Looking back, were you right?
 

I have often wondered when reading recent recruitment stories if the advantage of a time has validated, or invalidated, your initial impressions of sororities you may have rushed. Given the very, very short time you have to form an impression of a group, often from one or two people you met at a party, it seems that over the course of a year or so of interacting with those groups on campus your opinion might have changed.

Did your first impressions ring true?

Having been a sophomore when I rushed, my initial impressions of the chapters on my campus were true, I already had each one pegged. However, having been an alumna for a few years now and having been on GC for a minute, I've realized that Greek Life extends well beyond the walls of George Mason and that all kinds of people are Greek, not just the stereotypes and I am more proud than ever to be a member of my specific organization after realizing how large it all really is. I also didn't realize how lucky I am to have entered into this community at all, considering how many people try and don't get in or don't go for it at all.

Excellent topic, btw!

If you read my recruitment story, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=87635 you can tell I was influenced by my suitemate, my roomate and one of the girls on my hall who's sister was an active in a sorority. In the begining they really filled my head with lots of preconcived notions about each chapter. By the end of recruitment I began to develop my own ideas about each chapter, and while they weren't great they were better than what the girls I knew had spewn on and on for all of fall semester.

Looking back on it now, no the group I thought were "know it alls" weren't really. They were just very proud of their accomplishments. Two of my very best friends are from that group and I think I would have fit in there if I had not rec'd a bid from AZD.

And I think even the chapters I thought I would have fit in with. I don't think I would now. It's not that they are bad chapters or I didn't like the girls or anything its just that AZD is just more me.

Looking back, I was certainly influenced. I had been on campus for a full year, heard the stereotypes and knew some of the women in the sororities. During recruitment, these beliefs were either confirmed or completely proven untrue.

I can distinctly remember writing off one sorority in particular because of what I had heard about them. I did a complete 180 during recruitment. They ended up being one of my favorite chapters, and in the end I preffed them along with ADPi!

I also recall rushing with my roommates from the previous year. Some of these girls were too cool for school and had written off certain chapters they believed they were too good for. They also had a change of heart after the very first round! That was very surprising to me.

I think (I hope!) that any conceptions you have before coming into this process are undone by the end of the first day, when you have had a chance to experience it for yourself.

When I first met members of certain groups, the stereotypes first rang true to me. However, I think that is because I was looking for them to be confirmed because I had already heard the stereotypes. What I found when I got to know members of each group better (after pledging) was that the stereotypes ring false about as often as they ring true.

Also, just because you pledge a group with a certain image, it doesn't mean that a lot can't change in four years. Once you join, it is up to you and others in the group to determine if you'll be a part of that stereotype continuing or not.

As a freshman in college, I absolutely bought everything that the first sorority I saw during rush had to sell. I was totally in love with the chants, the outfits, all the external factors. I did not accept a bid during that recruitment (was offered one by a different group), but I spent the next few terms really getting to the know the chapters. I learned that although all of the groups had positive things to offer to particular girls, the first group that stole my heart would not have been right for me. The alcohol use and smoking would have turned me off very quickly. I had friends who joined there, but I doubt if I could have felt like an insider.

Whether or not your first impressions were right, it's pretty hard to look back and really tell if you would have fit in with another group after being part of your own. I am sure I could have made due in any group on campus, even the weak one which eventually closed. I'm glad I ended up a member of AOII. My chapter was full of laid back, smart women who were great sisters. I'm enjoying finding my pledge class for our 50th Anniversary celebration. They all have had interesting lives and even though it has been 14 years since we pledged, I can talk to each of them like I saw them last week!

OMG SOOO TRUE !!!!!!!!!!! Soo many girls don't think about (or realize) how fast the girls in a chapter change over, and the real power they actually have to make changes happen.

I think there will always be members that live up to the stereotype, but I have learned that the impressions I had have not rung true.

I was a junior when I went through, but I hadnt really heard anything about Greek Life. Not until the semester before I went through did I start to think I would fit in certain chapters. Neither of them were AOII. Probably b/c I didnt know anything about AOII, but now I think that I fit in with my other sisters very well. :)

Some of the stereotypes I had heard before recruitment were just based on dumb nicknames that could be made with a chapter's letters. Of course, this was from my dumb [male] friend, so I didn't really pay too much attention.

However, I definitely got some distinct first impressions. At one chapter I visited, the members I talked to seemed completely braindead. Looking back, I think it was probably because they were poorly prepared for recruitment (i.e. not knowing what to say and not to say), plus, they probably said dumb things out of being nervous (I know I have!).

I definitely know that I ended up in the best chapter for me. However, out of 14 chapters at my alma mater, I still think that I would have fit in very well in 3 others besides Sigma Kappa. I think that where I was invited to preference (with the exception of one chapter) was pretty much where I would fit. I think that the members know better than the PNMs who fits where. Also, I am still very close with my SK family and sometimes I wonder who would be in my family and who my closest friends would have been if I joined a different chapter.

^^^I thought he died?

Looking back on it. I know I could of fit into two other houses on campus. But I came in not knowing everything. I also came in with the notions of a friend at a differnet campus who had went through recrutiment before. I ended up joining a top chapter at my school year end and year out. Looking back at my aluma matter I love the pride. I love my kite family. Its just so enjoyable.

I remember getting some bad impressioins especailly at one house in the first round. I wished at times I would of been more open to the other house that I preffed. THey were a good house too. I think I could of easily fit into other houses. I had friends at other houses.

I still talk to my the group of close friends I made in my pledge class. I love my theta sisters and know it was where I should be.

Nope, his grandpa and great grandpa died. haha

There was one chapter that I really sold short when I was going through recruitment. I know now that these women have probably the strongest sisterhood on my campus, but that formal recruitment has always been a struggle for them. I really wish that I had given them more of a chance.