<p>If I understand your post correctly, momlosingit, it sounds as if your daughter’s school has formal rush in January? Is that correct? It is a shame she was sick and missed the end of formal rush last year, but she can give it another go this January if she wants to. Fall rush (informal) is often harder as not all sororities may take part and they are only able to bid up to total… so some may have a very limited number of places left. In formal recruitment, the chapters will take a whole new class, which will be much larger… </p>
<p>Nothing is guarranteed of course, but if she has been active as treasurer this semester, knows some girls in the chapters, and keeps an open mind, then she has every chance…</p>
<p>Yes…formal recruitment is in January and I really hope she gets over this disappointment and will try again. There was only one sorority recruiting this fall, and they did have a limited number of spots…still when you make it to the end, but then get cut right before bidding it was so upsetting! Anyway, hopefully she will bounce back and learn some “life lessons” from this whole experience. This has been so hard! I didn’t envision college life as a freshman/early sophomore not being positive for her…I thought she would thrive and have a great experience as I did at the same school. Thanks for all your thoughts and encouragement :)</p>
<p>momlosingit, since she came very close this time with the group, she should make a point to stay friendly with the girls in that group. When she goes through again she will know many more people and have more things to talk about than “whats your major”. That is one of the benefits of going through as a sophomore, especially if she made a good impression this time around.</p>
<p>I have no idea how accurate this is, but when D went through all this and ultimately ended up on the “other side” in a sorority, being part of the voting etc to accept new members, she mentioned that sometimes, if the numbers are tight, being a sophomore can be a disadvantage. The reason: because freshmen pay one more year of very pricy dues. I’d never considered that. Obviously this wouldn’t apply if the entire new group of potential pledges were sophomores. </p>
<p>Nonetheless, momlosingit, that doesn’t help ease your D’s hurt over this. I opted not to go through the sorority exercise (it wasn’t “cool” at all back in the 60’s), but encouraged my D to at least give it a try. My much younger sister had a great experience. Once I learned about all the rules and exclusionary practices though, I wasn’t so sure. I think it can be great for some, and not for others. </p>
<p>Perhaps eventually the philosophy of “what was meant to be, will be” will help your daughter through it. It’s so hard when our kids are hurting!</p>
<p>My daughter just found out that the sorority that was recruiting only took 16 out of
100+ who were rushing. That actually made her feel a little better She thought they were taking 40 and 43 were invited back to the pref round, so she thought she was one of 3 girls cut, but it turns out many more were cut than she thought. Not really a positive that so many were let go, but it did make it a little easier to “swallow the medicine” Thanks, everyone.</p>
<p>^Regarding sophomores, it really depends more on the school than the actual sorority. You can check out greek chat to see if a school generally accepts sophomores, or has an upperclass quota. It is especially true of SEC schools and at schools with large mansion houses. After all, someone has to pay for the mortgage and upkeep of the houses. That also means that schools that have lodges or meeting rooms instead of houses are often the ones that readily accept sophomores or juniors. The UC schools also tend to take upperclass levels due to the common ocurrence of transfers coming in jr year. </p>
<p>In regard to Miami of Ohio at least one school is coming back after a suspension, so it may be more open to sophomore members this year. It will be in rebuilding mode, so that is a plus. They will need sophomores.</p>
<p>Wow. This thread makes me very glad that I went to a school that doesn’t allow residential frats or sororities. The importance of that entire life can be blown so dramatically out of proportion. I don’t know anyone who cares whether anyone else was in a frat or sorority in college at this point (I’m almost 25).</p>
<p>The OP started this thread seeking support/advice for a child who was having a difficult time with sorority rush. The thread has gotten way off topic as there are numerous other threads discussing the pros and cons of greek life. I don’t see how offering individual opinions of greek life are helpful.</p>
<p>Mizzbee offers a lot of excellent advice here. If your child is interested in greek life, I would read her posts.</p>
She thought they were taking 40 and 43 were invited back to the pref round, so she thought she was one of 3 girls cut, but it turns out many more were cut than she thought. Not really a positive that so many were let go, but it did make it a little easier to “swallow the medicine” Thanks, everyone.</p>