CherrySonata Fall Recruitment 2010

[FSUZeta]

can't wait to read more.

[angels&angles]

I enjoy these "brutally honest" stories that are honest about the author's own shortcomings, and not "honest" about how horrible some of the chapters are. I really enjoy the stories that are all about what went wrong (and often how to fix it or avoid the same mistakes). If I ever wrote my recruitment tale, it would be something like this (I pretty much did EVERYTHING wrong, but it worked out for me anyway). This is well written and honest. I'm really enjoying it.

[CherrySonata]

Thanks FSUZeta and angels&angles. I truly don't believe any chapter was bad; I just made a TON of mistakes.


Set one began the next day, so we woke up pretty early and headed to the meeting place. This year, Lapis Lazuli House was the first house we went to. I had a good idea of what to expect because of last year, so I wasn't as shocked from the noise. I wasn't sure what I'd feel about Lapis Lazuli because I couldn't remember much from the previous year. But once I went in, I loved it. All I could think the whole time was about how cute everything was, from the house to the girls' outfits. All my conversations felt very surface-level and shallow to me, but that I never once felt awkward or uncomfortable. I really liked this house. I wished I had had a chance to have more meaningful conversations, but I guessed that'd come later in the week. Even so, I enjoyed myself here and tried to be positive. I really wanted to get a callback to this house.

Tanzanite House was next second, and I was really really really excited for this house because I loved it so much last year. Once again, I really enjoyed my time at this house. The one weird thing was that I had a normal conversation with the first girl for a normal length of time and then I talked to the second girl for about two minutes before being bumped... And then the third girl talked to me for two or three minutes before I got bumped again... And the same thing happened with every single girl after that. I talked to about 9 or 10 girls during this half hour period. It weirded me out a little but everybody was so nice, so I was mostly at ease. Overall, despite the weird bumping thing, I still left with a good and happy feeling about this house.

After a break, we headed to Peridot House. I knew one of the actives here, but she was studying abroad. I decided not to take into account how I felt about this house last year, and start with a clean slate. And once I got inside, I really honestly enjoyed myself. I had a nice conversation in particular with the last girl I talked to. That really stuck out in my mind, as I felt like it was the first substantial thing that happened at the houses all day. A part of me was just caught up in all the energy of recruitment. That is a nice feeling, but having a deep conversation was really special too. After I left this house I wasn't sure what to think. I only had a half-hour to get an impression of the whole house-- and I felt like it was ridiculously unfair of anyone to expect me to love or hate a house after such a short time. How could I rank anybody after just that small amount of interaction?

Tourmaline House was next, right after lunch. I wasn't sure how I felt about them, especially because some of the girls in the group started whispering about their "reputation" (I learned my lesson last year so I didn't listen in this time), but when I went in, none of that was on my mind because I was too busy enjoying myself. The girls I talked to were really intelligent and I could almost hear the literal 'click' as I talked with them. They were also really nice, and I was very impressed. I really enjoyed this house. Judging by the smiles in the rest of my group after we got out, I wasn't the only one. I have to say that I was really impressed by this house, and I enjoyed my visit there at any rate.

After another break, my group headed to Sapphire House. This was another house I was really looking forward to. I had an acquaintance in this house but I wasn't entirely sure if she'd remember me. I got picked up at the door and looked through the crowds and saw my acquaintance, then when I was in the middle of my first conversation, she came over to say Hi and that she was glad to see me. I really liked that because it made me feel recognizable and special. (And maybe it isn't a huge deal, but it felt nice to me.) I had decent conversations about a few different topics with one of the actives, and I felt very much at ease. I don't know if I connected as much with the other girls I talked to, but I definitely enjoyed this house and my conversations here. I really wanted to go back and get to know the sisters better.

