Going through recruitment twice?

[gee_ess]

Well, I don't think you should say that to one of the ones who asked you back. Can you say something like, "I dropped out last year, and want to go through recruitment again because I realize being in a sorority is something I would really like to do."
I really don't think anyone will ask you directly during rush - but I still am not sure what type of campus you are on and what their Greek system is like, which has bearing on this advice - BUT it wouldn't hurt to start getting your story out there. Do not say to anyone that you dropped out because you didn't get the two houses you wanted. The others who invited you back will cut you because it is common knowledge that you don't want them.
I think you need to convey that you made a rash decision and that now that some time has gone by, you can see that all of the houses are places you could be happy. And, I think others on GC will support that advice. There are great girls in every house. If you want to be in a sorority, you may need to open yourself up to the option of every house on campus. It soulnds like the one house that asked you back to informal, really liked you.
All in all, it sounds like you would like to try again. One more thing, did you say that your grades were not good and you think that is the reason you were cut? If so, say that. "Last year my grades were not as good as they should have been but I have worked hard this year and brought them up to a 4.0, so I would like to go back through rush."

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

Well, I don't think you should say that to one of the ones who asked you back. Can you say something like, "I dropped out last year, and want to go through recruitment again because I realize being in a sorority is something I would really like to do."
I really don't think anyone will ask you directly during rush - but I still am not sure what type of campus you are on and what their Greek system is like, which has bearing on this advice - BUT it wouldn't hurt to start getting your story out there. Do not say to anyone that you dropped out because you didn't get the two houses you wanted. The others who invited you back will cut you because it is common knowledge that you don't want them. "

I completely agree...I think the whole "I didn't find my home" is cheesy and a euphemism for "I didn't get a top house and couldn't be bothered with those substandard groups that still wanted me."

[33girl]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

The others who invited you back will cut you because it is common knowledge that you don't want them.

Not necessarily. I mean, you would think they would, but

1) voting stuff is supposed to be destroyed after rush is over - if the chapter had a big turnover in their membership they may not remember her, or that she cut them.

2) if the chapters are struggling for numbers, they may be under direction to invite everyone back that they can, even if those people cut them previously. I realize that this is a stupid and counterproductive strategy, but some groups/advisors/etc apparently think it works.

I'm just saying this so she doesn't go into rush thinking "I'm automatically going to get cut from the groups I didn't want so I won't have to deal with them." The possibility is that she very well may have to deal with them the whole way through pref.

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Not necessarily. I mean, you would think they would, but

1) voting stuff is supposed to be destroyed after rush is over - if the chapter had a big turnover in their membership they may not remember her, or that she cut them.

To be honest I'm always surprised by the number of actives who distinctly remember a PNM who went through the year before. But just because a PNM was cut previously doesn't mean she will automatically be cut this year. As several others have said it largely depends on what that PNM did on campus (resume wise), becoming friends with many actives and her grades during that freshman year. I've even seen situations where someone with a questionable rep in HS overcame that by turning over a new leaf once she was in college.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by 33girl

2) if the chapters are struggling for numbers, they may be under direction to invite everyone back that they can, even if those people cut them previously. I realize that this is a stupid and counterproductive strategy, but some groups/advisors/etc apparently think it works.

Well, this assumes that the PNM doesn't mature at all and is still unwilling to consider groups that she deemed not good enough last year/semester, and/or that she was particularly rude the first time. A friend of several of my sisters (myself included) went through FMR in Spring 05 (when most of her friends went through) and was "unhappy with her choices" (in other words, she didn't think her remaining options were good enough and told some of my sisters that). She then went through informal in Fall 05 but didn't get a bid from any of the chapters she wanted (there was another chapter that she was in the same boat as us---burned her bridges too early and then changed her mind but enough people were offended the first time to not give her another chance). She went through again in Spring 06 and accepted a bid to, at the time, arguably the "lowest chapter on the totem pole" and became a very active and enthusiastic sister, holding a very high executive position and taking 2 littles.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Well, this assumes that the PNM doesn't mature at all and is still unwilling to consider groups that she deemed not good enough last year/semester, and/or that she was particularly rude the first time. A friend of several of my sisters (myself included) went through FMR in Spring 05 (when most of her friends went through) and was "unhappy with her choices" (in other words, she didn't think her remaining options were good enough and told some of my sisters that). She then went through informal in Fall 05 but didn't get a bid from any of the chapters she wanted (there was another chapter that she was in the same boat as us---burned her bridges too early and then changed her mind but enough people were offended the first time to not give her another chance). She went through again in Spring 06 and accepted a bid to, at the time, arguably the "lowest chapter on the totem pole" and became a very active and enthusiastic sister, holding a very high executive position and taking 2 littles.

All the above is true. But in this case, I was more referring to the OP's situation, which as she's now told us we misinterpreted a bit.