How to research houses before rush?

[carbonbeach81]

How do you do your research on houses before rush if you don't know anyone in a sorority at your school (or even a recent Greek alumni)? It seems all anyone talks about are the "rhyming" stereotypes?!

Since rush starts so soon after moving into the residence halls, how do you find out about each house before rushing....is reading the Greek Life handout enough? Somehow I don't think so. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Leslie Anne]

If you're looking for information about each sorority, you could look at their websites for general information. If you want to know what each chapter is like, the best way (and the only genuine way) to do this is to go into Recruitment with an open mind and meet the members.

Don't listen to "tent talk" or pay any attention to those silly rhymes.

Best of luck!

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

If you're looking for information about each sorority, you could look at their websites for general information. If you want to know what each chapter is like, the best way (and the only genuine way) to do this is to go into Recruitment with an open mind and meet the members.

Don't listen to "tent talk" or pay any attention to those silly rhymes.

Best of luck!

right on the $$, leslie anne!

[Benzgirl]

Absolutely, Leslie! I have known so many girls who listened to reputations, only to find out they were wrong. They later felt they missed out on something that could have been a good thing.

One girl I knew cut one of the traditionally Jewish sororities after the first round because someone told her that she would have to convert. It turned out she became very good friends with two of the girls in that house; she was a bridesmaid in each of their weddings. She felt so bad that she never gave them at least a fighting chance.

Your D should look for girls that would be there for her when her BF breaks up with her. Will they listen to her cry and comfort her, or will they be too wrapped up in the new Prada bag they just bought or booking flights to Europe for spring break?


ETA: And she will hear how ABC are all anorexic, XYZ sacrifices an animal during initiation, RST has weigh-ins, EFG are all the fat girls, and LMN are boring because they all have 4.0s

[Lightning Bug!]

It appears to be a tradition at many schools to make casual yet very damaging off-hand remarks about certain sororities on campus. The people who make them are just doing it out of tradition more than meanness..."Oh, they're all good, I guess...as long as you don't go Alpha Alpha Alpha, though...they're the reject house." That's what was said to them the year before, so that's what they repeat to PNMs. Problem is, if you sit down the people who make the remarks, 9 times out of 10 they end up admitting that they know some AAAs, the AAAs they know are both cute and fun people, and that the house probably has a much worse reputation than it deserves...but the damage is done. This is how schools end up with 'bottom tier' houses. But of course, if you fill a 'bottom tier' house with a great pledge class, then the house already is 25% 'better,' and the next year those girls will be the ones rushing the freshman PNMs, and if the process is repeated, the house will then be 50% 'better.' I put 'better' in quotation marks because of course this is a weird way to think about things, but if that's how it works, then you see how quickly houses can change. In any case, I've always thought that pref should happen over two days, so PNMs can get to know the girls who might be their new member sisters, since they as a group are going to have a lot to do with where the house is headed.

But the point of all this rambling is that there really are three factors to think about, if you are concerned about sorority rankings on campus: sisterhood, social life, and spirit. Some houses get bad reputations because, for whatever reason, the girls are all disenchanted with each other, never really bonded, really don't click at all, lots of disaffiliation, depledging, and resigning of active status...if you hear this about a house, see if you think the actives rushing you seem to like each other...that can give you a clue about whether this rumor/reputation has any merit. Re: social life...again, it depends what you are looking for. If you want to mix with the most popular fraternities, and you hear (from a reliable source) that Alpha Alpha Alpha never mixes with those fraternities, then obviously Alpha Alpha Alpha isn't going to work for you...this one is much harder to find out (you can't just ask the girls rushing you, "Which fraternities do you mix with?"...maybe look at chapter websites, use Google Images, Facebook, talk to some sophomores who know sorority members but aren't in sororities...). But if you are looking just for an enhanced social life, almost all sororities have mixers with fraternities, date nights, cookouts, semi-formals, formals, etc....it just depends how much you care about mixing with the 'best' fraternity on campus or not. Then there is spirit...some houses get bad reputations because the girls don't really seem to have any interest in making themselves into better people (which is one of the top reasons to join a sorority in my opinion...women encouraging each other to reach their full potential)...you'll know this because they don't seem to be involved in any extracurricular activities around campus (Google search, talking with sisters), they don't seem very interested in their philanthropy, they have a very low GPA, compared to the other sororities (the Greek Life website should have this information), they seem very negative during rush (it's one thing for an active to smile sympathetically and admit she's tired too, it's another to complain incessantly to a PNM and roll your eyes about everything under the sun).