Garnet House was the last house of the day. I still had no strong feelings about this house, going in. My conversations were all decent, if a bit shallow. At my last conversation, I made one of the biggest mistakes in the world, which I knew better than to do, ESPECIALLY since I had prepared so much. Without thinking, I accidentally mentioned a sensitive topic... I just stopped mid-sentence because I realized my mistake. I tried to cover it up and changed the topic quickly. The active didn't seem too put off by it since we moved on to something else quickly, but I felt really stupid after that. I left this house feeling a mixture of wanting to see them again, feeling uncomfortable about what had happened, and feeling vaguely like my conversations were too shallow to be meaningful to the sisters.

By this time I was exhausted. I went home, reflected on this and had some dinner, and went to bed early. The one thing I can say though is that I was much less stressed out about it than I thought I would be, and I really enjoyed it a lot. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but it is that simple... I really was having a good time. I was also so nervous at this point that I wouldn't get a lot of callbacks, nevermind the fact that ranking and callbacks wouldn't happen for another 26+ or so hours or something. I really liked all the houses today and would love to go back to all of them, if that was possible. But I felt also like the next day, I'd have a really really hard time ranking them-- as I'd only had a half hour and gotten to talk to only a handful of girls, and didn't think there was any way I'd be able to make educated decisions (especially since I was ignoring what I remembered of the houses from the year before).

[FSUZeta]

more please!

[AnsleyCooper]

More please!! Which house did u end up at?!?

[Tulip86]

ooooh this is a good one, great story so far

[Regina.George]

Originally Posted by Tulip86

ooooh this is a good one, great story so far

Although most of us are likely to die of old age before she finally finishes it.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Regina.George

Although most of us are likely to die of old age before she finally finishes it.

[CherrySonata]

Thanks for the comments everyone

I'm posting one part a day because if I tried to post it all at once it'd be a huge post. I thought breaking it up might be easier to read.



The next day was the second day of set 1. The first house we went to after our morning meeting was Emerald House. I was looking forward to this one, since I had an acquaintance in here and wanted to see her. I ended up having some shallow-level conversations with a few weird pauses, but not too bad overall. I really did enjoy my time here, except that one of the girls I talked to used the slang word "sick" instead of "cool." Every time I would say something, like my major or anything at all, the answer was "That's so sick!" "Sick!" "Wow! Sick!" Etc. Aside from that, I had a pretty good time overall except that I felt unmemorable at all, like I hadn't really 'clicked' with any of the girls.


Right after Emerald we headed to Obsidian House. Once we got seated, I had two really great conversations and I felt like I connected well with those two members, but the third girl I talked to felt very distant and I couldn't connect with her at all. Overall I enjoyed myself though, and two good conversations was enough to balance out one awkward one. Since I was starting fresh this year, I decided that I really enjoyed myself and felt like I could get along here.


After a break, my group went to Amethyst House. Throughout my conversations here, I did not feel an immediate bond of sisterhood, but I certainly did have a chance to touch on some good topics, even though I felt once again that the conversations were very shallow. Overall, I enjoyed my time at this house as well, but I wasn't sure if I felt very strongly about it... It was a nice house, but if I couldn't connect with the girls, maybe it wasn't for me.


Ruby House was after lunch. I was looking forward to this house most of all-- especially because the woman I met to write my rec was really amazing and impressed me a lot! (Not to mention that this house was my favorite last year, which I couldn't make myself forget entirely.) My first conversation when we went inside was really good, and I really clicked with my first girl. Then I got bumped, and find out that I have some things in common with the second girl too, and I really felt like I clicked with her also. We shared some uncommon hobbies, and ended up having a really nice conversation. I felt a real connection. My last conversation flowed naturally but I didn't really feel like I had a connection with her. When I left this house I was very happy about it, and once again I wanted a callback here more than anywhere else. Then I realized I hadn't gotten along as well with the last girl, and what if I only felt like I connected with the other girls because that was what I wanted? I wasn't sure what to think. I did want to believe that I fit in with the actives, but what if I was just wanting this house because I wanted it last year?

