Auburn University Rush--Fall 2007

[elainebenice]

Originally Posted by AXiDGirl10

You've received great advice to pass on to your daughter, Momto2gals. I really hope that she stays in it until the end. Best of luck to her! I'm hoping for the best.

Also, Elaine, I'm sorry that it seems to you like your sister & her friend are having such a horrible recruitment. However, I happen to think that getting invited back to 5 sororities at an SEC recruitment this close to bid day is great! You need to tell her this and stop being so negative. You need to keep her spirits high and tell her how awesome it is to have 5 sororities like her this much, rather than dwelling on the ones that cut her. I mean, there are tons of other girls who would love to be in your sister's position (who may have gotten cut from all of the groups or have less choices than your sister). Please be more encouraging to her. As others have said, this is an SEC recruitment --- it is extremely competitive! Just because your sister has been cut by some groups, doesn't mean that she isn't stellar. But the thing is, there are hundreds of stellar girls going through recruitment at Auburn. I happen to think that ALL chapters at SEC schools (even the ones that may be considered "bottom tier" chapters) would be considered excellent and top chapters at other schools around the country. That's just the way it is. Anyway, best of luck to your sister & her friend, and I really do hope you give them more positive thoughts rather than negative, and I hope they stick it out til the end. If they keep much more of an open mind, they could end up very happy on bid day.

And I'm so glad that AuburnMom's daughter is having a good recruitment and likes most of the chapters that she has left. That is a great sign! I'm glad she has kept such an open mind.

Good luck to all the girls at Auburn still in recruitment! Please stick it out til the end. You may very well end up where you belong, even if you don't see it right now.

Actually, the things you have said are the EXACT things I have been telling my sister, however, my sister isn't on this message board and this is a thread about the progression of the Auburn recruitment process this year, not a "rah, rah" thread. I am expressing MY feelings about what has been going on, NOT my sister's. Actually, I shouldn't use the word "expressing" and probably use "venting" to more acurately describe what I am doing. I'm sorry if you misunderstood or thought I was posting a transcript of my conversations with my sister, because that couldn't be farther from the truth. I'm not sure if you have read this entire thread or just based your comments on my one post, but I assure you I am very aware of SEC recruitment and all that comes along with it. I also assure you that I wouldn't be on this board if I didn't love my sister and want the very best for her. I know the very best thing for her concerning rush is for me to use this board as an outlet for my frustrations and save my "rah, rah" speeches for my conversations with her. I appreciate your extreme positivity, but I think you should probably use it to encourage the people in this thread who really don't know what this process is all about.

[Momto2gals]

My daughter is already looking forward to all of the other non Greek organizations that she can join at Auburn. I am hoping that she will not be let down in those areas also as she is wanting to be very involved. She has a lot to offer in any organization really. I am wondering if she doesn't get a bid this week if once she joins some of those other organizations and gets active on campus the sororities will see what they missed by chosing her and she will get a bid later on because they will see that she could be a valuable member to them. I realize of course though that the quota thing may keep them from being able to offer her a bid. I believe that Auburn needs more sororities so that more girls will get a chance to join. What is y'alls feelings on that?
P.S. Holding my breath here until about 9:00 am when I call her to see what happens today!
Let's just say she gets invited back to those two parties today, what are her chances of getting a bid?
She said she talked to a lot more girls at each party yesterday and they were taking her around the room repeating her name over and over. Is that a good sign? She said that she TOLD them she really loved their sorority and felt like she fit in and was at home with them. Will they remember that?

[gogreekmom]

Good luck to all of your daughters!!

[Momto2gals]

My daughter got dropped from sorority recruitment. I really just don't understand what the heck is going on down there. I am very very sick and mad and upset about this. She says she doesn't know what she did wrong. She said it isn't any big deal. I said maybe that is what is wrong she didn't try her best and take this seriously enough. I am starting to wonder if she even belongs at Auburn.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Momto2gals

My daughter got dropped from sorority recruitment. I really just don't understand what the heck is going on down there. I am very very sick and mad and upset about this. She says she doesn't know what she did wrong. She said it isn't any big deal. I said maybe that is what is wrong she didn't try her best and take this seriously enough. I am starting to wonder if she even belongs at Auburn.

