What is with the SEC schools?
 

So I just joined today and I've been looking around and I've noticed that some people talk about rushing SEC schools and how competitive and intimidating it can be. Why is this? I'm going to UGA this fall, and I plan on rushing. If it is so bad, I could use some pointers.

Because Greek life is everything in the south if you are socially connected, and if you aren't...it can make you socially connected.

For a lot of older southern families, it is a rite of passage type of thing. UGA is not as competitive for guys as schools like Alabama, Ole Miss or Auburn, but its still up there.

What are you basing this on? (I'm not in a position to refute it, but it's surprising to see it.)

Is it the number of Atlanta guys that you think are cheesy (Do people still use "cheesy"?) that still find places in groups that at Auburn, Alabama, and Ol' Miss are more old south?

is legacy that big of a deal to the people that will be giving me bids or is it a bigger deal to the people seeking the bids?

Being a legacy doesn't guarantee anything. If you are a douchebag.......you aren't getting a bid.

I'd like to agree with that completely, but unfortunately I have seen evidence to the contrary.

would I need to get letters of rec. for UGA even if the website says that they aren't required?

If you are planning on going through Panhellenic Recruitment at UGA you will need letters of recommendation from alumnae members of the chapters on campus.

Fraternity rush is a whole other thing. I would really try and talk to some UGA recent alumni to get a sense of the process.

I'm fairly sure you won't need letters at UGA, so long as you're a guy. I mean, if you know influential alum from one chapter you like, a letter to the rush chairman wouldn't hurt, but that generally isn't done in IFC recruitment.

Alpha, yeah, from what I've seen and what my friends have told me, Atlanta has hurt UGA in a big way. Now, I imagine that the top UGA chapters are as competitive as the top tier chapters at Bama and UM and AU, but I think those three schools are stronger across the board. For example, at Bama, you'll have tons of kids coming from private schools in Mobile, MB in bham, Montgomery, Huntsville, etc...A lot of those kids seem more prepared for fraternity life because many are from older southern families, did escorted during cotillion...

You'll see that at top chapters at UGA too, with guys coming from places like Augusta or Savannah, but most come from Atlanta. When you factor in that many of those families aren't from the south, its just not the same as it would be somewhere like Ole Miss. Men's stores in Athens probably make a lot of money selling entire wardrobes of VV and RL to metro-Atlanta kids coming from high school. There are a lot of high schools in Alabama where the kids look like they're already in a fraternity at a southern university. Outside of those places I mentioned, and schools like Pace, Westminister or Woodward, you don't see that in GA.

My cousin got a bid from his legacy house at Alabama the summer before he even started! That's why SEC rush is competitive, it's because the top houses know who they want before rush starts and they're recruiting those guys from the second they get their "congratulations on being accepted to Alabama" letters. My cousin never even lived in a dorm, he just moved straight into the fraternity house... and five years later he's still there :rolleyes:

I'd really like to go through Panhellenic recruitment at UGA please.... :p

I think some guys at my school showed up at sorority rush in drag as a joke. Or so I heard...

From what I can gather, the Greek community in the south is a lot different than Greek community's in the north. Everything I've seen, read, or people I've talked to...its hard to put my finger on it, but it has a different "feel"