Okay, I have no kids in Greek Life at Alabama, but am very familiar with Greek Life and looked into Alabama when my daughter was thinking about going there. We were there during Sorority Rush. I can answer most of your questions.
You can be in Honors and be in a Sorority. Most Sororities have pretty good academic support for the young women who are focused on academics. You need to make sure you have good time management.
Freshman do not live in the Sorority houses at Alabama. You should try to live in the house after your freshman year because it makes the experience more affordable and enjoyable. Some, if not all, of the Sororities prioritize who can live in the house partially on GPA… so get good grades.
You will definitely go to the sorority house for meals. After you join, you get dropped from the university meal plan and start going to the house for meals (at least this is the way it used to be). The meals are a big reason why the Greek System is pretty expensive at Alabama. If you are paying for the meals, you will want to use them.
The rush process for women is pretty intense if you put pressure on yourself. Hard to not get caught up in the moment and think you need to be perfect to get into the perfect house. You do need to take it seriously, but young women would be well served to try to find a place where they truly fit it (there is a place for everyone) instead of trying to get into the house that everyone is talking about as the “top” house. You will have the most rewarding experience by going where you fit in (with a little self reflection) instead of going where people tell you is the best.
Most probably fit a stereotype, but they will all have members who don’t fit the stereotype.
Yes, there will be reputations that come with each Sorority. Should not matter and you should go with where you feel you connect with the other women. I know this is hard to do, but it is good advice.
Yes, lots of rules, but it is a fun system that can get out of hand without rules.
If you do not have close family familiar with the rush process, a rush coach is not a bad idea. You will need to communicate your goals and hopefully the coach will be able to help you get there. If you are concerned about being in a “top” house or if you just want to go where you fit, you need to tell them.
Letters of rec are still a thing for sororities and best to have your parents start reaching out to friends on social media to find members of each sorority at Alabama (the friends don’t have to be Alabama alumni, but alumni members of the sororities even if from different schools). Letter of rec is something good to have in your file, but they ultimately don’t carry a huge amount of weight.
I can’t help you with what to talk about in the rush video and that is where a rush coach could be helpful. Or start to do research on that particular part of the process. Not all schools require it.
Regardless of what they say, all of the Sororities want to have “pretty girls,” so that does factor in. When it comes down to it, they all have girls who are not perfect in the beauty department. Some will place more importance on looks than others, but they all want that on some level. That being said, there will be a place for everyone and this is where self awareness and a goal of finding a good fit for yourself will serve you well. Still take it seriously and present your best self.
You will need to have the appropriate attire and the rush registration process will explain what you need. Some will go over the top with designer brands. Do that if that is you and don’t do that if that is not you. Being a member of a Sorority at Alabama is pretty expensive, but not as expensive as it seems when you factor in the meal plan. It is cheaper to live in the house as the people who don’t live in the house sort of subsidize the house for all.
The rush process is unavoidably stressful, but you may laugh on the other side when you see how much stress there is on the members to recruit new members each year.
