UGA 2013 Sorority Recruitment

[ArtLlama]

Apparently UGA Recruitment made Bleacher Report - or some charming tradition involving college meatheads and mopeds, anyway. I thought of you guys.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...sorority-girls

[PearlGirl13]

Hugely disappointed daughter this morning. I'm trying hard to find the right things to say. She was only invited to two pref parties and more importantly did not get invited back to her "favorite". This is soooooo tough.

I'm wishing I had more conversations with her about considering the possibility of NOT pledging anywhere at all. We just both kept saying that we "trusted the process" - which btw, I still do, I'm just not sure if either of these two houses are the right ones for her and if the process is telling her that she would be better off not pledging.

[uga17mom]

Same thing happened to my daughter. Her two favorites are gone and she also is left with two. She said she will give them a chance. Her good friend got "the call" last night. I'm so sad for her.

[Katmandu]

Pref parties can change minds. This board is filled with stories of women who felt little or no connections with the chapters they were attending for pref, but found the longer party time, the more serious conversations and the realization that these women REALLY want you as part of their sisterhood....makes a huge difference.

And really, with chapter sizes of 250-300, is it really possible that the typical college girl will find ZERO connections there? Mostly it is hurt pride and raw emotions at play. If girls can push past that, they can be very happy, usually.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by PearlGirl13

Hugely disappointed daughter this morning. I'm trying hard to find the right things to say. She was only invited to two pref parties and more importantly did not get invited back to her "favorite". This is soooooo tough.

I'm wishing I had more conversations with her about considering the possibility of NOT pledging anywhere at all. We just both kept saying that we "trusted the process" - which btw, I still do, I'm just not sure if either of these two houses are the right ones for her and if the process is telling her that she would be better off not pledging.

Very, very rarely would a pnm be better off not pledging. Having been through dozens of recruitments I can authoritatively say the process is telling her "THESE TWO HOUSES REALLY WANT YOU. Open your heart and mind and see if you can't see yourself as a sister to these women who obviously see something in you that those who cut you did not."

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by PearlGirl13

Hugely disappointed daughter this morning. I'm trying hard to find the right things to say. She was only invited to two pref parties and more importantly did not get invited back to her "favorite". This is soooooo tough.

I'm wishing I had more conversations with her about considering the possibility of NOT pledging anywhere at all. We just both kept saying that we "trusted the process" - which btw, I still do, I'm just not sure if either of these two houses are the right ones for her and if the process is telling her that she would be better off not pledging.

I can understand your daughter feeling this way. Recruitment makes you exhausted and crazy. But why would you see not pledging as the better option? Did you know many sorority women who were unhappy that they joined?

My experience was that the women in all groups, even the ones who weren't wild about where they pledged at first, tended to be happy they were members.

[PearlGirl13]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I can understand your daughter feeling this way. Recruitment makes you exhausted and crazy. But why would you see not pledging as the better option? Did you know many sorority women who were unhappy that they joined?

My experience was that the women in all groups, even the ones who weren't wild about where they pledged at first, tended to be happy they were members.

I agree with you UGAalum. I think I wrote that at 6:35 this morning in the midst of a flurry of sad, confused, disappointed texts from my very tired and confused and disappointed daughter!

Coffee and a shower and some time to reflect make me very hopeful that she will pledge one of her two remaining choices and it will be the right place for her!

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by PearlGirl13

I agree with you UGAalum. I think I wrote that at 6:35 this morning in the midst of a flurry of sad, confused, disappointed texts from my very tired and confused and disappointed daughter!

Coffee and a shower and some time to reflect make me very hopeful that she will pledge one of her two remaining choices and it will be the right place for her!

Hang in there!

[Sciencewoman]

^^^ Preach it, sister!

[Bamamom16]

I agree with SWTXBelle on this! Keep in mind, your daughters are exhausted and run down, plus they have experienced the gamut of emotions during the week! Add to this the fact that UGA starts classes on bid day, and you have one crazed emotional exhausted nervous teenager!! My daughter went through similar emotions last year during her recruitment at Bama (all except the starting classes part on bid day, thankfully!). The house she ended up in was perfect for her, and it had always been on the radar from Panhellenic Preview Weekends the prior winter, but during rush she would call with 'new favorites' and differing viewpoints. As she approached the final rounds, several favorites still existed, but for prefs, even though she had a full 3 invites, only 1 was where she could see herself. She was a bit stung that the other two houses had dropped her. She ended up in that one and never thought back on the other 2 again. When I have asked since then if she feels the process worked for her, she says ABSOLUTELY! She knows she is exactly where she was meant to be.

[Sciencewoman]

She'd probably even be saying that if she'd ended up in any of the three, because she'd never know anything different! All sororities have wonderful experiences to offer.

Last year, there were harsh cuts at my daughter's campus. Most girls experienced heavy cuts after the first and second rounds. Several of my daughter's hall mates were released right before Pref. For those who joined, all were happy with where they ended up. From what she's said, not being able to participate in Greek Life at all was much more difficult for those girls than being dropped by a favorite along the way. Dropping or being cut is a disappointment that lasted much longer than the temporary disappointment of not getting your favorite.

Two of her friends were especially upset when they had to go to the dorm housing lottery...while those who had joined were excited about moving into their sororities sophomore year.

[PearlGirl13]

Dear Supportive Strangers

Thank you for all of this! Your words are becoming my texts! First of two pref parties done and she is sounding a bit brighter.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by PearlGirl13

Dear Supportive Strangers

Thank you for all of this! Your words are becoming my texts! First of two pref parties done and she is sounding a bit brighter.

Whoa, that's early. I wish all pref parties were after dark (obviously not practical, but still...).

[KKGAlumDGMom]

Really feeling for all you moms going through this!!! Very happy to be on the other side. My daughter's recruitment wasn't perfect, but she honestly could not be happier now and can't believe that she ever considered other chapters. The handful of girls she knows that dropped during recruitment have since regretted the rash decision they made during a very emotionally charged period of time. I wish all of you the best and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a happy bid day for you all tomorrow!!

[carnation]

Wishing luck and love to all you UGa girls--