Northern Woman Getting Bids at an SEC School

[KillarneyRose]

Having gone to a college with a smaller greek system, I am endlessly fascinated by SEC rush. It's just a whole other planet from what I experienced.

Which brings me to this observation:

When I was checking out the Alabama pledge list Carnation was kind enough to post the link to, I noticed that, although the vast, vast majority of pledges were from the deep south, there were some from up north. Even a few even from, gasp, my home state of Pennsylvania!

I'd love to know how these young women managed to have a successful rush. I wonder if they recent transplants to the north who decided to head back "home" for college? Are their moms SEC rush veterans who knew how to guide them through the process? Were they just so outstanding that it didn't matter if no one knew their people - they just *had* to have them?

I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to divulge specifics regarding their new member selection, but maybe one of you SEC ladies can give me a general idea of the "fish out of water" rushees who end up getting bids?

[dvs-dz]

Here are my guesses about the situation -

1. I would think that if someone from the north chooses to go to a southern school (paying out of state tuition), then there must be some kind of family connection to that southern state and/or college.

2. The "exotic" factor. Maybe even a bit of "mystery" thrown in.

[BamaDad]

This is something I may know a little about. My daughter rushed Alabama as an incoming freshman non-legacy from Northern Virginia (even the folks in Richmond think we are a separate entity). Quite a few of our Northern neighbors living in the surrounding Washington, DC area.

We knew nothing about recruitment or recommendations. After much research, we learned about recommendations, but we did not know many local alumnae. So, we went on-line to locate local sorority alumnae associations and national sorority headquarters staff. They were incredible! Alumnae offered to have coffee or lunch with my daughter, then eventually offered her encouragement during recruitment itself. One offered to speak to my wife just to discuss the sadness associated with sending your oldest daughter away to college a zillion miles away. Their recommendation letters were outstanding! If we could not find an alum, another an alum from another different sorority would help us track one down - anything to help Kristen. In one case, a very high up staff member at a sorority national headquarters office offered to write my daughter a rec because she realy was interested in her sorority. Best of all, the tips these alumnae gave were outstanding to the unitiated! Clothes, conversation, manners, protocol, you name it.

Her recruitment at the very competitive University of Alabama (I heard they set an SEC record this year) was an awesome experience and she is now with Delta Zeta, which I understand is a well-respected Bama sorority. If we can help, just let us know.

Fir the third time, at least, I wish to express my admiration and appreciation to all the fantastic alumnae out there in sorority world who made the difference in my daughter's successful recruitment. I am not certain she would have won a bid without the assistance of these total package alumnae. Am I grateful? Yeah!

[AlphaFrog]

WOW BamaDad!!!!

I bet that helps your heart knowing that there is a network of women who will be "taking care of your baby" while she is at college. There's nothing like coming home to a sorority house and knowing that when you get there, you're never alone.

[KillarneyRose]

BamaDad, your daughter is probably one of the girls on the list that inspired me to start this thread!

Congratulations to her; she's part of a wonderful sisterhood!

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by KillarneyRose

she's part of a wonderful sisterhood!

And you're not the least bit biased, are you??

[KillarneyRose]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

And you're not the least bit biased, are you??

Who, ME?????

[alum]

Now that we have the internet, it may be easier than before to get the scoop on recs, proper dress, etc. If the girls are willing to do the research, a ton of information (and misinformation) is out there. The websites of the nationals of course focus on the wonderful philanthropies that they support while individual chapter websites provide a quick peek into the way the girls look and what they do.

I came from the northeast which was very anti-greek in my area. Nobody's sibs or parents were greek, or if they were, it wasn't discussed. If I had gone to a deep Southern school, I would have been lost and probably cut on Day 1 from everybody because I would not have been able to prepare properly. Then again I would have been lost anyway at a really big school.

The new Alabama DZ is the perfect example of how careful research can help. As related by her dad (with his formidable atty research skills ) they were able to do all the necessary prep work.

