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.)