Hello everyone!
I am so glad I found this website - I am currently rushing at *a large public college in the ACC* and have had a whirlwind weekend.
I'm a sophomore and I live at home (about 30-40 minutes away from school, depending on traffic) since my dad is really sick, so I help take care of his and my younger brother (Ha, I seem to have mentioned this about a million and one times this weekend). I don't know if I can post my school - how would I find out, or would I get in trouble?
I would omit the name of the school (as you have already done!) 
I'm a biology major, and have been busing my butt to do decently in school, even though *my school* is big on Engineering and Agriculture. Anyways, I really liked the first night, but was upset to see on Saturday, the day of house tours and such, that I was only invited back to 2 sororities (we have 7 on campus), while most of the other girls were invited back to anywhere from 3-5. Apparently, it's because of my grades - they cut anyone under the standard, even though I fall .05 points short of this
. It didn't seem fair that some girls who have easier majors (I know this is debateable - but public speaking vs. quantitative chem? come on) had inflated GPAs, and I wish they would've taken my major into consideration. Anyways, I was really upset and crying at first, but I made the best of it and really like the two houses that did invite me back.
Academic standards are important & vary from campus to campus...sorority to sorority. Similarly, you would be judged by standards for entrance into graduate school or perhaps a job.
Anyways, I'm sooo excited for pref night now, and I really hope I get invited back to my top choice. While one sorority has nice girls, I can see myself being friends more with my top choice. I felt like the girls in my top choice really liked me too - I really connected with one girl on Saturday and she even dropped back by today (skit day) to say hi to me and see how things were. The only bad part of the day was accidentally spilling my drink on my new silk sundress - luckily it dried and didn't stain!!
Hopefully they'll remember me for it.
It's great news that you like the 2 you went back to -- good luck & keep us posted!
I have a few questions for you all though:
1) How much time a week does pledging itself usually involve? I work part time, and I'm sure my boss won't be happy with my constant leave requests, but she'll have to deal.
If I were you, I would be concerned about the time requirements and the distance from your home. Ask the women in the chapters these questions.
2) Maybe someone can explain this. On Saturday, when I went to my top choice house, one girl was assigned to me specifically. However, when I went back today, one girl was assigned to another rushee AND me. Do you think this is because they didn't like me as much and wanted to focus on the other girls? Or maybe they wanted to get to know more girls better? One girl was paired with us at the door, talked to us a bit before and after the skit, and then we were talked to by two other sisters before we left. I'm a pretty big talker, and I was really interested in talking to the sisters, but I didn't want to feel like I was hogging the attention from the other girl. I still talked a lot though.
Don't read too much into not being able to have a one-on-one conversation at every house. Sounds like you handled it well. Sometimes it makes the conversation easier!
3) Before we went into each house, and before we met them on the first night, they made us leave our purses outside. Why do they make us do this? I heard two things - so they can't see what kind of purse you have, and that it's so they can't give you gifts or whatnot. I don't know why this would make a difference - so many other things like sunglasses, jeans, or jewelry could also denote things about you.
It's probably a practical reason -- keeping your hands free, no cell phone ringers, etc. Ask one of the Panhellenic reps.
Sorry this is so long! I am sooo nervous, and will be until Tuesday night. Hopefully I can make it through 8 and a half hours of work tomorrow and two tests on Tuesday!!