read some recruitment stories - you'll see the good, the bad and the ugly of different approaches to recruitment.

Good luck.

I just found the Recruitment forum and what a wealth of information it is! Please excuse the faux pas.

I'm in Alpha Omicron Pi (obviously) at USF and I really want to stress keeping an open mind. Having friends in those chapters help, but the whole sorority will be judging you and you could be paired up with different people during recruitment week. I would say that recruitment at UF is more on the competitive side and recs are needed. As well as a high GPA and involvement.

Sororities don't just look for "pretty" women, they look for women that has leadership qualities and that can bring something to the plate. The chapters you are wanting to be in are one of the most wanted among PNMs so you will be compared to all those women that feel a connection to either of those sororities. There are 13 other sororities out there. You may walk into one of those 13 sororities and feel automatically at home. You may not even feel anything with those 3 sororities you are most interested in. Feelings change everyday during recruitment, so again, please keep an open mind.

Don't join a house simply because you have one or two friends there (unless the chapter is made up of four people). You have to get along with the chapter as a whole. And while you don't have to be BEST FRIENDS with every single girl, you want to feel comfortable and have a good time. These are the girls you will spend the rest of your college career with... in meetings, philanthropies, socials, ritual, etc.

Also, your friends most likely won't be the only ones deciding whether or not you will make a good sister. Therefore, if you're only aiming for those chapters, you might be very disappointed.

smart girl. :p

@KSUViolet06 - haha, thank you. I guess good manners do go a long way. [:

So, I was going through the General Advice and I did look up the local chapter for the Panhellenic Board...I forget the formal name. But anyway, I can't formally join (dues were set a while back) and I need recs for UF (seems reasonable - that school is pretty big).

I know a lady whose grandmother was chapter President for Chi-O but I'm not too religious (and Chi-O seems very Christian-centered) and I can't use a separate rec for different sororities it seems!

How did you all get your recs? Tips? (By the way - the people I could get to recommend me wouldn't know me too well..does that factor into the equation? I don't have any family members who were/are Greeks).

A couple of things:

1. You're confused. Dues don't need to be paid in order for your local APH to help you with recs. Dues are for sorority alumnae who want to join it. Not PNMs who need help with recs. Your local Panhellenic should have a page on it's website or something dedicated to PNMs and recruitment.

2. I don't believe being a Christian is something necessary for joining Chi Omega (or any other sorority for that matter).

3. As far as finding recs, you need to ask teachers, parent's friends, camp counselors, dad's friend's (they could be married to sorority women), co-workers, anyone. The rec thread has some posts in there about where you can look.

Oh. Okay...I thought that I had to get involved in the chapter somehow...I don't know. They didn't have a night where Highschoolers could get acquainted with the Greek system.
I was talking to the lady down the street (I see her son out playing sometimes and just drop by to say hi) and she said Chi-O was very "Christian"-based. But she went to Ole Miss or another very Southern school so I'm not sure if that varies by chapter.
So would it be okay if I contacted my local chapter alumni for a recommendation despite them not knowing me or attempting to get involved in any of their activities/events? That's my main concern. It's just a bit of etiquette not mentioned in the Advice thread that I was curious about.

Go through teachers, neighbors, mom & dad's friends first to try to find recs. THEN contact the alumnae panhellenic in your area. http://www.npcwomen.org/alumnae-panh...directory.aspx They will help you. Do not contact an alumnae chapter of any sorority directly unless APH directs you to do so.

Also, recommendations do not have to be from a UF alumna. They can be from, say, a Delta Zeta alumna who went to Ole Miss. (Your lady down the street probably knows sorority alumnae - ask her.)

Oh! I understand now. I looked up my specific chapter as I guess I didn't understand it from the sticky. That clears up a lot 33girl. Thanks! x

There are some areas that do not have active local Panhellenics. If you are close enough with your neighbor, ask her to write a Chi Omega rec. You might also ask if she knows any alums from any of other houses at UF (they do not have to have been in the UF chapter) and she might put you in contact with them or at least pass your resume and picture along. It is much more desirable to have a rec from someone who actually knows you, but any is better than none. You also mentioned that you know women in several of the houses at UF, some may allow their actives to write recommendations, so check with the women that are active in the chapters as well. However, your best contacts are teaches, coaches, friends, etc. Once you find one source, others will probably come your way. Best of luck. UF has a very competitive recruitment, but all of the houses their are great. I just strongly caution you not to go in with your heart set on a specific house(s). That will be just setting you up so heartbreak. Best of luck in the fall. We will look forward to hearing your recruitment story.

