Tiers

[Fleur de Lis]

blondebutsmart,

My understanding is that tiers are determined by how many women want to join the chapter that year. Sometimes it is very clear and part of campus culture (like an Old Row designation) but can also be a certain mix of sisters that make people want to be a part of them. Sometimes it's just a bunch of shallow but beautiful girls that all wear designer clothes and get smashed with the hottest guys on campus, and for some reason this is attractive to PNMs. Tiers change at most schools and you are much better off considering sororities that you feel you connected to.

I think sisters in "lower-tier" sororities often enjoy their experience more because "upper-tier" sisters may look around and think "ok, I joined this super popular house but I don't feel like I belong". The "lower-tier" knows that everyone in the chapter really wants to be there, not just because they won the popularity contest.

One more thing: if you've been reading other threads, then you know sometimes GC posters say not-so-supportive things. Don't let random people with too much time on THEIR hands (let's all admit it) get you down. You asked a good question and for the most part have gotten great answers!

[UGAalum94]

Nice work, Fleur de Lis. I think you described it well.

OP, I don't think it was supposed to be taken really personally, but if you are likely to internalize the responses you get, posting on GC is almost guaranteed to make you unhappy.

I'm not saying it shouldn't be a nicer place or that you've done anything wrong (because you haven't), but the answers you get might not be 100% validating and supportive, and it's a risk of posting.

[jwsteele]

Originally Posted by Fleur de Lis

blondebutsmart,

Sometimes it's just a bunch of shallow but beautiful girls that all wear designer clothes and get smashed with the hottest guys on campus, and for some reason this is attractive to PNMs.

I think sisters in "lower-tier" sororities often enjoy their experience more because "upper-tier" sisters may look around and think "ok, I joined this super popular house but I don't feel like I belong". The "lower-tier" knows that everyone in the chapter really wants to be there, not just because they won the popularity contest.

No.

As a long time lurker, there aren't many cases where I'll step out of the shadows and say something is wrong. But this attitude is 100% wrong.

First, as for the "lower-tier" sorority members knowing that everybody wanted them there, by playing devil's advocate you could say they'd feel like, "the only reason these girls really wanted me is because I was cut from other houses and the chapter's favorite girls cut them." Sound like an absurd claim? That's how your statement came off.

Second, on my campus I am in the unique position in that the two houses I am closest with are on very different ends of the spectrum. One is THE "blonde, rich girl" chapter and the other one isn't the lowest in terms of tiers, but pretty damn close. The reason why I was attracted to both groups is because they are both full of members who absolutely love their sorority and you can feel the bond at every event we're at with either one. On the other hand, I know of a "top chapter" and the "bottom chapter" at our school that have very poor sisterhood. The "bottom chapter" always has a terrible rush because they come off as desparate with low-morale (while the other bottom chapter has done well recently because they love their house despite reputations). The poor-sisterhood "top chapter" has had some challenging rushes recently because the PNMs they want the most have gone to the other two top chapters who have extremely strong sisterhood (and it shows).

So tiers don't matter, I agree with you there. However to suggest that the "pretty sororities" generally have a less meaningful time and are shallow just because they are pretty (and I can argue with that as well...in the "prettiest chapter" I just discussed there are many many many women who I'd say are plain or unattractive, they just had personalities that are extremely larger-than-life) is invalid. This is the complete opposite of the "give all chapters a chance" that is preached like gospel on GreekChat (and rightly so) but for some reason when somebody calls the "top chapters" out for unfounded reasons nobody blinks an eye. Why is that? Because in my experience statements like the ones above are just as unfounded as negative statements about smaller chapters.

Just some food for thought.

[Fleur de Lis]

jwsteele,

In a weird way, I think we're trying to say the same thing - sisterhood is more important that what tier a sorority is in.

Sometimes PNMs have this idea that if they join the most prestigious sorority they can get into, their life will somehow improve over finding a group that works best for them, and I was attempting to show a small example of this. Of course, sometimes the most prestigious sorority IS the best fit.

The "beautiful but shallow" comment was meant to be tongue in cheek. I'm not insinuating that all 'beautiful' chapters are shallow or have less of a sisterhood. Often they are attractive to PNMs because of the strong bond.

But I appreciate you calling out my inconsistencies so that PNMs reading this don't misunderstand my words.

[blondebutsmart]

Thank you to all those who sent me PMs! I was reeling somewhat from some of the responses I received. I had to step back and re-evaluate.

I thought I had "framed my questions constructively."

My purpose in asking the questions was to gain an understanding of the reasoning behind why someone would be so intent on joining a "higher tier" sorority when it might not be the best fit for them--and to determine how those girls might feel if they accepted a bid into a "lower tier" or "mid tier" sorority.

I now understand that some girls (and their moms) have been planning this time for many years. My mom is not Greek, nor is anyone in my family, so I don't have that pressure. My mom doesn't care if I do or don't join a sorority. She just wants me to become involved in SOMETHING and have fun in college (after academics are taken care of, of course).

If I go through recruitment, I wouldn't rule anyone out because of tiers (higher or lower). I was a cheerleader in high school and was probably considered popular, but I had friends in all different groups (athletes, theatre, and the academics). I think it's more important to feel connected to people rather than an image.

Thanks also to all those who posted with constructive comments. To those who didn't, well . . . I guess I wonder what's bothering you that you have to be nasty. I thought sisterhood was a bonding experience, but I'm an idealist.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by blondebutsmart

Thank you to all those who sent me PMs! I was reeling somewhat from some of the responses I received. I had to step back and re-evaluate.

I thought I had "framed my questions constructively."

My purpose in asking the questions was to gain an understanding of the reasoning behind why someone would be so intent on joining a "higher tier" sorority when it might not be the best fit for them--and to determine how those girls might feel if they accepted a bid into a "lower tier" or "mid tier" sorority.

I now understand that some girls (and their moms) have been planning this time for many years. My mom is not Greek, nor is anyone in my family, so I don't have that pressure. My mom doesn't care if I do or don't join a sorority. She just wants me to become involved in SOMETHING and have fun in college (after academics are taken care of, of course).

If I go through recruitment, I wouldn't rule anyone out because of tiers (higher or lower). I was a cheerleader in high school and was probably considered popular, but I had friends in all different groups (athletes, theatre, and the academics). I think it's more important to feel connected to people rather than an image.

Thanks also to all those who posted with constructive comments. To those who didn't, well . . . I guess I wonder what's bothering you that you have to be nasty. I thought sisterhood was a bonding experience, but I'm an idealist.

When I went through Recruitment, I felt very much the same way. The only greeks I had in my family either went to very small schools or very large "greek schools" in the south.

After I pledged, I realized that some of the houses that I dropped after the first round were considered the Top Tiers. I remember one house in particular (which was suppose to be the skinny, cute, rich girls) where the girl that rushed me in the first round giggled the whole time. I had to carry the conversation. In a way, being blind to the politics of reccruitment guided me to where I felt most comfortable and least intimidated.

I had very few recs, went to no teas, didn't have a helicopter mom who planned the rest of my life during childhood, and didn't shop for a "rush wardrobe". In fact, I borrowed my roommates dress for Pref.

The only pact I made was to call my brother after pref (he was a senior at the same school) and go over my choices. My one, two and three chioces matched his exactly. It turned out that one of his very best female friends became a sister of mine and I had never met her during rush.

Put on the blinders, put in the earplugs. Forget about what others say and go with your heart.