Legacy Situation

[violetpretty]

My school is large somewhat competitive (but not SEC competitive). Legacies occassionally get cut, depending on how competitive a particular chapter is, but there are never so many legacies that there are more than quota (usually no more than 6-8 per chapter). I was a Rho Gamma this past spring and I had three PNMs in my group who were "in house" legacies, just like you.

One of them, we'll call her Alissa, wanted her sister's chapter, and she got a bid there. Alissa had a pretty good choice of chapters come skit round and got her top 3 for preference. I should mention that although she got her top three, they are not the most competitive chapters on campus. They were chapters that compete the most with her legacy chapter, so it is safe to say that Alissa did not get cut because other chapters assumed that she was going elsewhere.

The second, we'll call her Ariel, did not want her sister's chapter. She wanted Alissa's legacy chapter and they both pledged that chapter. She did end up preffing her own legacy chapter, the one the pledged, and one other (she got 2 of her top 3). Ariel did get cut by one of the chapters that frequently competes with her legacy chapter, but I can't say for sure whether it was because they thought she was going elsewhere or just because they didn't think she would fit.

The third one, we'll call her Julie, wanted her sister's chapter, which is one of the most competitive on campus. She did end up pledging there, but the other two chapters that she preffed were waaaayyy random. Julie was cut by some of the other competitive chapters, but I can't say for sure the reasoning because obviously I don't know about their MS, but I can speculate that her legacy status did have something to do with her being cut by some chapters.

You might have some trouble getting cut more than you would if you were not a legacy. Members of other chapters might assume that you want your sister's chapter because you said it is one of the more competitive ones. People tend to assume that PNMs will pick the most competitive chapter that they can get into, which is not necessarily the case. The most competitive chapters will have to make their biggest cuts in the beginning of recruitment, and when a chapter has to cut so many women, they are looking for a reason, any reason, to cut a girl, even though they only have had 20 minutes-ish to get to know each PNM.

You won't be able to hide the fact that you are a legacy, so you might as well bring it up and make it crystal clear that you are not sure if you fit in to your sister's chapter, and show genuine interest at all parties. Even then, you still might get cut by many chapters. Good luck to you and let us know how it goes!

[FaithHopeLove]

To try and address y'all's questions:

We have a recognizable last name, but not super wierd. We are not "smith" or "brown" for sure. Also, my sister has been moderately visible on campus and through the greek system and we are from outta state, so many intelligent women will make the connection.

Also, I am "really not sure" if I want my sister's chapter, but I am still difinitely considering them. My sister and I are very close and have very similar personalities. However, I know that chapters change year to year, and I really want to try and feel out the pledge class above me rather than the one three years above me. So, while her sorority may be the best place for me, it may not. Being from out of state, I really do not knoe much about the chapters beyond my sister's opinion, and - while I really respect her opinion - she is only one voice and is a few pledge classes older than I am. So, I truly want to keep an open mind.

I suppose all chapters respoond to situations differently, so we will see how this turrs out!

[alrphimu]

I was in the same boat when I rushed -- Midwest school, fairly competetive (I think. I guess. I have no clue how competetive we are, but we have a large Greek population) -- and a sister who was a senior in a chapter. I was asked at every single house if I knew anyone Greek (thanks to me listing my legacies on my form), and I always replied, "Yes, I do, my sister is a sorority member here. I'm keeping my mind open, though, and I love that your sorority is so (insert compliment here)." I'm going to be honest, I know I was cut from one house because I was a legacy. But I also wasn't cut from a lot, and I ended up where I belonged (not my legacy chapter).

ETA: One of the girls in my pledge class was the younger sister of another chapter's president at the time. And she's happy. So that's good.

good luck and have fun during recruitment!

[rusheemom]

My daughter went through recruitment at a large Midwest school with a competitive rush last Aug. She was a double legacy (Mom and Grandma) to one sorority and a partial legacy (Aunt) in another. I was really worried that the legacy thing would hurt my daughter's rush. She ended up having a very successful recruitment due to keeping an open mind and being enthusiatic at every house. She did pref my house and is now one of my sisters, but she would've been happy at any of the 3 she preffed. My daughter got invites back to all 13 houses after open house day, and after 9 party day was only cut by 2 houses. We'll never know if that was because of her legacy status, but she didn't feel comfortable in either house from the get-go. Who Knows?

[AOII Angel]

FaithHopeLove...I was in your same situation when I attended college. My older sister, Karen, pledged AOII the year before I started school. She and I were extremely close growing up since we had shared the same room (even shared a room in the sorority dorm throughout college), and I had decided to attend her university only because I really missed her after she was gone for only two or three months. I was a really independent 17 year old and thought I'd pick any sorority i wanted, but in reality, I never would have pledged another group for fear of alienating my sister. That was my situation. It doesn't have to be the same for you. Don't be afraid to talk to your sister about it. She may make sure sisters from the class just above you make sure to meet you so you can be sure you like them. As long as she knows you aren't a sure thing but that it won't effect your sisterly relationship, you should be fine. As for how to manage other groups, others have given great advice. I talked way too much about my sister...not meaning to imply that I would only pledge AOII, I think the other groups got that impression. Just have your response to this situation planned out ahead of time. Good luck! I hope you find your sister's group to be the one for you, though! There is definitely something special about sharing an extra bond with a biological sister!

[aopinthesky]

Originally Posted by FaithHopeLove

Do you think other groups will drop me as quickly as they can under the assumption that I will go ABC. I know it has been discussed that many sororities welcome the challenge for other legacies, but I wasn't sure if it made a difference that my sister was already there.

I think that the Release Figures Method has changed a lot of things. Sororities don't welcome the challenge of trying to take a legacy away from another group as much now, because if they are unsuccessful they have wasted a spot. At competitive schools, it is very much the Sorority's ballgame if they are good at rush.
Best of luck to you though, I do agree that you should not rule out your sister's sorority just because it is hers. It might be yours too!

[ku_theta]

At KU, I feel like if you are a good rushee and other houses know that you have a sibling in another chapter it makes them want you even more. Houses always brag about getting other chapters sisters. So, hey...it might even play to your benefit!