Tiers

blondebutsmart · #1 09-08-2007, 10:15 AM

I am curious as to the the meaning of this term in the context of sorority life. I have seen it mentioned in several recruitment threads/stories. Is it some kind of perceived popularity factor (pretty, rich, smart = top tier)?

How do sorority girls feel knowing they are in a lower or mid tier (if there is such a thing)?

I would think it would be most important to be with a group of girls you felt a connection with, rather than trying to be with a group that is top tier, but what do I know? I'm still trying to decide if this is for me.

Thanks for your help.

FSUZeta · #2 09-08-2007, 10:28 AM

[QUOTE=blondebutsmart;1515401]I am curious as to the the meaning of this term in the context of sorority life. I have seen it mentioned in several recruitment threads/stories. Is it some kind of perceived popularity factor (pretty, rich, smart = top tier)?

yes-and you are right, pnms should look for the place where they like the sisters and feel most at home. you have the right attitude/

skylark · #3 09-08-2007, 11:03 AM

In the end, I think the successfulness of a sorority experience does not depend at all on what "tier" of a sorority you are in. You are right in recognizing that what counts more is whether you fit with that particular group. Unfortunately, "fit" on this site is used sometimes as just a PC term for whether or not the sorority is of the "tier" that you see yourself being in.

To answer the question of how the lower-tiered girls feel being in their respective sororities... I can honestly tell you that the only time I ever thought about any kind of tier concept was during recruitment week. It seems to matter a lot then, but it isn't important after that at all. So, I can't say that being in a sorority that others on my campus may have described as less-desirable made my sorority experience different at all. In fact, it probably kept me grounded.

texas*princess · #4 09-08-2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skylark

In the end, I think the successfulness of a sorority experience does not depend at all on what "tier" of a sorority you are in.

I definately agree with this statement.

There is a sorority on my campus that was arguably in the top "tier" when I was in school just a few years ago, and now they are struggling quite a bit. Numbers are down, they didn't make quota, and they can't keep their house full which is causing a financial strain. And everyone can probably attest that a financial strain on the chapter makes it difficult to focus on anything else.

Those girls used to be one of the most involved sororities on campus, and I think their participation on campus has decreased because of the overall morale of the chapter. The lower morale I am guessing is stemming from the financial issues.

So it's really not all about what "tier" you're in...

DeltaBetaBaby · #5 09-08-2007, 12:14 PM

One of the key things about tiers is they designate which sororities mix with which fraternities. So, if you are the type who would only be happy dating the hottest, richest guys on campus, only join a top tier. If you are more open-minded and date really nice guys who are maybe less abercrombie-like, you can afford to be more open-minded about your sorority choice.

If you are a mature adult (which you certainly sound like, OP), you can be happy in any group that you make the most of.

lyrica9 · #6 09-08-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas*princess

I definately agree with this statement.

There is a sorority on my campus that was arguably in the top "tier" when I was in school just a few years ago, and now they are struggling quite a bit. Numbers are down, they didn't make quota, and they can't keep their house full which is causing a financial strain. And everyone can probably attest that a financial strain on the chapter makes it difficult to focus on anything else.

Those girls used to be one of the most involved sororities on campus, and I think their participation on campus has decreased because of the overall morale of the chapter. The lower morale I am guessing is stemming from the financial issues.

So it's really not all about what "tier" you're in...

you thought they were top tier?

see, that's how little it matters and how much it differs even on the same campus. t*p and i were in the same chapter at the same time, and we have different perceptions of the "tiers."

blondebutsmart · #7 09-08-2007, 01:10 PM

Well, DeltaBetaBaby, maybe I'm not that mature because I like dating hot, SMART guys-lol!

Seriously, though, I don't think I could make a decision as big as joining a sisterhood based on what kind of guys I would be dating--unless all other factors were equal (which would be pretty difficult I would think).

NOLA25 · #8 09-08-2007, 01:29 PM

If you are a mature adult (which you certainly sound like, OP), you can be happy in any group that you make the most of.[/quote]

I agree totally with this! You get out of it, what you put into it. Should not worry what other people think of a sorority. It is what YOU think about it and what you are willing to contribute to it.

UGAalum94 · #9 09-08-2007, 01:29 PM

I think if you are at a campus with tiers, they will be obvious to you when you hear other people talking during rush.

It's not the talk that that determines tier status, but it's really kind of odd how there are clusters of groups that most PNMs like about the same amount, and that those same clusters seem to overlap with having socials with the same fraternities.

You can have a great Greek experience in any tier, so you don't have to give it a lot of conscious thought. The mutual selection process usually works it all out.

squirrely girl · #10 09-08-2007, 02:19 PM

collegians or pnm's with concern about tiers = too much time on your hands

parents with concern about tiers = low self esteem

blondebutsmart · #11 09-08-2007, 02:28 PM

I'm sorry. I thought this board was available to help people who had questions. I have no friends or family in Greek life. I have read a lot of the recruitment threads/stories and people have mentioned that term. I thought I was asking a legitimate question. I was taught that's how you learn things. I didn't expect to get chastised.

UGAalum94 · #12 09-08-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blondebutsmart

I'm sorry. I thought this board was available to help people who had questions. I have no friends or family in Greek life. I have read a lot of the recruitment threads/stories and people have mentioned that term. I thought I was asking a legitimate question. I was taught that's how you learn things. I didn't expect to get chastised.

I think most people give some thought to the reputations of the groups they join, but don't let what other people think or say keep you for joining a group that you like and that likes you.

Don't worry too much about being chastised, but be aware that if you do join, and you spend all your time thinking about tiers, you might be missing out on something.

And I think that she's probably right about the parents. If your daughter likes a group, don't worry about the tier it's in. That seems silly.

blondebutsmart · #13 09-08-2007, 03:10 PM

"Don't worry too much about being chastised, but be aware that if you do join, and you spend all your time thinking about tiers, you might be missing out on something."

I'm not worried about the tiers! That was the point. I can't understand why people in the recruitment process seem so worried about what tier the sorority is rather than how they fit with the other girls. I wanted to clarify that tiers were what I thought they were (popularity based on looks, grades, and money).

I thought this was a place where I could go for help. I am still trying to decide if this (a sorority) is something I want to be a part of. Maybe my skin is not thick enough. I certainly don't feel comfortable asking any more questions, so maybe that's a sign.

UGAalum94 · #14 09-08-2007, 03:16 PM

Well, it's just up to you.

(All someone said was that worrying about tiers meant one had too much time on her hands. If you know you aren't really worried about tiers, you could just kind of know that it didn't apply to you.)

blondebutsmart · #15 09-08-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirrely girl

collegians or pnm's with concern about tiers = too much time on your hands

parents with concern about tiers = low self esteem

Maybe I'm overanalyzing (part of my personality), but it didn't say:

collegians or pnm's with concerns = too much time on one's hands

or

collegians or pnm's with concerns = too much time on their hands

The comment used the word YOUR, so I took it personally because that's what it seemed like to me. Maybe I made a mistake. Sorry. I'm done.