Asian rushing panhellenic?
 

Hey girls (or guys),

Just thought i'd tell you a bit about myself before I ask the questions. I went to an all girls boarding school for high school so I've always had a group of close girl friends to hang out with and talk to about everything everyday..and I thought that college was going to be the same, so I never thought of rushing and I joined a professional student group instead. Although the group I'm pretty involved in claims that there is a social aspect, it really is mostly academic and I realize how much I miss having a close group of girl friends that I can always dress up and go out with, go to the beach with, etc. So after learning about what sororities are really about (and that sororities aren't what people stereotype them to be), I realized that i actually really want to be part of a sorority!!

I'm wondering if it is too late to join as a 3rd year? Would it lower my chances? Also, I've heard that in general, it is harder for an asian to get into a panhellenic sorority. I would rush for an asian one, but the asian ones at my school have a reputation of being slutty (and i personally know friends who are in it, who told me about how bitchy and messy things get), so I don't want to be associated with that name. How much of that statement that "you have to try harder as an asian" is true? And if so, what would I need to do to distinguish myself?

Thanks so much for your time! :)

Well,since we don't know your campus it is hard to say. I can tell you that where I advise, being Asian would probably not even be noticed. We have many Asian and Indian women come thru as there is a large technical oriented population in this area. I think being a junior would be more of an issue...

Hmmm...you "heard" that it's harder for an Asian woman to get accepted into a Panhellenic sorority, and you also "heard" that the Asian sororities have poor reputations. My suggestion is that you investigate all of your options for yourself, instead of relying on what you may have "heard" from others.

Also, it's not a good look to put down the Asian sororities the way you did. If you want to go NPC, that's fine, but please don't put down women of your own background in the process. That's one of my personal pet peeves...

response to latina alumn
 

As mentioned in my message, i have friends who are currently IN the asian sororities. I'm not putting down people from the same background (WHY would i do that, i'm asian myself), it IS actually a fact that they have a bad rep at my school. As for the "heard that it's harder for asians"- it's from a friend who has actually experienced rush.

it's one of my pet peeves to say stuff according to rumors, so i DO do my research before I say things.

Then if they are your friends, WHY did you refer to their reputation as "slutty" and "bitchy"? I wouldn't refer to a sorority that my friends belonged to in such a way. Actually, I wouldn't refer to any sorority in that way.

I'm Asian, and I rushed mid-way through what would be my sophomore year. I came in as a freshman with lots of credits, which explains my standing. Technically it was my second semester freshman year.

It is true that usually Panhellenic sororities are made of Caucasians, but that does not mean that you can't be accepted. There were various Asian women in a few sororities at my school in the southeast. I know in California, there are many Asians in the same sorority, where I was the only one.

It really depends on your comfort level. You can try rushing and going Greek. If someone asks you during rush about your junior status, you can definitely explain the part of missing close friendships - like you had in high school. The part of you being a junior depends on how your school does recruitment/rush. Some schools "guarantee" a bid if you continue through the process, others don't. :)

Hope this helps from an Asian perspective. I love my close sorority sisters - Good luck!


Thanks for your advice! I'll definitely go for it! :D

To me, there's a difference between how their group is perceived as a whole and my friend as a person. A group will always have a "reputation," and how the public see them might just be due to certain individuals- I agree that it's not fair to call the whole group that. I have been at my school long enough to know that that, sorry to say this, is their reputation for the time i've been at school (it's their rep, doesn't mean they're all like that). the reason I brought it up is because I don't want to be in a group with that reputation. And I believe i have the right to not want to be associated with that name. I'm not making their reputation up and i don't have anything personal against anyone in the group. If you are offended by the things I said, then I am sorry for offending you.

You have a right to choose any sorority you wish. I just disagree with the way you 1) referred to a sorority that your friends belong to as "slutty" and "bitchy," and worse, 2) you refer to a sorority of women of your own background this way. Like I said, it's not a good look, and I hope in the future you keep references to so-called "reputation" to yourself, especially if you join a sorority.

Hello!

I know that at my school, a third year might make a difference, but definitely doesn't exclude you from having the chance to get a bid...and being Asian is not a problem at all. From my own experience, I know our Panhel chapters have all kinds of races, we dont really have any kind of seperation, but we have ethnic sororities too for women who want to be apart of those too.

It really depends on your campus though. Good luck!

There is no question that some greek systems are more ethnically diverse than others, so it's hard to say what experience you will have going through recruitment. That said, I have seen Asian women successfully pledge NPC houses all across the country, and go on to take positions of leadership and influence at the national level within their organizations, as alums. No one likes to confront the possibility that rejection could come as a result of race or some other superficial factor. I personally would not let that possibility stop you from finding a great house, because that's really selling yourself short and not giving enough credit to the greek women out there who could really like you as a person and want to get to know you. In general, sorority members want to see top grades, great leadership potential, philanthropic commitment, and a wonderful personality. I agree with OPs that your 3rd year status disadvantages you more than any other factor because they want to recruit younger members who can offer greater longevity in the house. So your job is to highlight the leadership and maturity that you have and that freshmen cannot bring to the table.If you do go through, and are asked why you aren't joining an Asian sorority, you should honestly say that while you have friends in some of those houses, you are looking for a different kind of greek experience. Good luck!

This is a great way to put it, without demeaning any other sorority or women.