[AOII*Azra-elle]

Originally Posted by BamaDad

This is something I may know a little about. My daughter rushed Alabama as an incoming freshman non-legacy from Northern Virginia (even the folks in Richmond think we are a separate entity). Quite a few of our Northern neighbors living in the surrounding Washington, DC area.

We knew nothing about recruitment or recommendations. After much research, we learned about recommendations, but we did not know many local alumnae. So, we went on-line to locate local sorority alumnae associations and national sorority headquarters staff. They were incredible! Alumnae offered to have coffee or lunch with my daughter, then eventually offered her encouragement during recruitment itself. One offered to speak to my wife just to discuss the sadness associated with sending your oldest daughter away to college a zillion miles away. Their recommendation letters were outstanding! If we could not find an alum, another an alum from another different sorority would help us track one down - anything to help Kristen. In one case, a very high up staff member at a sorority national headquarters office offered to write my daughter a rec because she realy was interested in her sorority. Best of all, the tips these alumnae gave were outstanding to the unitiated! Clothes, conversation, manners, protocol, you name it.

Her recruitment at the very competitive University of Alabama (I heard they set an SEC record this year) was an awesome experience and she is now with Delta Zeta, which I understand is a well-respected Bama sorority. If we can help, just let us know.

Fir the third time, at least, I wish to express my admiration and appreciation to all the fantastic alumnae out there in sorority world who made the difference in my daughter's successful recruitment. I am not certain she would have won a bid without the assistance of these total package alumnae. Am I grateful? Yeah!

Your daughter chose well! I know some Delta Zeta's from my previous school. The women were always doing something for the community, or trying to bring the greek system together. They were always up to befriend new people. Wonderful group of women, wonderful organization.

[BamaDad DZ]

Thank you for the compliment to DZ. It is well-deserved.

My daugher called the gracious alum who wrote her DZ recommendation to announce her Delta Zeta bid. And what did the alum do? She kindly sent my daughter a dozen lovely pink roses that made Kristen the envy of the DZ house! For the record, the alum of whom I speak is a regular on GreekChat, so imadeltaz, thank you very much from a proud DZ Dad!

Are the ladies of Delta Zeta as wonderful as you say? You bet...

[Hegemon]

Hehe, I wish my Daddy (yes, no matter how old I get, he will always be my DADDY) was so supportive when I pledged DZ! Both of my parents are the best but didn't understand why I went Greek. I think it was because of atmosphere that surrounded them during their college days, but they assumed only negative things about the Greek system. Eventually, of course, they changed their mind, but I think it's awesome that you're so supportive of your daughter, and my sister

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by BamaDad

This is something I may know a little about. My daughter rushed Alabama as an incoming freshman non-legacy from Northern Virginia (even the folks in Richmond think we are a separate entity). Quite a few of our Northern neighbors living in the surrounding Washington, DC area.

That is quite a generalization. About Richmonders, I mean.

[alum]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

That is quite a generalization. About Richmonders, I mean.

Not necessarily. I agree with BamaDad. Northern VA is not the South.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...501395_pf.html

[Jill1228]

I SO agree with BamaDad. I grew up in Southern VA but spent quite a bit of my adult life in Northern VA and they are definitely 2 different places.

I gotta admit I really miss Northern VA

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

I wouldn't have gone through Recruitment at Alabama (I would NEVER go to Auburn...the horror) because usually to get into the "top" (depending on how you're judging them) sororities on campus you have to have some good connections. I don't have them. My only advantage would be my hometown, because we are supposed to be a bright young bunch of rich, well connected, successful kids (I got two out of three). I have several Kappa Deltas in my family (one Phi Mu, and now an AOPi, but that's recent), but would I have gotten into KD at Alabama? You better believe I wouldn't. The northern girls who get into sororities like that (Tri Delt, KD, Kappa Kappa Gamma, for instance) have connections, I guarantee you.

But if you are looking for just a good fit, there are newer and less picky sororities on campus at SEC schools which are just as good. I'm glad I didn't have to do Recruitment at a big school like that. We have five sororites, with under 50 girls per party at any time during the week. It's a whole different world.