So the root of any negative 'tent talk' you hear may refer to one of those three things...lack of sisterly love, lack of a 'premier' social life, and a negative attitude...it's up to you to do some Googling and maybe talk to less-biased non-Greek women and men (it made a big difference in my pledging decision that every non-Greek I talked to before and during rush told me that their favorite house was the house I ended up joining!) and to determine through your rush conversations how much of this is true and how much of this is just old rumors that have perpetuated themselves, even thought there isn't much truth in them. Lack of sisterly love and a negative attitude are serious problems, but failing to mix with the 'best' fraternities on a regular basis is something that you have to decide how much it means to you (remember, you'll still be overwhelmed with events, just perhaps not with The Top Dogs on Campus). In any case, good luck!

[phimusam]

I have heard of PNMs who check the GPAs of sororities. Very high and very low do tell you something. Checking size and then history of the national might give you some idea about who is likely to be shut down.

[carbonbeach81]

Thanks everyone. I never believe the stereotypes, the "tent talk." Most of what I've heard has been from non-Greeks or jealous girls or guys wanting to "boast" about fictional nighttime activities. That's why I believe research is so important, and all of you gave great ideas!

BenzGirl -- I just love when you said.....".....look for girls that would be there for her when her BF breaks up with her. Will they listen to her cry and comfort her, or will they be too wrapped up in the new Prada bag they just bought or booking flights to Europe for spring break?" It may seem obvious, but in the flurry of rush week it's a great constant reminder. In fact, it's what sisterhood is all about.

[carbonbeach81]

One more question......Since rush week goes by so fast, I'm curious about something. What types of rush questions will the recruiters ask that will tell them you're a last-season-Kors bag girl and have no money for Europe....that you are wearing great quality clothes but buy them at Nordie's anniversary sale. We were raised to buy great items at great prices, so I hope neither party (PNM or recruiters) get the wrong impression. If some of you could please tell me what rush questions would clarify this, I sure would appreciate it! Is it terribly obvious even in the short amount of time mixing? I've read the stickies, but still wonder about this.

[elleyk5187]

Originally Posted by phimusam

I have heard of PNMs who check the GPAs of sororities. Very high and very low do tell you something. Checking size and then history of the national might give you some idea about who is likely to be shut down.

this is very true. when i went through recruitment i noticed the minimum GPA for the houses that tend to not fill quota were lower than the others. for example, houses have a minimum GPA of 2.5 while other houses have a minimum GPA of 2.75 or 2.8.

anyway, i agree that looking at the different websites for the chapters at your school is a great way to do your "research". also, looking at the national website is good as well, that way you find out what the organization is like nationally as well as locally. if you have deferred recruitment, i'm sure you'll get a feel of the girls before you even begin recruitment.

a lot of houses will have PNMs over for lunch or dinner. i think if people do a rec for you, they have your phone number & might call to have you over for a meal or if you know girls in the houses they might ask you as well. that's probably one of the best ways, that way you actually talk to the girls and get to ask questions before. it's like getting a head start on practicing for recruitment.

