<p>im going to be a freshman at USC this fall and know nothing about rushing or pledging so was wondering if anyone could share some helpful tips (not just stuff like "be yourself" - i know that already!!)</p>
<p>just saw that someone else posted a thread about rec letters - Am I in trouble if I don't have any? Panicking!</p>
<p>You need recs for every single sorority. Without them, when the houses need to make large first round cuts, those without recs or who not meet the minimum grade requirements will be cut. Get cracking!</p>
<p>Here’s a “Don’t” for you: Don’t limit yourself to just the greek community on campus. There are 17,000 undergrads, and the greek community only represents a very small portion of those people. If you think that the only way you’re going to “fit in” and have a good time is by going greek, then you are sorely mistaken. Good luck with rush, if that’s what you want to do, but don’t ignore everyone else on campus.</p>
<p>To Hawkings: i don’t know what you have against the greek system, but believe it or not some people actually want to join it. if the op made this post she is probably one of them so i’m not sure why you feel the need to discourage her.
about letters of rec…i went in to rush without a single letter and was only dropped by one house after convo day so i really don’t think there as important as people make them seem. the one main advantage is that if you have letters the girls will have heard about you before and will be looking for you during rush.</p>
<p>wait. who are the rec letters from?</p>
<p>PinkPanther67: no need to get offended. I am simply warning the incoming freshmen about the incorrect line of thinking that goes “I need to go greek to have a social life at USC.” I know many people who believed this coming in and had bad experiences freshman year.</p>
<p>when is rush? fall? No freshmen live in greek houses, correct?</p>
<p>There is spring rush also. Some freshmen move into the houses their second semester at school, but not many.</p>
<p>Mitch,</p>
<p>At SC only 17% of the students are in what you would call the “social” sororities/fraternities. These are the groups with membership in the National Panhellenic Conference or the Interfraternity Fraternity Conference. The university places all Greek letter groups together and publishes a larger percentage. </p>
<p>Rush, or recruitment, is done differently by the sororities and fraternities. The 10 NPC groups have a formal recruitment, except for SDT in the fall only. SDT uses an informal method. The other 9 sororities have recruitment roughly around the second week of classes. There is orientation, social rounds when all potential members visit all chapters and then invitational parties. The last day is Preference in the morning and Bid Night when the women receive bids. Membership is by mutual selection. </p>
<p>The sorority system at SC is over 90 years old. There is a beautiful tradition at SC which occurs in October. It is called Presents. New members wear long white dresses and are “presented” to sorority alumnae, parents and chapter advisors. This is held sometimes outdoors and each member carries a bouquet of flowers. At some chapters women step through a flower bedecked arch. One group crowns each member with a circle of flowers. Presents ends with a brunch or luncheon held in each chapter house.</p>
<p>If a chapter does not receive quota NPC allows a process called COB, or continuous open bidding. Women are invited to informal events and after a short time a bid may be extended. </p>
<p>With a couple of exceptions most sorority women are not able to move into a sorority chapter house until sophomore year.</p>
<p>NPC membership is not inexpensive. I suggest all potential Greek members have a frank talk with parents/guardians and go over finances to see if membership costs fit the family budget. </p>
<p>IFC recruitment is informal and takes place fall and spring. A fraternity member would be able to explain their system in much more detail.</p>
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<p>Reposting for emphasis. I also love how Greeks here get offended when anyone says joining a frat/sorority =/= automatic social success at USC.</p>
<p>Some people do rush and quit in the first few days because they realize it isn’t for them. I know a lot of people this happened to, actually.</p>
<p>You can be extremely social and not join a house. I know this isn’t true for everyone in the Greek system, but I found a lot of people involved had very few friends outside their house and/or outside the Greek system. A big reason I didn’t join was because I didn’t want my friend base to be limited to a single group of girls. By staying “independent” (hate that term, BTW) I was able to have friends in the Greek system I was compatible with (and even attend some events) without being Greek myself. </p>
