USC recruitment

[SCnongreek]

I am currently participating in the USC fall sorority recruitment. I have a question for anybody that is in a sorority and knows how the cuts work (which will be at the bottom of the this post).

I'm a junior transfer to USC and decided to rush to meet new people and check out greek life (something I have always wanted to be part of). I am a year older than most juniors at the age of 20. I knew that going in this was going to be a huge disadvantage while rushing.

Day 1- Went smooth. Met my recruitment counselors and got run-down of all the rules for recruitment. Also, I was surprised that there was only a handful of freshman in my recruitment group and many sophomores transfers and sophomores. I was one of only two juniors in my recruitment group.

Day 2- Convo day 1. Visited 3 houses. Only connected with one of the houses. We were talking about hobbies that we share, sharing stories about living in LA and laughing a lot. The next day one of the girls from this sorority that was in my class went out of her way to wave and smile at me. That reassured me that the connection I had with this house was not my imagination.

Day 3-Convo day 2. Visted another 3 houses and had a connection with 2 of the houses. In one of the houses which is well known for being fun and laid back I was having really great conversations with the girls. So much that they did not ask me my major or any of the conversation starters that the sisters use. The second house I connected with the most was surprising. They have a reputation for being the "wealthy" house and the house is GORGEOUS. I immediately got complemented on my attire and began talking to one of the sisters we were sharing stories about our hometowns things we do for fun, we even talked about going to football games together and then another sister came and I was talking to both of them together for quite some time. One of the sisters even told me to get a bike so I can ride back from the row because it gets overwhelming after awhile. I was really surprised at how much I bonded with this house. I felt a real connection and really hoped to be asked back.

Day 4-Convo day 3. Finally the last day. In my mind I had already decided which house I had bonded the most with and which ones I had a connection with. So, I went into this day halfheartedly not thinking I could connect with these last 3 houses. I was wrong as I had amazing time at my first house. I was really surprised at how much I got along with the girls. We were talking about the best places to eat and just having flowing conversation one after another. I did get many of the formal questions in this house though. The last house was surprising in a way I could not believe I went in feeling right at home with these girls. We were so comfortable that we began talking about going out to eat, invites and formals and homecoming and how much fun I was going to have. They also told me that they've been in my situation (brand new to LA and not knowing anybody) and that sisterhood is the best way to go. Also, I was having conversation with 2 of them at once twice. They were giving me advice about rush and how the house tours would go and when I left the sister gave me a hug.

Later that night I had to pick 6 out of the 9 houses that I would like to go back to. I had 2 in mind that I knew I had definitely bonded with and felt at ease and at home. The other 3 I had had a connection with and the last one I felt comfortable in. I cut the last 3 knowing that I had a nice time at 2 of the houses and absolutely no connection at the other house. (I even had an awkward silence or I would just keep on talking with no response)

Day 5- House tours. I woke up excited and pump to see which houses had picked me to go back, hoping that at least one of the houses I had loved wanted me back (it certainly seemed like they did). I went to my RC and had the biggest shock when I found out that not 1 of the 6 houses I had picked invited me back. Instead, I got invited back by the last 4 houses I ranked. One where the girls did not make much conversation with me and the other where the girls were nice but felt forced to talk to me. My RC seemed equally as surprised as me when she gave me my houses. I just do not understand what happened. Either way I went to the house tours and tried to start a flowing conversation but both of my tours were awkward and I felt unwanted.

I do not understand what happened I felt like I really bonded with those other girls. So much so that they were talking about us going out and they never asked me the formal questions instead when we were talking I'd tell them.

I go back tomorrow to see what happens but I wanted to know that if the fact that I am a 20 year old Junior transfer truly affected me during recruitment. Does anyone have any insight into this?