[AuburnMom]

I do apologize for the small delay in finalizing Kate’s story. I knew time was going to be tight between Kate receiving her bid and us making it to Kate’s sister’s swim meet. I didn’t want you all to have to be “hanging” out there, yet at the same time, I wanted to take a few moments to summarize Kate’s experience.

I guess since I am a Mom, I feel a small responsibility to help future girls rushing at Auburn. As I realize that this thread may be read by next years PNM’s and that this thread ranged from happy to sad and was very emotional at times, I felt like taking a minute to summarize the experience would be helpful (and I didn’t want to scare next year’s group half to death!)

So, this if for next year’s group…..

Girls, Auburn has a highly competitive rush. You will want to be prepared going into it. Get recommendations for each sorority (if you can) and prepare yourself for the fact that you will be cut by some groups. The most important thing is to keep an open mind and maximize your options. There are 16 sororities at Auburn and approximately 200 girls in each sorority. Each house is going to have at least 10-15 girls that will be your best friends. If you limit yourself by thinking, I can only be an X, a Y, or a Z; you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

To summarize Kate’s situation: Kate was not a legacy and there are no Greek relatives in our family; Kate is not from the Southeast and did not know any active sorority members at Auburn when she decided to rush; Kate had a respectable GPA, but she was not a 4.0; Kate was involved in high school, but she was not a head cheerleader, homecoming queen, pageant winner, etc. Even given all of this, Kate had a successful rush at Auburn!

I define Kate’s rush as successful because she had a good time, maximized her options all the way through rush, and is happy in the sorority she ended up in. Even though Kate had a successful rush, I do want to let you know that she was cut by groups that she liked. The thing that worked so well for her was that she went into rush with an open mind and no preconceived notions and because of that she was able to find a good many groups that she felt that she could fit in with.

Kate enjoyed her rush at Auburn and while there were some disappointments along the way, she was able to weather them and continue on in the process and for this I think I am most proud of my daughter!

So, that all said, and my public service message done…..



Here we go…..

Kate had two favorite sororities from the very beginning; Ireland and Austria. During her entire time at rush while other sororities would wander into second, third and fourth place and while these spots would shift as the days went by, Ireland and Austria were tied for first place the entire time.

Kate would have been happy at any of the 3 sororities she preffed, but her favorites were Ireland and Austria.

Kate is a proud member of (drumroll please...) Delta Gamma (the sorority formally known as Ireland!)

Post script:

I ran into a problem at the end of this story as I wanted to be able to tell you where Kate pledged but I promised her she would remain anonymous. As such I cannot reveal my entire key (which country is which sorority) as that would make it too easy to figure out who she is. I did feel that it was important to be able to tell you what sorority Kate pledged as I thought it was important to the story.

Lastly, for those of you that could have careers in the FBI or CIA (you know who you are), Kate was a pseudonym and when I said that we were from the “north”; I took some geographical licensing. All other parts of this story are true as written. Especially the part about my husband and the “internet affair”

Adieu ladies; I will see you in 4 years when Kate’s younger sister (we’ll call her Christy) rushes!