[elleyk5187]

Originally Posted by carbonbeach81

One more question......Since rush week goes by so fast, I'm curious about something. What types of rush questions will the recruiters ask that will tell them you're a last-season-Kors bag girl and have no money for Europe....that you are wearing great quality clothes but buy them at Nordie's anniversary sale. We were raised to buy great items at great prices, so I hope neither party (PNM or recruiters) get the wrong impression. If some of you could please tell me what rush questions would clarify this, I sure would appreciate it! Is it terribly obvious even in the short amount of time mixing? I've read the stickies, but still wonder about this.

having money is not the reason why a house will cut you or keep you & if it is, then you shouldn't want to be part of that group in the first place. they won't ask you where you got your clothes or anything. as long as you look presentable & such, you'll be fine. they're more worried about what is on the inside than what's on the outside. there was never one time when i went through recruitment (i did it twice, once at a big 10 school but dropped because of personal reasons & once at a small school) that i felt like someone was thinking "omg did she get that at target or at saks?" worry about showing that you're a great person, posses leadership skills, etc.

hopefully that made sense, if not i'm really sorry!

[DMBabyZTA]

many times the sororities have their own chapter websites. I would take a look at the greek life pamphlet and then google the school and the sorority. It should come up with their website, this would give you a deeper research into the sororities before rushing. Just be careful not to mention too much about your research while talking to the sisters on the first night. I know from the stories I have heard and personal experiences with a pnm it can come off a little stalker-ish or a know-it-all.


Another thing is when I went through I asked my dear friend from high school who was in a fraternity where he saw me fitting in the most. He said ultimately it was my own decision but he knew I would go Zeta before I rushed

[carbonbeach81]

These suggestions are all super helpful. I also like the idea about asking a frat friend at the school which house they see you best fitting into.

When my Mom went to college ages ago they had a house that truly only recruited very wealthy girls. I've seen her yearbook and recognize last names, ones most people would recognize. She said she rushed the house and they were nice, but word was out that they had a way (even before computers?!) to find out who was wealthy and who was not. I suppose they knew even before the PNMs came to visit. So many years later that chapter at that school is no longer like that.

[Scarlet]

Originally Posted by carbonbeach81

I also like the idea about asking a frat friend at the school which house they see you best fitting into.

Don't let this make up your mind though! I had a couple of people tell me I would fit into XYZ house, as well as a close friend in that house. I went into rush certain I would come out of it an XYZ. However, if I hadn't been at least a little open-minded concerning the rest of the houses, I wouldn't have ended up at Alpha Chi...and I couldn't imagine being in any other house now! I really don't have anything negative to say about this other house, they are wonderful girls, but my "home" was elsewhere.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by carbonbeach81

These suggestions are all super helpful. I also like the idea about asking a frat friend at the school which house they see you best fitting into.

Frat Friend could be a good idea or a bad idea as they also have misconceptions. Often Fratties think the only that popular houses = where PNMs belong. If your D is cut from these houses and Frat Friend didn't think other houses were top tier, it might sway D from selecting a potential home. Worse, she could be embarrassed by perfectly good girls

I remember one Frat Friend of mine claiming XYZ was their "sister sorority" (p.s. there is no such thing). Another claimed, "oh we only have TGs with ABC" (another lie).

I also wouldn't look at the house numbers and assume they might close. Some of the smaller houses are small for a number of reasons. First, they may have just colonized, second, they may be a niche house. Small does not indicate they may close. It only means that they are small.

As for GPAs, that is somewhat one of the good indicators. When I rushed, I wasn't even interested in any house that was in the lower half of GPAs. My favorite two houses turned out to have the highest 2 GPAs probably because I found girls where we had a lot in common.

I really wouldn't worry about doing too much research because no amount of footwork will tell your D if she will click with other members.

[UGAalum94]

And honestly, frat guys often have no idea who will invite you back.

I think frat guys are an excellent source of tent-talk-type and purely social information, but they won't know anything about sisterhood or unity within a group.

So they can probably tell you which groups are most considered desirable and what you can expect in terms of socials if you join, but probably not much else.

Socials are a big part of the fun, so it's worth knowing, but there will be groups that guys write off that are still great to be a part of.

ETA: I was posting as Benzgirl was. Apparently, guys aren't even accurate in the areas I thought they were.