I just got accepted to Dartmouth and I definitely think I’m going to go there, but I’m concerned about the greek scene. How hard is it to get into a top sorority? Do most people who rush get recommendation letters? If you don’t end up going greek, can you still have a social life on campus?
In reverse order:
Yes. Greek parties, with a few exceptions, are open to the community, and there are lots of other groups, areas of interests, etc.
Don’t know. D did not.
Not hard, and there aren’t really “top” rankings. Houses have different reputations/interests, and prospies trend toward sororities where they have a common interest with some of the members. In D’s years, Sigma Delta and AZD had some rugby players she knew from the team, so that was a draw. I think just anyone who wants will end up affiliated somewhere. You need to realize that the Greek houses at Dartmouth have far more members then could ever reside in the physical plant. Heck, some houses don’t even have houses.
First of all Freshmen cannot pledge. So there will be no pledging until sophomore year. I don’t remember my daughter having to get it needing a recommendation letter. If your sorority has a house, there are a limited number of spots. Not everyone in the sorority will get a spot in or want to live in the house especially depending how their D-plan shakes out.
I agree with @AboutTheSame as far as “top” sorority. After a year, you will get to know people and by the same token, people will get to know you. Next year go into rush with an open mind. There is a matching process for each round. To go in with the notion that you only want to go into one or two houses, is setting you up for suicide in the process.
@sybbie719 makes a very good point. After the first round, D preff’ed a couple of houses she did not think she woulld like and dropped a couple that she had initially thought she wanted. Many people who had their hearts set on one specific sorority ended up disappointed.
This may be more negative than you want to read, but my D sent it to me after she went through rush her sophomore fall: http://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2016/10/heine-we-are-here
She did not need recommendation letters for rush; in fact, several sororities would not allow alumna to submit recommendations. My D ultimately ended up in the right sorority for her, but the whole process was very stressful, and her grades tanked from the high GPA she had after Freshman year (there may have been another contributing issue, but the time/energy spent on rush did not help). Additionally, several of her friends did not get called back to any of their preferred houses and ended up withdrawing from rush. By all means, this is not a reason to choose another school instead of Dartmouth, but I just wanted to give you my observations as a parent.
All that being said, my D loves her experience in the sorority and will likely live in the house during sophomore summer. As noted above, almost all the parties are open, so you do not need to be in a sorority to attend. She has many friends in other sororities (or not in a house), so your sorority does not limit your social circle.