Welcome to GC!! Here's my take on everything...
1. Don't listen to your friends, listen to yourself. You're the only one who knows if you want to explore the possibility of being a sorority member. Tell your friends that it's your choice to make, and you'd appreciate it if they'd be more supportive.
2. 14 sororities is a lot more than some campuses. As long as you go to all the recruitment events you're supposed to and maximize all your choices when ranking houses, there's only a very small chance that you won't receive a bid, and even if you don't, there are other options, like COB (informal) recruitment.
3. There's nothing wrong with rushing your first semester at college, but some schools (mine, for example) don't allow first semester freshmen to rush. Check your school's policy on this. But anyway, I personally would recommend waiting at least until your second semester...going to college is a big change, and you probably won't need the whole hectic recruitment thing stressing you out even more. By second semester, you'll know your way around better, you'll be better adapted to college life, and you may know a bit more about your school's GLOs than you do now.
4. Know that saying "love is blind?" Well, sisterhood is love...it's blind too. People who really want you as a sister aren't going to care one bit if you're overweight or not, if you're blonde or brunette, or anything like that. Find the house where you really feel like they like you for you, and never let it go!
So really, don't worry about the superficial stuff. If some house is going to cut you for a reason that petty, they are definitely not worth your time.
Here's more good advice...listen up to the other GCers, we've all been through it, and the people that post on these boards are really insightful and smart!
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