Sweet Caroline's Super Short South Carolina Story
 

A Yankee goes South! A family friend of mine, whom I shall call Sweet Caroline, went through recruitment at South Carolina with a happy ending!

We grew up in a small town, our families know each other, our brothers played football together, she has been one of my mom's (physical therapy) patients, etc. Although Sweet Caroline was in a magnet program at one of the Nation's top-ranked public high schools, had a great GPA, earned a service award, played field hockey and lacrosse all 4 years, was a co-editor-in-chief of the yearbook senior year, on Homecoming and Prom Court, I knew these things made her a good candidate for sorority membership, but would she stand out?

Greek Life was not on Sweet Caroline's radar until I mentioned it to her. I spakred her interest, and once the guidebook arrived in the mail, she talked to her parents about it and decided to give it a go. I found her recs for 9 of the 10 groups (all except Alpha Chi Omega--and this was not without trying! I asked a friend from high school, a friend from college, and our APH delegate), and I gave her a crash course in recruitment conversation.

The following groups are at South Carolina:
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Delta Pi
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Zeta
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Phi Mu
Zeta Tau Alpha

Round 1: Scholarship Day
She remained mum after round 1 about her favorites. She said although it was very loud, she enjoyed the high energy and felt comfortable during recruitment. She said after 3 parties or so, many of the chapters seemed the same. I cautioned her that she might not have a full schedule, and that the average PNM probably won't.

Round 2: Leadership Day
Sweet Caroline received a full schedule, with 7 of her top 8 chapters! She visited:
Alpha Chi Omega
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Zeta
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Zeta Tau Alpha
I didn't get a chance to talk to her after this party. I was at Steelers training camp and then her first day of class was the next day.

Round 3: Philanthropy Day
Another full schedule, with 4 of her top 5 chapters:
Alpha Chi Omega (I guess not having a rec didn't hurt her!)
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Zeta
Zeta Tau Alpha
She told me at this point that she's getting a much better feel for the chapters and her top choices are Chi O and Tri Delta, though she likes the other 3 as well.

Preference
Sweet Caroline got both of her top two for preference! She loves both of these groups!
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta

BID DAY
Sweet Caroline got her first choice...














































CHI OMEGA!

Yay for lacrosse playing Sweet Caroline and Chi O! SC is a great school, I am sure she will have a fabulous time there!

Yea for Sweet Caroline, and Yea for Chi Omega!!

I'm glad she had a great experience, and you are sweet to help her get her recs. It's a challenge sometimes, isn't it? You find yourself seeing everyone in terms of the greek alphabet for awhile!

Fantastic! I can't believe how many SC stories there have been!! Did you see the pictures on The Daily Gamecock? The video is adorable with all the squealing and glee!

Congrats to your friend and XO!!! Hope she has a great time at USC.

hooray!

Congratulations to Sweet Caroline! My Chi O Daughter has begun her final year at SC. I can't believe how fast the time goes. I hope Sweet Caroline gets a chance to live in the house. I know my D loved it.

Congrats to sweet Caroline. One of our hometown girls pledged XO. The bags with the owls are adorable!

This is so true...last year one of my friends with a daughter going to Alabama said she was getting to the point where if somebody said they were a KD, all she could think was "rats, I already have two KDs, I need a Theta!"

Seriously, though, in the same freakish manner in that I can remember the birthday of anyone I ever met before I turned 21, if anyone has ever told me what their greek affiliation was and where, I will remember it forever. Does come in handy at rec writing time.

I am good at remembering birthdays and Greek affiliations as well. I was just glad there are only 10 chapters at SC!

Oh my gosh. You have just described me with the memory of pre-21 birthdays and Greek affiliations.:eek:

JEALOUS

Little update:
Sweet Caroline's roomie went Alpha Delta Pi.
Roomie's HS BFF went Chi Omega and her roomie went Alpha Delta Pi.
So, two rooms, with an ADPi and ChiO in each. :)