Auburn University Rush--Fall 2007

[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!

[mystikchick]

Here's hoping that Elaine and Auburnmom have good news...*fingers crossed*

[AnatraAmore]

C'mon Elaine and AuburnMom!!! <fingers crossed for good results!!!>