Should I even bother rushing a sorority next year?

Mkrhino · 10-19-2009, 08:08 PM

Okay, so next year I'll be transferring in as a junior, and I was kind of thinking about rushing a sorority. However, when I reading through the USC Greek Thread (granted, it was from 4 years ago), I remember someone saying something like "to be in a sorority, you'd better be rich, dumb, white, and pretty." Well, I don't fall into any of those categories (except for maybe the last one, in my own opinion lol). I am definitely not rich, and I'm not white. I'm 1/2 hispanic, and 1/2 African American (I look more like the latter than the former). Also, I looked through most of the sororities' pictures, and the only minority groups I saw in the regular sororities were a couple of Asian girls. So my question is, should I even waste my time rushing, if I have a zero to none chance of getting in anyways? I really don't want to do a racially based sorority (I think I remember reading that SC has both Latino and African-American ones), and if I did rush any sorority, it would be the regular ones. So should I just give up on the idea since it's probably not going to happen, or should I take a chance and potentially embarrass myself and maybe not get a bid for any of them?

Columbia_Student · 10-19-2009, 08:48 PM

I can tell you that is not true. My daughter is not in a sorority but she does know a few friends that are not in the rich, white category who are in some sorority(I can't remember which), but I've heard it's pretty decent ones. One is Indian, the other is African American.

Georgia Girl · 10-19-2009, 11:15 PM

Mk,
Recruitment is by mutual selection. I think you may have been looking at some outdated photos. My Greek chapter at SC is at total and has many members who are Hispanic, Asian, Indian and mixtures. I know some are international.
The all sorority average is ABOVE the all women's average at SC and almost every other college. If you look at the chapter averages this year there is a sorority which had a spring GPA of 3.45. Many sorority members are in Alpha Lambda Delta, Order of Omega and other honoraries. The scholarship trophy is highly prized.
I would say it may be a bit more difficult to join a group as a junior, as freshmen are preferred. However, Panhellenic has now instituted a junior quota. This means a certain number of juniors may receive bids to a chapter, but not counted in their quota numbers.
Also, if you look at the photos every member is not "model" beautiful.
It is important to have an open mind when you go through recruitment and find the best "fit", just as you did in choosing a university.
According to the SC profile for freshmen (I realize you are a transfer.) only 43% of the freshmen students are caucasian. Some eastern colleges have student bodies which are in the 70% range. SC has one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation.
Check with Panhellenic about the costs involved. Have a frank talk with your parents to make certain these expenses fit into the family budget.
The NPC organizations are all national groups. Joining if for a lifetime.

Eiffel · 10-20-2009, 08:55 AM

I'm mildly considering joining a sorority. But is it true that USC sororities don't let openly LGBT girls join? According to your above post, it sounds like it'd be just a myth, but...

Also, are there some sororities that are not really into partying and drinking, or are they all party-centric?

ellebud · 10-20-2009, 04:25 PM

Whoa!!! The stereotypes live on, untrue stereotypes. My daughter went through recruitment this fall. She met girls going through who are juniors and got placed. There are African American, Asian, and Latino girls in her pledge class. All the girls are bright, talented and interesting. And the girls are all individuals: some like partying more than others. You will have to find your comfort zone. Georgiagirl is totally correct about the stellar gpas on the Row.

Eiffel · 10-20-2009, 04:50 PM

^I see you mention racial diversity, but do they allow LGBT in too? :P

ellebud · 10-20-2009, 10:26 PM

My feeling is that LGBT people do not wear badges announcing their status. Nor, I might add do straight people. Are there people who are LGBT in Greek life? Undoubtedly yes. Were they accepted or rejected because of their sexual preferences? I really can't answer that because membership selection is private.

Mkrhino · 10-20-2009, 10:35 PM

Thanks everyone! This makes me feel much, much better. Granted, I still may not be able to foot the bill (I think it's something like $5,000 extra a year, more if you live in the house the second year. At least that's what I read), but it's good to know I may at least have a chance!

GeorgiaGirl: Thanks, that's really helpful! Yeah, I didn't so much believe the "dumb" part, it was the "rich and white" that I was worried about, in terms of being able to get in in the first place. Do you think it'll hurt me getting in as a junior in terms of being young? I mean, when I transfer I'll be 17, so I won't even be of legal age to do a lot of things (I don't mean of the partying variety, not really my thing, but moreso the actual sorority activities).

ellebud · 10-20-2009, 10:43 PM

First of all, it is actually LESS to live in a sorority house than in the dorms. Yes, each house charges differently for social activities, but room and board are less.

I started college younger than you. Your degree of maturity will determine how well you fit. (I was not emotionally mature enough, in my now adult opinion.)

Mkrhino · 10-21-2009, 12:06 AM

Oh, really? God, I *really* don't know what I'm talking about then! =/

But I still might not be able to afford it, because am I right in assuming that you have to pay the sorority costs out of pocket, and not with financial aid?

Yeah, I'm not so much worried about the maturity part (not to say that I believe I'm the most mature person ever, but I think a pretty good foundation is there), but moreso the fact that most of the juniors will be 19 or 20 and I'll only be 17, and they may not relate to me so well! But I really don't want that to stop me. That would be a pretty bad reason not to rush!

ellebud · 10-21-2009, 12:39 AM

Actually, you will be on the slightly young side for a freshman who is going through recruitment. Within a pledge class you'll fit right in.

Mkrhino · 10-23-2009, 12:44 PM

Okay, thanks ellebud! Now as long as my initial concerns don't become a problem, hopefully I'll get into one of the sororities!

CI180 · 10-23-2009, 06:18 PM

It's important to remember that every girl who goes through rush is guaranteed to receive a bid from a sorority, that's how the system works at USC. Every girl who signs up for rush and goes through the week will get a bid.

ellebud · 10-23-2009, 08:11 PM

CII80: That is not true. USC does NOT guarentee a bid for every girl who goes through recruitment. IF a girl goes all the way through recruitment and has a preference party, meaning that she was only invited to one party, she will PROBABLY get a bid from that house. This why there are quota additions. IF a girl has two preference parties and suicides to one and the girl isn't on the bid list...she may not receive a bid. There were girls who were released from all ten houses. Not many but a few. There are girls who didn't like their choices and dropped out of recruitment. The latter is certainly not the fault of the sororities. There was a spot, but the girl didn't want that spot.

Mkrhino · 10-25-2009, 01:46 PM

ellebud: What criteria do sororities use to judge the girls rushing?