Minorities rushing for sororities?
 

I'm entering a top 20 school and I've always wanted to be in a sorority. I grew up as an only child so I've never had a great group of sisters that I could always count on and go to. However, being born to Chinese parents, my parents and I share very different views on college. My goal is med school, so they think I should concentrate on just school but I want to work hard to play hard. Another thing I'm really hesitant about is the fact that there aren't many Asians that are in the sororities at my school. Most of them celebrate their aZnPride (seriously??!!) through the Chinese Students Association and stuff like that. I'm not like that AT ALL and I don't identify with ANY of them.
What do you guys think? Will I be at a "disadvantage" since I'm Chinese? Any advice would really help?

Just go through rush and see what happens. No one here will be able to tell you for sure if you'd be at a disadvantage. I can only share my experience that I'm Asian as well and was not excluded from joining my sorority. Some GCers here can also say the same.

Just because there aren't too many Asians in the sororities at your school doesn't mean anything.

I'm one of 2 asians who is in a sorority at my school. there are 15 sororities on my campus

At many Southern and Midwestern schools, there aren't many minority NPC Greeks for two big reasons: there aren't many in those areas of the country, and not many minorities that do live in those areas go through NPC recruitment. Low numbers of minority members doesn't mean that the chapters don't accept minority members.

If you are at a school in the South or Midwest, I would strongly suggest getting recs. For example, if you rushed at an SEC school without recs and were unsuccessful, it would most likely be because you didn't make yourself known (by having recs), not because they don't want minority members in their chapters. If you don't have personal connections, there are Alumnae Panhellenics where you can go for recs.

I can say that with most chapters at my school, being a minority is a positive, all else constant. We want our chapters to be diverse.

You will not be at a disadvantage because of your race ... you could be at a disadvantage if you fail to get recs for such a large campus.

We don't even know what school she goes to, so how do we even know that recs are absolutely necessary?

If anything, poor grades and a crappy attitude would be definite signs of a disadvantage.

True ... I was making an assumption based on her entering a "top 20 school". I don't believe the OP mentioned anything about her grades.

Yeah I am not sure what a "top 20" school is. There are zillions of rankings for every category under the sun.

I wouldnt say that you would be at a disadvantage in rushing a sorority because of your race. If I were you, I would do my research on the sororities on your campus BEFORE you rush. Too many girls have failed to do this and THAT is the true disadvantage. You have to find the right "fit" for you. Sororities are not "one size fits all". It would be unfortunate if you rushed and it later one down the road, you realize that the sorority you originally chose was not right for you.

I've come to notice that most, if not all, people that say this are the ones from minority or culture-based GLOs.

If she wants to join and NPC then so what? She has already said this: So why would anyone suggest she do her research and see which is her best fit? That's why there is Rush Week, so she could meet all the NPC sororities and find which one is best for her. If she doesn't feel at home in the Chinese Students Association then she shouldn't waste her time "doing research" on different kinds of sororities because she won't feel at home in an ethnic sorority.

Not wanting to be a member of an "aZn" sorority is not the same as wanting to be in an NPC. She may be interested in a MCGLO, LGLO, or BGLO for all we know.

I know one GCer who could tell us what a Top 20 school is.

irishpipes FTW! ZING!

In general, you'll rarely find an NPHCer suggest researching BGLOs to someone who hasn't already expressed interest in a BGLO. I wish others would stop recommending NPHC (and MCGLO) orgs to racial and ethnic minorities who haven't already done the research.

I agree with you, if she wants to rush NPC (that wasn't too clear in her OP) and there's nothing (that we know of) stopping her from doing so. Good luck to her.

She's old enough to realize this without it being recommended, though.

If she wants NPC, her research will happen during rush (isn't that how it's done?) and if she doesn't want NPC she'll have to realize that on her own before, during, or after she goes through NPC rush.