I was also looking forward to Topaz House a lot, even though it was the last house of the set. I was impressed from the minute I walked in, because the house had a really good vibe and I felt like they had a vibrant sisterhood, but my conversations weren't anything special. They were nice, but they didn't stand out as particularly memorable. I definitely liked this house, though. I was feeling pretty good about this house and wanted to go back and learn more about the sisterhood.

After this, we went to rank the houses and I agonized over my decisions. I had enjoyed all of the houses, and I didn't really 'hate' or even dislike any of them, so I had a really, really hard time deciding. In the end, with some help from my RC, I made a decision and got my votes in.

1. Tourmaline House
1. Tanzanite House
1. Topaz House
1. Ruby House
1. Obsidian House
1. Lapis Lazuli House
1. Sapphire House
1. Peridot House
2. Emerald House
3. Garnet House
4. Amethyst House

I spent the rest of the day worrying about my callbacks and was absolutely sure I wouldn't get any. Going over my conversations that I could remember, I felt worried because it seemed like at a lot of chapters, I had only had shallow conversations like What's your major, where are you living, how do you like campus so far, etc. Sometimes I thought about a house and felt like I had clicked with the girls, but I doubted myself. What if they didn't feel the same way? Why had I had so many conversations that seemed 'blah' when I spent the entire year obsessively preparing just to get through recruitment? Finally I decided that I decided to go through again because I had to join a sorority, and I wasn't about to give up. I'd just wait and see.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by CherrySonata

Thanks for the comments everyone

I'm posting one part a day because if I tried to post it all at once it'd be a huge post. I thought breaking it up might be easier to read.

Suggestion: if it's already written, post it all in sequential posts. You'll generate a lot of good will if you do that!

[victoriana]

Yes, please feel free to post more than once a day. We are all dying to hear

[FSUZeta]

agreed! i don't mind waiting for Christmas, but once it's here, I want to open the presents!

[CherrySonata]

ok, sorry! I thought I had to wait every day but if people want me to go faster I will. I have to write and edit the parts but I can still do more than once per day.



I knew when I woke up early to get ready that I hadn't had a call from my RC, so I had to have at least one callback. I was still really nervous, thinking, "What if I only get 2? What if I only get 1?" One of my friend told me, "Even if you only get two, that's still way better than none, right? And besides, no matter what you'll end up joining only one." I was still nervous, though.

We got to our room and sat and waited for schedules. Some girls texted other girls in the room after they got called out, saying that they had a full 8 houses. I was very anxious. Right near the end, I finally got called out and my RC said, "OK, here's your schedule." I looked down at her hand and saw Ruby and Tourmaline.

I didn't care about anything-- just that I was going back to Ruby.

Then my RC gasps and says, "Oh, I'm sorry, that's Emma's schedule," and I feel a plunging in the pit of my stomach.


She hands me my schedule.


I have a callback to Tourmaline.

I have a callback to Topaz.

I have a callback to Peridot.

I have a callback to Obsidian.

That is the end of my schedule.


My RA sends me off and I feel weirdly detached. A part of me actually isn't all that upset; the part of me that was prepared to not be called back to Ruby House. That part is still happy to be going back to a round number of houses. And all the houses that invited me back were ones I ranked high. But then a different part of me was upset about not being invited back to Ruby House. I had felt such a strong connection; I had great grades; I really felt like my conversations went well. I spent the WHOLE year preparing to get into this house! I couldn't believe I hadn't been invited back. Finally I squared my shoulders and got ready for the party. No matter how much I wanted to be in a different house, I couldn't change who had invited me back.

So I had Peridot House first, and I lined up outside. I was between two girls from my group and one whom I was pretty good friends with, "Lauren." She told me quietly that she got invited back to 8 houses, and I instantly bit my tongue and told her that I was happy for her. I felt so upset that I only got invited back to 4 and she got a full schedule. I realize how bratty it sounds, but I really felt upset that she had a full schedule when she was similar in personality to me. I felt annoyed that she got invited back to Ruby House and was excited about it. I couldn't help but feel like I belonged there. But I sucked it up and went into Peridot House with as much of an open mind as I could.

