[FuzzieAlum]

Ask different people and they'll ascribe different reps to a chapter anyway ... a chapter is either "nice and down to earth" or "not as cool and cute," depending on who you're talking to. But there are some reps that are more stable - the small chapter is almost always the fat nerds who will take anyone, in anyone's opinion(whether or not it's true).

But girls DO join those chapters, even if in reduced numbers, and contrary to the popular chapters' belief, it's not just because it's the only place they could get in. It's frequently the only chapter those girls would want to join. To them, this is the independent, non-shallow chapter. They know they're not a number just to reach quota. They like the coziness of a smaller chapter.

When I went to fill out my bid card, I knew which chapter to put third. First and second left me torn. Do I put first the #1 sorority on campus, the hardest to get into, just to see if I can get in - even if I didn't really feel at home there? Or do I put first the chapter I really like all the girls in, but that isn't as prestigious, doesn't have a gorgeous house, is on the small side, and I know really wants me? I can tell you the choice was harder at 18 than it would be now, but I made the right one.