Tell your daughter she did NOTHING wrong. She sounds like a wonderful woman with so much to offer. The only problem is the recruitment system! It is nearly impossible to expect 1600 amazing women to all be remembered and stand out to 16 groups. Try remembering more than 100 women...by name, activities, personality. Try remembering them when you maybe get to meet 2 of those women for twenty minutes. Try convincing 221 of your other sisters that your rushee is perfect when you're the only one who met her. Then multiply that by 16. It's a horrible situation. I am so sorry that things didn't work out for your daughter, but tell her that if she really wants to join Greek life, try COB. You never know what may happen. If one of the sororities is lucky, they'll pledge her.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

It is nearly impossible to expect 1600 amazing women to all be remembered and stand out to 16 groups. Try remembering more than 100 women...by name, activities, personality. Try remembering them when you maybe get to meet 2 of those women for twenty minutes. Try convincing 221 of your other sisters that your rushee is perfect when you're the only one who met her. Then multiply that by 16. It's a horrible situation.

WOW, does this ever sum it up!

I remember having trouble trying to convince my 45 sisters - all of whom I knew - that a rushee I'd talked to was a great girl and it just didn't fly. I can't IMAGINE trying to convince 200+ people, to many of whom I'm just a name on a roster.

I know that women in huge chapters do have great experiences and make lifelong connections, but God, sometimes I just cannot wrap my head around it.

[AU_ZTA86]

Auburn is a great school - sure it's not 'Harvard' but what is, Harvard??

Second, yes, recruitment is competitive but it isn't everything. There's a reason your daughter chose Auburn. It's a school. It's a spirit. There's no campus on earth like it. Greek life is not the end all be all at Auburn. There are a ton other ways to be involved on campus. I had just as many friends that were independent as greek. I know it's a tough time but don't let it get your daughter down. It will be tough but she'll weather it. War Eagle!!!!

[AUDeltaGam]

Originally Posted by AU_ZTA86

Auburn is a great school - sure it's not 'Harvard' but what is, Harvard??

Second, yes, recruitment is competitive but it isn't everything. There's a reason your daughter chose Auburn. It's a school. It's a spirit. There's no campus on earth like it. Greek life is not the end all be all at Auburn. There are a ton other ways to be involved on campus. I had just as many friends that were independent as greek. I know it's a tough time but don't let it get your daughter down. It will be tough but she'll weather it. War Eagle!!!!

I couldn't have said it better myself

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by Momto2gals

My daughter got dropped from sorority recruitment. I really just don't understand what the heck is going on down there. I am very very sick and mad and upset about this. She says she doesn't know what she did wrong. She said it isn't any big deal. I said maybe that is what is wrong she didn't try her best and take this seriously enough. I am starting to wonder if she even belongs at Auburn.

Oh Momto2gals, I'm so sorry. I know how you feel. My daughter was dropped, too, when she went through.
She had good friends in one group, though, and when they had a few spaces to fill, they pulled her in.
Then after her first recruitment on the sorority side, she found out they had to cut MANY girls just to get down to the number they were allowed to invite back. There got to be no real rhyme or reason why they cut, they just had to limit who they invited back.
The good thing about Auburn - and I had children at both Auburn AND at Alabama at the same time - is that although sororities are a kind of big deal, they really are less at Auburn than at Alabama and other SEC schools. Plenty of girls make it "big on campus" without being in a sorority.
I know that after 24 hours, it was WAY less of a big deal to daughter than it was to me. By the time she was asked to join, it was nice, but there were other things to do, too.

[FloridaTish]

Originally Posted by Momto2gals

She said it isn't any big deal. I said maybe that is what is wrong she didn't try her best and take this seriously enough. I am starting to wonder if she even belongs at Auburn.

Correct me if I am reading this worng, but you actually said that to your daughter? It seems as if you are more interested in her being in a sorority than she is.