I didn't have a good time at this party, and I knew it wasn't just because I wanted to be at Ruby. The actives I talk to were nice but we didn't have much of a connection. Our conversations were basic, nowhere near as good as the ones I'd had here during Set 1. I just honestly wasn't as impressed today as I had been earlier.

I had a big break until my next parties, so I went home. I started feeling miserable about Ruby House. I just wanted them so badly, and the lackluster party at Peridot House had made me feel like I'd never find a home in a chapter.

I went and met Lauren for lunch, and told her how I was sad that I only had 4 callbacks. She tried to make me feel better, and said that I should stick it out. I hadn't been planning on dropping at that point but I was annoyed. I thought that she'd understand how I felt. I knew I was thinking too much about it now, but I just really wanted Ruby House. I was obsessed with the idea of this unattainable house that felt perfect to me. The girls I knew in the house had great GPAs and were really involved on campus. I didn't want a house that I felt awkward in, and I'd felt so welcome at Ruby House. At this point, I was just feeling upset that they didn't want me when I wanted them so badly. Lauren tells me that she thinks that everything is supposed to happen for a reason and I didn't say anything but I thought, "Big deal! You were invited back to Ruby House! You told me that was your favorite yesterday!"

She told me that she isn't going to join a house she doesn't like, but she could get involved on campus in other ways. I thought that it was reasonable and then I started thinking about why I even wanted to join a sorority. Mainly I wanted to go greek because I didn't have many friends. I really wanted to be in Ruby House because I could see myself being in that family and getting the support I want and need, but I started to wonder if I could be myself there or if I would feel the need to impress them constantly because of how badly I wanted them to accept me. But I had 3 parties left to go to and I shouldn't rush to be judgmental so quickly, especially as I've only seen them on the first day! I felt a little bit better after lunch with Lauren, and went back to my dorm to wait it out until the next set of parties.

So once I realized this, I calmed down a little bit. It wasn't that I didn't want Tourmaline House or Peridot House; I knew that these houses were just as large as the others on campus, and I would be able to find SOMEONE in such a large house I would be able to hang out with. I realized I was just upset at being rejected from the house I had initially liked so much. I tried to remind myself of this, but it is still hard to remember if you're in the moment and feel like you don't want your options.

So, anyway, my next party was Obsidian House, and I lined up with a mixture of wanting to see more about it and not wanting to be there at all. But the party was fun; I enjoyed it and actually did have a really good conversation with an active in the house. Overall, I left this house feeling like I still wasn't quite sure if I fit in, but I felt pretty good about it.

After this party, I had to book it to Tourmaline, as I had a party there immediately after. I ended up being extremely surprised with this house. I got assigned to a girl who was a good four or five inches taller than me, and I had a hard time talking to her. She told me about a lot of her events, and we had a good conversation, except that she was very intent on explaining to me all about her sorority's social events. She glossed over the philanthropy, explaining in very concise terms what they did, and when I asked if the girls were very devoted to it she said, "Yeah," trailed off, and changed the subject quickly. I wasn't impressed but the she started talking about study hours and GPA, which was a bit more impressive to me. So by the end of the party I was basically feeling overwhelmed and not entirely sure what to think about this house. I hadn't 'clicked' today as well as I had during Set 1, but I had learned a lot more about this house and wasn't ready to write it off completely, especially because they seemed to balance schoolwork and recreation, which is important for any college student, not just Greeks.

I had a break and then my last party of the day, Topaz House. I was feeling reluctant to go to this party but I knew it was because I was tired of waiting in the heat, not because I didn't want to visit the house. When I finally got in, the party was very nice, and I really felt a connection with the girls there. I enjoyed learning about the philanthropies and I also had a chance to learn about leadership opportunities in the house, which was really nice and impressed me a lot. I also enjoyed the conversation I had with one particular active, just before I left. By the time I left this house, I was feeling optimistic again. 'Okay, so they aren't Ruby House, but I did enjoy myself there an awful lot...'


