[UGADad]

Originally Posted by Greek Stress

As I mentioned, I am new at this blogging so patience with people would be a good idea. I was hoping to get some constructive ideas from you

I'm sure your feelings were honest and you shouldn't have to apologize for venting openly on an open board about UGA sorority recritment. Lots of parents have been there and there are lots of reasons to vent about a very difficult process.

I do have one more piece of unsolicited advice for all UGA frreshman parents from someone with very limited but very recent experience: Please tell your daughters to look forward and enjoy their freshman year getting to know lots of people within and outside their sororities, no matter how good or bad they feel right now about recruitment. If they are lucky enough to be in Brumby they are with 900+ freshman girls, several of whom may well be their best friends forever. (I'm sure other dorms are great, too, but there's that limited experience thing.)

UGADaughter went to UGA from out-of-state. By the end of her first semester she had a very close-knit group of about 15 girl friends from the dorm, and she only knew one of them at the beginning of the year. Sure, if they had deferred rush at UGA they probably would have all tried to pledge together somewhere. Now they all love (or at least like) their own sororities or other groups and they have this great, close-knit group, too. Within the group of friends there are 5 sororities and 4 states represented, and at least two of the girls didn’t even go through recruitment and probably never will.

To me the most unfortunate thing about SEC recruitment is that, because it is the week before school even starts, it is the only thing going on and therefore feels like not only the most important thing, but everything. The importance of the “right match” is hugely magnified. It is only natural that the girls and we parents want that first week away from home to go perfectly. I do think it would be better if they were already in school for at least a short period before recruitment, but I also admit that I don’t know how the sisters could balance preparation for recruitment, their school work and their social lives once classes have begun.

Anyway, I am rambling. My point is this can be a wonderful year for the girls no matter how recruitment went, and the opportunities for friendship and rewarding activities are all over the place. They don’t know that yet, but they will. Just let them vent, stay supportive and encourage them to find their place, or all their places, among the many wonderful choices and opportunities they have. Be there for them, but don’t try to “solve” things for them. Stay positive and upbeat and, most likely, things will work out really well.

OK, down off my soapbox.