<p><em>shrug</em> At the very least, saves you several thousand dollars a year.</p>
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<p>Off-topic, but the first time I saw this happen I knew I had made the right choice for myself by not rushing. I take a lot of offense to the whole “girls in white dresses presenting them like innocent virgins as if they’re in some pseudo-wedding OH AREN’T THEY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FLOWERS!” charade. Some people I understand like that; I am just so staunchly feminist I couldn’t subject myself to anything like that. (POINT I’M MAKING: Do your research because you may or may not find something about the system that rubs you the wrong way and/or goes against your social ideals.)</p>
<p>Off-off topic: Can one of you freshman start a sorority that’s more like a frat? Because if that existed while I was in school, I would have been first to sign up. In fact, why can’t something like that exist? Something to think about, I guess. (Because not all women are “prim and proper ladies in white dresses.”)</p>
<p>I bet I just offended a bunch of people again, so I’ll shut up now :)</p>
<p>For an organization that accepts both genders, and parties harder than any frat, join the USC Marching Band ;)</p>
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<p>But – more of a commitment than a frat/sorority and has a reputation for being…dorky. (Sorry, but…yeah, general consensus amongst non-band people.)</p>
<p>UCLA used to have a Greek organization called Acacia, which was coed. Whether or not it still exists I do not know. </p>
<p>Just a few misconceptions that should be addressed: Absolutely no one said that to be socially successful at SC (or anywhere) one has to be Greek. Just because you rush doesn’t mean that you will pledge. Recruitment can be a good way to meet people.</p>
<p>And for the feminist in all of us: Wearing of white dresses by pledges signifies a new start, not virginity. Presents is a wonderful beginning. And no, I’m not offended in any way that Greek life wasn’t for you, that Presents wasn’t your thing…just understand that how you perceive it might be in your writer’s eye.</p>
<p>WAIT A MINUTE!!! THE USC BAND …dorky! Never.</p>
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Can someone give an actual expense. I’m not talking about living in the house. Just dues. How much for freshman year? I’m sure each house differs. But what’s the average and range? D will be paying for this herself if she pledges…cuz we’re stretching as it is to make tuition/room/board.</p>
<p>Dues vary depending on the house. Panhellenic will give you that information. The highest that I heard was $7,000 per year, lower range $3,000. But what the dues include vary (do you pay extra for parties etc.)</p>
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<p>More commitment? Well regular time-commitment during the fall, that’s probably true. As for dorky, well first of all, are you sure you went to the same school as me? Second, we take pride in what we do, and we do it well, and if that means “dorky” to people then it’s their problem, not ours. Finally, between the cool stuff we do (so excited for the notre dame trip this year, as well as the weekdayer), the bonds of family (homecoming is like a multi-generation family reunion, it’s awesome) and the fact that there’s nobody I’d rather have backing me up in a fight than a fellow bandsman, well, looks like I got the better end of the deal, and screw everyone who says otherwise.</p>
<p>I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, joining the USC Band was the best decision I’ve made at college.</p>
<p>Hawkwings…don’t give Zelda the satisfaction of making a big argument against her. She’s ■■■■■■■■ the USC boards and dissing any groups that are posting. She totally flamed all the Greek houses on another thread, now she’s on the band on this thread. I admit i got sucked into an argument with her…but its useless. She’s a ■■■■■. As to the USC band…it’s awesome. What other org…as been in the movies? Do they still play Louie Louie?</p>
<p>Recommendation letters for frats?
1.Where and how to submit?
2.Do they have to be from USC alum of that Frat or just a brother of the frat from any school?
3.Are there Pre Rush events on move in weekend.
4. Do frats take potential GPA status into account when evaluating potential pledges?</p>
<p>thx.</p>
<p>PS: It’s all good…frats, sororities, band, social clubs, honor clubs…the advantage of a big school…:))))</p>
<p>I’m not sure “dorky” is the right word I’d use for the Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe, but whatever. As a former member of the TMB, I would highly recommend people try it out. It’s a commitment, but it was amazing.</p>