I went to do my ranking, where I had to pick my "top 5," then went home. I started thinking a lot about my choices. I was still mourning over my loss of Ruby House, but I finally realized that I admired the strong sisterhood and the dedication to philanthropy in Topaz House-- and I even began to hope for a callback. I started hoping I would get a bid from them.

[Shellfish]

Originally Posted by CherrySonata

Hello, everybody!

I've posted only in the 'introductions' forum and this forum so far, and didn't want to post my story yet because I still had a few weeks to go before recruitment. I've been so busy preparing. It has actually been really exciting. I have to thank a number of GreekChat women for giving me good advice and helping me answer my questions. They really have done a lot for me, and I feel very lucky that I'm prepared before the week even starts! Now rush is starting very soon, so I was really excited to post this.

Mainly all I have left are outfits. (I know, as if there aren't enough of those threads yet?-- But don't worry, I'm not turning this into an outfit thread.) Basically, I keep questioning myself as to whether or not my choices are 'actually' acceptable. I have heard from some friends at my college that the guidelines in our handbook are pretty typical of what is actually worn, but I also have heard on here that erring on the slightly-too-nice side rather than the slightly-more-casual side is preferable. So I've been running around trying to make sure all of my outfits are similar to the guide but maybe at the dressier end of the listed bracket of 'acceptable outfits.' My mom helped me pick out my dress for pref night and I liked it when I first bought it and then the more I looked at it over the subsequent weeks, the more I thought I might need to go get a different dress instead. It isn't all that clubby, but it seemed that somehow I felt it might be too casual or something. So one night when my parents wanted to take me and my siblings out to dinner I decided I'd wear it, for grins & giggles (and to make sure it fit OK). Well, when we were walking around the mall after dinner, a total stranger came up to me and complimented me on it! So I am interpreting this woman's opinion as a Sign that it is a good dress, and hopefully what I know of my campus culture will work in my favor too, and the dress won't stand out in a bad way.

Per some of the good advice I've received on this forum, I am not going to be posting my story 100% live, but I WILL be posting it in a mostly candid manner. I'll be waiting a few days after things happen to post them, just in case any curious people do try to figure out where I am. I think that by keeping myself anonymous as much as I can, I will only help myself and it will also be more tactful. Anyway, I won't be listing my school, except for at the very end. And it is possible that people will figure out where I am, but if you are curious can you please just PM it to me instead of posting here? I would appreciate it very much I have disclosed that I am going to school in the Southwest, but that is all. I'll say at the end where I am at.

I will also probably refrain from telling you EXACTLY how I rank each house. I'm not sure yet if it will be vital to my story, but I will definitely try to strike a balance between informative and prudent. If it isn't a big deal, I will tell my rankings (if I can remember them). But, I might not. Just a heads up. Also, if I mention specific peoples' names, they will definitely be pseudonyms!

So, I will see you all over the next few days, and hopefully it will be a great experience. I'm keeping an open mind and waiting to see what comes my way, and I'm really excited to possibly find a new family!

Oh, and a warning-- I may vary between recruitment/rush and PNM/rushee. You have been warned!

I know that this thread is going to be really good, so I am very excited to post. It seems like recruitment is going to be an amazing experience (and I'm looking forward to it so much!), and I think by doing my daily recaps I will be able to think my choices through a lot more rationally. (Also away from any potential tent talk...) I can't promise that this thread will be carnation-bump-worthy in future years, but I do know that it will be great!

Something tells me this should be QFPed.

[bear_down]

Originally Posted by CherrySonata

I realize how bratty it sounds, but I really felt upset that she had a full schedule when she was similar in personality to me. I felt annoyed that she got invited back to Ruby House and was excited about it. I couldn't help but feel like I belonged there.

Was she a junior and doing recruitment for the second time too? That probably had a lot to do with it for you. It doesn't mean they didn't like you.