Role of appearance during rush
 

I'll be a freshman at Alabama next year, and I plan on through recruitment. I've wanted to join a sorority all my life and I'm open to honestly any chapter (I don't care about old row new row, whatever). I'm just worried that because I'm from the north, and I'm also overweight, no sorority will give me a bid. I have a really good resume and academic background and a positive attitude. I've been working on slimming down, and plan on losing at least thirty pounds by rush week, but I still won't be the slim, cute girl I see in all the bid day pictures. So basically my question is, do I have any chance of getting a bid next year?

We honestly cannot answer that. We will not be in membership selection. All you can do is do your best. My suggestion: lose weight for yourself, not for a sorority or for a person. Be confident in yourself. In my opinion the most confident people are usually the ones who shine. If you know you are amazing, others will pick up on it. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. Get good recs, work on your conversation skills and be yourself. Good luck and keep reading!

Prepare yourself by securing recommendations, practicing your conversational skills, and presenting yourself in the best possible way-neatly groomed, clothes that emphasize your assets and downplay those features you want to downplay. So you won't be a size 0 when rush rolls around-you will be 30 pounds lighter, which will probably make you feel better and give you more confidence.

We can't tell you your chances (or anyone else's) of receiving a bid, but I can tell you will most likely see that there are girls of all shapes and sizes in all the chapters at Bama. You will also learn that quite a few girls from up north are members of the Bama sororities. Your best chance of receiving a bid will be your freshman year, so do it!

Word to the wise. Clothes that fit and that are proportional to your size are MUCH more flattering and slimming than pretending you're a size 6 when you're a 10. Or 12 or 14. Make sure you look good from head to toe, as much for your own self-confidence as for what the sorority women will see. Working on the diet now is a very good thing - hopefully it will start some habits you can keep through that difficult first year of college. The freshman 15 is no lie and can be MUCH more than 15 pounds.

But don't starve yourself, particularly during rush itself. Passing out during a rush party because you thought saving yourself a couple hundred calories for the day is no way to win friends or influence people.

No matter what your weight is, go into recruitment with CONFIDENCE and a great attitude. Do not be ashamed of your weight or try to make excuses.

Prepare yourself with memorable things to say. Think about your topics of conversation, think about good answers to common questions so that you have a couple of cute stories to relate. Make yourself memorable for what is in your HEAD, not what is on your hips.