Southern Recruitment

[UAFuturePNM]

Hi, I'm a PNM that's planning to rush in the fall; I've registered and everything! But I'm a little concerned going into the process. See, I'm a minority (I won't say what specifically, but I'm sure you can guess) and probably one of maybe a few, if not the ONLY one, that chose to rush in September. There are chapters on the campus that do have minority members, which is good. But my main concern is whether or not I even have a shot with the other sororities! Will I automatically be written off just because of my race? Will the other chapters even take the time to get to know me, or will they toss me aside to pledge the two previously mentioned?
I should note that I've received recs for every single chapter on campus. I also graduated with a 3.98 GPA, several extracurriculars and leadership positions! I'm hoping that my credentials and not my race will help me get into a sorority; if anyone could offer me tips or words of advice I would greatly appreciate it!

[victoriana]

Originally Posted by UAFuturePNM

Hi, I'm a PNM that's planning to rush in the fall; I've registered and everything! But I'm a little concerned going into the process. See, I'm a minority (I won't say what specifically, but I'm sure you can guess) and probably one of maybe a few, if not the ONLY one, that chose to rush in September. There are chapters on the campus that do have minority members, which is good. But my main concern is whether or not I even have a shot with the other sororities! Will I automatically be written off just because of my race? Will the other chapters even take the time to get to know me, or will they toss me aside to pledge the two previously mentioned?
I should note that I've received recs for every single chapter on campus. I also graduated with a 3.98 GPA, several extracurriculars and leadership positions! I'm hoping that my credentials and not my race will help me get into a sorority; if anyone could offer me tips or words of advice I would greatly appreciate it!

I don't attend an SEC school, so I can't speak specifically to whether or not your race will be an issue for specific chapters. If you go in with the attitude that your race is going to be an issue, you're setting yourself up for failure. It's only an issue if you make it an issue. Focus on putting your best foot forward with your appearance and conversations. Race is something you can't change, but those things are something you can work on to positively affect your recruitment. As you mentioned, you have all your recs lined up and you have a solid resume. Be confident and be yourself. You're going through recruitment to find out which chapter is the best fit for you. Would you really want to join a chapter where you felt awkward because of your race?

Best of luck!

[ElieM]

have you checked out chapter websites/ school webistes for pics of the different chapters to get a feeling for them?

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by UAFuturePNM

I should note that I've received recs for every single chapter on campus.

This is VERY good.

I didn't go to an SEC school (but I have read a lot about it), so any SECers correct me if I'm wrong , but the thing is with SEC recruitments, there are tons of excellent PNMs. And tons of legacies. Greek Life is so popular. Everyone wants their high school friends to join their chapter. If every active member knows 2-3 PNMs they would like to see join, even with some overlap, that's going to be way more than quota. Some chapters have to cut more than half of the PNMs after the first round, based on Panhellenic rules.

So, if you're not part of one of those established social circles, recs are your only way for a chapter to get to know you better before recruitment AND as a supplement to topics/achievements that may not have come up during conversation. Minority PNMs are less likely to be in those "old girls club" social circles, and may have a harder time finding recs, so unless diversity is very important to a chapter, minority PNMs may get cut because the chapter has hundreds of PNMs that chapter women already know personally. Out of state PNMs face a similar problem of being unknown, so recs are also extra important for them as well.

Maybe chapters do discriminate on race, maybe they don't. I don't know. This is just one possible explanation as to why there may be fewer minority women in Panhellenic chapters at SEC schools.

You have a great resume, you have the recs. Practice your conversation skills, think of questions to ask, look polished for recruitment. Best of luck!

[UAFuturePNM]

victoriana, thanks for the advice ! You're right, I shouldn't want someone that doesn't want me. I just want to be recognized for me, not as that "minority that's rushing." I'll be sure to put my best foot forward !

ElieM, I have been religiously !!! and there are chapters that do have minority members. But, (and I could be HORRIBLY WRONG) it seems as though there's this attitude that these girls were cast aside for these two sororities only.
Again, I could be sadly mistaken (which I truly hope I am). It could be the case that these girls simply didn't meet the requirements of the other sororities! I'll never truly know for a fact

[FSUZeta]

they may not be cast aside-the chapters that got them, may have really, really wanted them and may have pulled out all the stops to get them. the girls that you are referring to may have fallen in love with their chapter of choice and not considered any others. we don't know.

