Hey Reiki,
No I do not take offense to your opinion!
But I do not feel as if SGRho should be a second choice. And I am sure that you will find that most Greeks feel exactly the same about their individual orgs. So that is where the research comes in. Before you "put yourself out there, so to speak", you really have to know what you want! And that might mean waiting a month, two months or even a year. Now I believe in changing of one's mind, but I can tell you from experience that there are alot of young ladies who want to be Greek for all of the wrong reasons!!!
And when I was an undergrad I encountered several individuals who would fall into this category. You know when someone just wants to be Greek by their behavior. The easiest way to tell is, that they are not willing to work for it. Now that does not mean doing things for you and all of that crazyness. It simply means even having the grades, getting your info together etc. Coming to an interview totally unprepared...knowing nothing about your orgs. history,(which can be found at the National Website) not even being able to answer why they want to be apart of your org. This is why you need to have pledged yourself to the org. of your choice in the sense that this is really what you want. We are not like the white sororites and Frats. once you are a member of ABC...THAT IS IT!!!
You do not have the choice of searching on. That is why it is very important to know what it is you want and go for it. People want instant gratification and usually that does not happen when going on your quest for a BGLO. Just like you need to impress someone on a job interview, I would need to be impressed by what you could offer my chapter and SGRho as a whole. It is not that I think non-greeks have no opinion, but as a former non-greek alot of what I thought was wrong, because there is a sense of mystery or secrecy. This is a journey that a person really needs to experience to really know what it is all about. As a non-greek I observed all of the sororities on my campus. I found out the requirements and most importantly...I FOUND OUT WHICH EACH OF THEM STOOD FOR. I did my research
worked on my grades, and when I KNEW WHAT I WANTED, that is when I spoke more of my interest. But when I did that I was ready!!
Basically I knew not to come half stepping. You sound as if you know about Greek life, but I also feel that you may have been having a hard time deciding which way to go, or having trouble trying to get there. I tell you that every Greek does not think that a prospective is shallow or rude or etc. But you need to know that the experience will humble you (not degrade) and really make you look at yourself. You will learn your strenghts and weaknesses no matter how you become a member (undergrad or grad). But it is something that should be taken seriously, and if one has not made up their mind, they need to keep searching then, not after the choice has been made...and that is that!!
I forgot to add: when the time comes for a person to become a member of a BGLO they will know it.(the process of beginning to becoming a member) And it won't come from looking or just talking to a member!!
Tenacious1922