You are starting to wonder if she belongs at Auburn? Because she didn't get a bid? You've got to be kidding me? The last time I checked, I thought that we went to college to get an education. To question whether you belong at a college based on if you get a bid or not, shows a SERIOUS set of whacked out priorities or an obvious lack in faith in your daughter that she can find a niche on her own in a non greek organization.

I feel sorry for your daughter, but not just for getting cut from rush, but having to listen to comments like this from her own mom...

[howtheSunrose]

Originally Posted by FloridaTish

Correct me if I am reading this worng, but you actually said that to your daughter? It seems as if you are more interested in her being in a sorority than she is.

You are starting to wonder if she belongs at Auburn? Because she didn't get a bid? You've got to be kidding me? The last time I checked, I thought that we went to college to get an education. To question whether you belong at a college based on if you get a bid or not, shows a SERIOUS set of whacked out priorities or an obvious lack in faith in your daughter that she can find a niche on her own in a non greek organization.

I feel sorry for your daughter, but not just for getting cut from rush, but having to listen to comments like this from her own mom...

I think these comments are unfair. She is a mother, she cares enough about her daughter to want the best for her and make sure it's the right school for her. Many people question their college choice before they get a 100% settled in. I don't think she is saying oh, my daughter doesn't belong here bc she didn't get a bid rather questioning the system at Auburn and the people that go there. And from what I've read, I would too.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally Posted by Momto2gals

My daughter got dropped from sorority recruitment. I really just don't understand what the heck is going on down there. I am very very sick and mad and upset about this. She says she doesn't know what she did wrong. She said it isn't any big deal. I said maybe that is what is wrong she didn't try her best and take this seriously enough. I am starting to wonder if she even belongs at Auburn.

Just a little reminder........It's HER life not yours. Let her do what she wants and be happy for her.

[OleMissGlitter]

In the words of a very wise Director of Greek Life at Ole Miss, "Rush is not a guaranteed process." I will never forget when I heard those words when I went through rush at Ole Miss in August of 1996 (Before they moved it back!).

I have seen many wonderful PNMs go through rush at Ole Miss and they are released by all of the sororities. I wouldn't take it personally and I'm sure your daughter tried her best. Recruitment at any SEC school is competitive, especially Auburn where I'd say most of the sororities there are top chapters of their International Organization. This means it's going to be harder to journey through the entire process. And like some others on here have said, I bet at least 90% of the PNMs going through recruitment at Auburn, all have high GPA's, activities, legacies, lots of recs, etc....so they can't take everyone but that shouldn't reflect upon your daughter's character or any other PNM who was released.

I would tell your daughter to put her chin up and to get ready for her first week of classes at Auburn on the 16th. I would also tell her to get involved with other groups on campus. She also should sign up for COB with the Greek Life office. Auburn is an excellent university, so she should be able to submerge herself in everything else going on there.

[Army Wife'79]

Alas, no she did not. Our family knew zero about Greek life b/c I wasn't Greek in college (grew up in a family with 4 females and the LAST thing I wanted in college was to be around more estrogen) and her dad went to the U.S. Military Academy so we were bozos in the entire process. Being out of state with no connections she had no preconceived notions on "top tier etc." and would have joined any group as long as it wasn't full of serial killers. There was one sorority that was smaller than the others and the tent talk included "they didn't previously make quota therefore they will soon close down" so she felt she shouldn't join something that would disappear soon (like her entire life did in the military with each move) so she suicided. (Helpful advice from other 18 yr olds from that state who knew everything - NOT) Very bad move but back then we had never heard of Greek Chat and knew nothing about sororities except than they would be friends for life, encourage volunteerism and make a difference in the grander scheme of things. I told her I thought it would be like Junior League for college kids. Funny thing is, the smaller sorority is still there and she actually said they were the nicest, least phony of many of the groups there during rush. Go figure.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Army Wife'79

Funny thing is, the smaller sorority is still there and she actually said they were the nicest, least phony of many of the groups there during rush. Go figure.

I think it's really rare for a chapter at an SEC school to fold these days, but that doesn't mean the rumors aren't always out there.

I'm glad it worked out for her!

ETA: me too about AuburnMom. She's probably hesitant to jump in with her good news, but we eagerly await it!