[FSUZeta]

Caroline, you SHOULD try again, but analyze last years experience. Did you have recommendations to all the chapters on your campus? Find recs to all the sororities on your campus for this rush.

How did your grades and activities compare without other PNMs last year? How about this year? You can't rest on your HS laurels now.

How did your conversations go? How could you improve convos this year?

Unfortunately the computer randomly dropping people is a fallacy perpetuated year after year. It's just not true-think about it. The sororities want lots of members. It makes them financially stable. Simply put: more members, more money. Dropping random girls who could pay dues doesn't make sense and the computer DOES NOT randomly spit out girls names who are then dropped by all groups. Dropping girls who don't meet GPA requirements, rude girls, girls with questionable reputations, girls who did not get involved in organizations or charitable causes in HS does make sense.

Something that sometimes happens to some PNMs hinges on the groups they aim for. If the PNM lists the "top" chapters as 1's and the chapters she is actually better suited for and has a chance to receive a bid from are the ones she ranks, she might end up shooting herself in the foot. Each round she is narrowing her realistic choices and eventually the chapters she is reaching for are going to drop her as they have less invitations to offer. It's a strategic game.

It's like setting your sights on Harvard when you have a C average, one club membership for only one year and a few hours charity work. You also applied to several regional state schools and have been accepted to all of them, but you turn down your acceptances there in the hope that by some miracle you can get into Harvard. If you are true to yourself, you will realize that the odds are not in your favor as far as Harvard is concerned, but you can have a good experience at State U, get your degree, a job, and get on with your life. Smart PNMs understand that they all can't go to Harvard, but they can get a degree from a different college, have a wonderful experience, and a full life. Be truthful with yourself.