Another Fall Recruitment Story (but no less special)
 

This story isn't live since recruitment is over for me since I just found GC. But I will try to write each day as if it just happened. I'll probably forget some details but that's just a few weeks has passed.

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The first night was a student orientation where the vice president of Panhellenic recruitment gave a little introduction of each sorority and their philanthropies. There was also a cute and hilarious fashion show of what to wear/what not to wear for each day of recruitment. After all that we were split into our Rho Chi groups. I was a little bit intimidated by all the girls in my group because they were so gorgeous. But I tried to not let that scare me. My Rho Chi was so nice and helpful. She and two other Rho Chis wrote a little letter welcoming us to recruitment and encouraging us to keep an open mind.

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Day One was called Panhellenic Day where each sorority set up shop in our student union and would talk to us about their sorority. Since I'm a big fan of fashion, I'll be naming each sorority after brands.

Christian Louboutin
Dolce & Gabbana
Oscar de la Renta
Valentino
Miu Miu
Jimmy Choo

Though our group met at eight in the morning, our parties didn't start until 9:45. So we spent that time playing some ice-breakers and getting to know each member of our recruitment group.

Dolce & Gabbana was the first party. Their room was so beautiful. They had decorated it with their sorority colours. The girls were dressed in all the same fashionable clothes. I could tell they were really into involvement though because they had a lot of girls involved in ASI, and the president of ASI was also in this house. I was a little bit scared since this was my first recruitment experience. The first girl I was with could tell so she just encouraged me and talked to me about why I wanted to join their sorority and all that. I left with a really good feeling about this house since I love getting involved.

Valentino was the second party. Their clothes were as cute as Dolce & Gabbana's but their personalities really shined through. I had really great conversation with them. We didn't just talk about their sorority but about some of our hobbies and interests. I told them a really dorky fact about me (I am a sponsored Rock Band player) and they just thought it was really cool. One girl even went as far as to introduce me to the president because of my "job"

So far, I had a great recruitment experience. We had a little break after that and played more ice-breakers.

Miu Miu was the third party. Their decorations were so adorable! So far the best-looking room. I could tell that they were really girly girls. The conversations I had with them weren't really great. There were a few awkward silences, and neither one of us had any questions to ask. It was also really difficult to hear because we were all crowded into a tiny room. I left the party feeling so-so about this house.

Oscar de la Renta was the fourth party. I could tell right away that they had a strong sisterhood. They were a little bit shy and quiet. I was double-rushed with another girl. It was also the first time I found out that there was such a thing as "double-rush." The other PNM and I didn't compete for attention, but it was a little bit awkward. The girl that rushed us talked a lot. It was kind of hard to get a word in. However, we got talk to the president so I really felt special in this party. She was super nice and really genuinely interested in the two of us. I had a good feeling, but I honestly couldn't see myself as being one of them.

We had a little lunch break at this time. We weren't suppose to talk to each other about our feelings towards each sorority, but we still did. I admit that this did influence my decisions later on and I sorely regret that. Everyone liked Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino. Some girls like Miu Miu but not a lot of people like Oscar de la Renta. I felt a little bit confused because even though they were shy, they did seem really nice.

After our lunch break we got to visit Jimmy Choo. I read up on this house before recruitment and loved their philanthropy. I also spoke to the vice president of recruitment from this house before, and she was the one that really influenced me to go into rush. I loved these girls. They were so fun and energetic. One girl flicked off her toenail as she was trying to greet me. I felt so bad for her but it ended up being a conversation topic for us (I had a similar injury). I really liked this house and could see myself as being one of them.

The last party of the day was Christian Louboutin. Everyone was so tired and ready to go home by that time. But we were still excited about this party. These girls were dressed so nicely! They had similar outfits to Dolce & Gabbana's so it was really fashionable and chic. I could tell that this sorority had the prettiest girls (not that the other ones were pretty). I was double-rushed again for this party. It didn't feel as awkward since I already experienced this before. I liked this house but couldn't really see myself as a part of them.

During one of our breaks we PNMs were figuring out the cost of each sorority. We received a big pamphlet with all the costs and details of each sorority. I ranked my houses in consideration of how I felt about each house and also the cost. Money was tight at the moment and I didn't want to put a burden on my family.

This was my ranking:



1. Valentino
2. Jimmy Choo
3. Christian Louboutin
4. Dolce & Gabbana
5. Miu Miu
6. Oscar de la Renta

you give great descriptions. i hope that you're not going to wait until tomorrow to update-you can post each separate day today-i know that we gc'ers would love that.

Day 2 - Philanthropy Day
 

Day Two was Philanthropy Day. It should have really been called House Tour Day. This was the day where we visited each sorority at their house and looked around. We also made little things for the sororities philanthropy.

I was looking forward to this day because I always loved the look of sorority houses and wanted to see what each one was like. I was getting ready to head out when I got a call from my Rho Chi, saying I didn't have a party until 4:00pm. I was devastated. That meant only two houses wanted me. Each PNM could get up to four parties. However, I didn't feel discouraged enough to withdraw. I had hope to get my top 2 houses. My Rho Chi called again and told me to come to lunch even if my party didn't start until 4. So I went to school, and another Rho Chi gave me my schedule.

4:00 - Oscar de la Renta
5:00 - Dolce & Gabbana

I didn't get any of my top choices. However, I did like Dolce & Gabbana so I decided to stay. I knew a lot of girls didn't get any parties so I felt really honoured still.