[UAFuturePNM]

violetpretty, I completely understand what you mean! I have tons of friends going to an SEC school, and are actually rushing in a week ! they have friends in several sororities from our school last year, so they do have some sort of connection. Not to mention they also have legacy connections, Recs, etc.
I did get the chance to visit my school a few weeks ago to orientation, and I was still debating whether or not to rush CPC or do NPHC intake. I always dreamed of the idea of rushing (call me crazy but watching Legally Blonde thoroughly convinced me!), but somehow I had this thought that I had to do intake because I "had to." Needless to say, when I visited the school, the Gamma Chi's were SO WELCOMING. They answered all of my questions, and we even had a 30 minute long conversation. It was the NPHC actives and other minorities that were giving me trouble, saying negative and hurtful things about my decisions. This, in the end, triggered my decision to rush.
The debate I was having probably contributes to why so many minorities don't rush. I'm not necessarily getting negativity from the CPC members (which I hope stays that way), but more so from the other minorities on campus :/

[victoriana]

Originally Posted by UAFuturePNM

violetpretty, I completely understand what you mean! I have tons of friends going to an SEC school, and are actually rushing in a week ! they have friends in several sororities from our school last year, so they do have some sort of connection. Not to mention they also have legacy connections, Recs, etc.
I did get the chance to visit my school a few weeks ago to orientation, and I was still debating whether or not to rush CPC or do NPHC intake. I always dreamed of the idea of rushing (call me crazy but watching Legally Blonde thoroughly convinced me!), but somehow I had this thought that I had to do intake because I "had to." Needless to say, when I visited the school, the Gamma Chi's were SO WELCOMING. They answered all of my questions, and we even had a 30 minute long conversation. It was the NPHC actives and other minorities that were giving me trouble, saying negative and hurtful things about my decisions. This, in the end, triggered my decision to rush.
The debate I was having probably contributes to why so many minorities don't rush. I'm not necessarily getting negativity from the CPC members (which I hope stays that way), but more so from the other minorities on campus :/

Don't worry about what a bunch of judgmental strangers think. You're starting a new life at college. This is your decision and you have to live with it. Do what YOU want, and don't let what anyone else thinks influence your happiness.

[Lightning Bug!]

Coming out of retirement to reply to this post:

Every "top" chapter I've ever seen, on any campus anywhere, has at the very least, a couple of girls who do not fit the chapter "mold", if there is such a thing. Usually these girls either are legacies and the chapter felt pressure to take them or they were so outstanding during rush that the chapter just saw them for the fabulous people they are and had to have them, even if they didn't look/act like the "typical" XYZ.

So the point here is that yes, you may encounter discrimination during rush, but your best shot is to be that outstanding girl that is so charming, personable, kind, funny, and fun that everyone sees you for that person and not you as "that minority rushing." Now, given the fact that rush is hard no matter what race you are, if you end up not being asked back to houses that you like, that doesn't mean you weren't charming during rush. It just means, as others have pointed out, that there are a lot of great girls going through and only so many bids. But since your best bet is to be knock-em-dead awesome, then you might as well give that a shot.

Basically think of it this way - you want to finish each round having left the impression that you would be the most fun, killer person ever to hang out with, whether out on the town or curled up in front of the TV with ice cream and cookies. That is what will help you go from "that minority rushing" to "OMGILUVMYRUSHCRUSH" in the minds of the girls rushing you. This does not mean acting different from the person you are or talking about no-no topics like booze and boys. It just means take yourself on your very best day, bottle that person up, and release her prior to each round of recruitment. Think of a day when you have tons of energy (but productive, not frenetic), are in both a listening and a talking mood, feel confident and like you could climb mountains, are filled with goodwill towards others, and ready for new adventures. That is the you that you need to show during rush, because these girls have to make some tough decisions with really very little information.

Best of luck - I have a good feeling that you will do well.

[Splash]

^^^ I'm in love with this post. Especially the paragraph about presenting your best you.

[AznSAE]

i have a third nipple, will i get a bid?

[FSUZeta]

depends where it is located.

[UAFuturePNM]

Thank you all for the advice ! It has definitely relieved some of the stress I had; I'll be sure to go through recruitment with a 100% positive attitude !

[GammaBelle]

Please let us know how things turn out!