Advice~Louisiana State University Rush 2010

[Lightning Bug!]

Did you just write that you had 200+ designer dresses? I think I must be misreading this.

Your Gamma Chi cannot get you a bid to her sorority, nor should she even be thinking that way. Technically she has disaffiliated for the recruitment period. Just be nice to your Gamma Chi, as you would be to anyone with whom you will be spending an extended amount of time.

When you go through rush, please try not to think of yourself as "Jaylen17, who is [insert racial/ethnic background here]" but as "Jaylen17." This is the best way to ensure that the girls who meet you will see you as "Jaylen17" and not as "Jaylen17, who is [insert racial/ethnic background here]." The sisters are looking to admit nice, upbeat, well-rounded women, and if you present yourself as such, you have a good chance of finding a home.

I realize that it is naive to pretend that race is not a factor in southern rush (being a southerner myself), but sororities have come a long, long way in the past 15 years, and there are a whole lot of southern houses who have members who can claim minority status. Remember this, and go into recruitment as "Jaylen17" and nothing else. You can't do anything about the houses that still get caught up on race, but you can do a lot in terms of presenting yourself well to all the other houses.

As for your other questions, no, sororities have not made up their minds before recruitment. Certainly about some girls, whether positive or negative, you can make educated guesses about their recruitment outcomes, but the entire new member class isn't already determined by any stretch of the imagination. Yes, you have a good shot. Yes, you should do some research about the organizations, but don't whip out facts about each sorority during recruitment conversations. The sisters want to tell you about their sorority, so let them, and they want to know about you!

ETA - or did you mean you had dresses worth $200+? In any case, you should not be thinking about that or the weight issue in these terms. Bring a good friend over to your house, one who is kind and honest, and go shopping in your closet. Ask for her help in picking out outfits that look good on you and that are comfortable for sitting, standing, and even sitting on the floor. You and the friend should check these outfits against the suggested outfits that LSU provides in their recruitment guide. Then make sure you look clean and neat for recruitment, in terms of hair, nails, and accessories. That is all.