Oscar de la Renta's house was really plain. It wasn't ugly but it just wasn't what I pictured a sorority house would look like. They greeted us with a song. They did this thing where they all lined the windows and doors, so it looked a little bit overwhelming. It was sweet, nonetheless. We made bracelets for their philanthropy, and I got double-rushed with the same active that rushed me yesterday. She was nice but still really talkative. Then another active joined us so it kinda evened up the numbers. We got to go to the president's room, and she even remembered me from the day before. They had a loft upstairs that I could just imagine myself living in. It was really quaint and intimate, something that I wanted to share with my sisters. I liked Oscar de la Renta more today than yesterday. They were also a bit more open and carefree. I still couldn't really see myself fitting in, and this house was one of the most expensive, too. As we left, they sang another song and waved us goodbye.

Dolce & Gabbana was next. Their house was so cute! It was painted in their sorority colours and I thought that was really gorgeous. They greeted us with a song, too, and each active called a PNM's name. I got called by a nice girl but I could tell she wasn't that interested in me. As we talked she would sometimes look away and focus on someone else. We did strike up a few interesting conversation topics. She was captain of the Greek Week volleyball team, and I played volleyball in high school. She passed me to a girl who took me on house tours. The inside of their house was gorgeous, very well furnished. The bedrooms were really pretty and they had matching bedsets and everything. She took me outside and another sister talked to me. This sister was one I really liked. She was senior class president and I was ASB president so we talked about a lot of high school stuff. She was really nice and helpful. The party came to an end and all the members did a little chant and dance. It was really cute.

Since I only had two parties, I didn't need to eliminate any. I just signed my card and gave it to my Rho Chi. It was a good day. I couldn't help but be a little disappointed that none of my top 3 wanted me.

1. Dolce & Gabbana

2. Oscar de la Renta

i'm glad you didn't let yourself get down and that you were able to enjoy yourself. what a good attitude.

more please!

Preference Night
 

Today was Preference Night. I was so excited because I haven't had a chance to dress up since my high school graduation. I called my Rho Chi because I was so scared that I could be dropped but she assured me that I had a party. I speculated which one it was but honestly couldn't guess.

I arrived at the student union and saw everyone dressed up. Everyone was really pretty! They all had really fashionable clothes. I was jealous of the tall girls because they had such long legs (I'm only 5'4). I got my party schedule.

8:00 - Oscar de la Renta

I was so disappointed! I really liked Dolce & Gabbana. I didn't cry but I wanted to. One of the friends I made in recruitment rode with me to the house. She had her party at 7:00 so I had to wait another hour. I just sat in the car and thought.

I called my Rho Chi and told her that I wanted to drop out. I told her I really liked the other sorority and I just couldn't see myself fitting in with those girls. She told me to just go to the party and if I wanted to drop out afterward I could. I think I had already made up my mind because even though I really respected my Rho Chi, I wanted another opinion. I called my brother and he told me that I should drop out because joining a sorority would put a financial strain on our family. I agreed with him and went back to the student union to withdraw from recruitment.
< br/> The girls at the student union were really nice and hoped that I would go into recruitment again. I told them I wasn't ruling out Greek life. And that's the end of my recruitment story.

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As per FSUZeta's request that I post all in one day.

Um...wow. I am sorry that this did not turn out the way you had hoped and doubly sorry that you chose not to attend the pref party of D&G. We always encourage pnms to attend all parties they are invited to.

Was the financial cost of a sorority something you had not considered prior to signing up?

Yea, it turned out to be more expensive that I thought it would be. I didn't think it would be cheap. But it was just way more than my family expected. I didn't attend the pref party of Oscar de la Renta, not D&G. I wasn't invited to D&G.

So instead of going to preference, you ask your brother, who has no idea how you've interacted with the chapter? I know you said Oscar was the most expensive, but would Oscar have been a financial strain but not the others? Are they significantly more expensive than the others?

No, I asked my brother if he thought it was a good idea. And he basically told me that I was already stretched too thin between starting college and our family's situation (not just financial). He said that I should just wait a little bit, maybe even until sophomore year before settling in any permanent groups. Like I said, I think I had already made up my mind about withdrawing. I do regret it a little bit, but I didn't want to away someone else's chance at getting in either. So I just decided to drop out and focus more on school for now.

I can't tell from your story if your brother is at the same school as you, but if not I hope he didn't sell you a bum steer. At some schools, freshman year is the best if not only chance you will get to rush. I'm concerned he might be from a campus where girls can get bids easily any of the 4 years - or worse, looking at it from a guy's perspective (men's rush & women's rush are completely different).

Yet, if there is a family situation (which you certainly don't need to discuss on the internet), it may be for the best. Once it clears up, and you rethink your desire to go greek, talk to the Greek Advisor. My best to you.

I understand. I'm going to go for it again (hopefully, everything will settle down, school, family stuff). I know that being a sophomore might decrease my chances of getting in a sorority, but at the moment, there's nothing else I can do. My brother did not attend the same school as me. In fact, he went to a school with no GLOs. Our conversation wasn't based on the sorority aspects as much as it was on our family. He is definitely not an expert in Greek life so I know that going to him would have been pretty useless if my concerns were just purely based on the fact that I didn't feel like I fit in with Oscar de la Renta.

And as I already mentioned. For now I'm just going to focus on schoolwork. Get some good grades, maybe do a little bit of ASI involvement or intramural sports. I still want to go Greek but I think that dream will have to be put on hold for now.

good luck to you omgitstiffanie. i am sorry it did not work out for you this year.

I love your screen name almost as much as OHNOITSJESS. Good luck in the coming year. I'm sure things will work out for your.