I don't know my neighbor super well (my mom and her are friends but I've almost babysitted a few times) and I know girls in the houses at different universities (the closest is a Tri-Delt and is only a sophomore this upcoming year at FSU and the other one is at UCF and is a Junior this upcoming year...also know an ADPi who is a sophomore at UF - surprising how many ladies are out there in a house when you look!) so...could that be helpful?
I'll be sure to touch base once I go through Rush! :)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that most sororities do not accept recs from women that are currently active in the chapter. I would just play it safe and get recs from alums. A lot of girls that just moved from out-of-state or to a different area do not know a lot of people especially greeks to write a rec for them. At least you know your neighbor a little bit, and I'm sure she would be thrilled to write you a rec for Chi Omega since she is one.

This may have already been stated on here, and I just didn't catch it, but you might also try asking your friends' moms- you would be amazed how many were in sororities in their former lives. Besides, since they know you, they could write you some great recs.

Prove it!

@Johnny Cash - :rolleyes:
@mittens - I have to contact UF's Panhellenic Board and make sure, but I think you're right.
@southbymidwest - I have already told my mom! She went to a small college, though, and there were no sororities. Hopefully we can get some luck. If not, I was lucky enough to find an active Panhellenic Board in my area (~40 minutes away - but it's good). And the President is a Tri-Delt so we'll see how it goes. :)

There are npc groups that allow any initiated member to sponsor a pnm. Each group is different so you will need to do your homework. The women in the houses you do know,(DDD @ FSU, ADPi UCF, etc) ask them where they got their sponsorship letters. If they are not allowed to write them, they should be able to point you in the direction of someone who can. Best of luck.

@GatorDG - good idea. When I asked them about sororities earlier they never mentioned you had to have recs or sponsors. But I guess you do. I'm having my dad look around for some recs from female coworkers because my mom went to a small college that did not have any sororities. I'm fortunate, however, to have that lady down the street who was into Greek life heavily at Vandy or Ole Miss (I can't remember).
Thanks for all the help :) This has been an enormous learning curve for me!

wrong thread dustin. this thread is about recruitment at the university of florida, not about expansion at utc.

sorry, something messed up when i was doing a quick reply to a post and it went here.soon as i find delete ill delete it

@southbymidwest - I have already told my mom! She went to a small college, though, and there were no sororities. Hopefully we can get some luck. If not, I was lucky enough to find an active Panhellenic Board in my area (~40 minutes away - but it's good). And the President is a Tri-Delt so we'll see how it goes. :)[/QUOTE]

Sorry if I wasn't clear enough- your high school friends' moms-as in, the moms of the girls and guys you hang with. They may have been in sororities, and they know you.

Just so you know, rushing as a first-semester freshman, they will take your HS GPA. How is your GPA currently?

And it's great to "plan" to earn a 3.9, but things happen, and you may or may not get all A's your first semester. It's a lofty goal, so I encourage it.

My GPA as of now is a 3.85 UW [with 5 AP classes & all honors when everything is said and done]. Definitely things do happen! But I'm willing to put in the extra mile regardless [I'm looking into grad school so that's another major factor in my motivation].
I've also done ~100 hrs of community service at different organizations & organized a grassroots project in my community if that helps any.

She may be pretty, but there are many pretty women going through recruitment. I hope she doesn't keep her hopes to high and ends up in disappointment.

^^ Agreed. I am one of many in the looks department. Hopefully I can show each house what sets me apart, though. :)

UPDATE: Once I started talking about Greek life (how I was excited to Rush and how much about the process I didn't know about) I actually found out that one of my classmates has a sister who's graduated and was a member of DDG. Wow! Definitely from an unexpected place. I'll call the office for Greek affairs soon (perhaps this weekend) and we'll see how it goes! :)

She would be a great person to write you a rec!! But try to get to know her better as well ;)

@mittens, I didn't check this thread before I PM'd you (duhh) but I've been friends with this girl for foreverrr (about two years) and she's so quiet and nice. At least I could maybe get to know my reccomend(er?) better so the rec could have more substance. What a great opportunity :D . Very pleasantly surprised with that.

Do you mean DDD, DG or KKG?

hopefully your resources will ask if you need anymore recs. as they get ready to write one to their sorority. i always offer to pass on a pnms information to friends in different sororities-i always want the pnm to have the best chance possible.

I'm pretty sure she meant Delta Gamma. She has friends in Tri Delta and Alpha Delta Pi as well.

It was DG. My bad...I don't think the sister was familiar with the Greek scene and said something incorrectly. I thought DDG was a sorority too but maybe I'm mistaken. It was also at Duke University so it could've been a local. I'm thinking it was DG too, though.

there is a delta gamma chapter at duke, so you are probably right in thinking that DG is who your friend meant to refer to.

Wow, it's been a long time and things have changed enormously. Anyhow, instead of posting a new story and trying to update everybody, I did end up getting into my first choice at U of F: Zeta Tau Alpha. I was initiated this past week. :) !