Honest opinion about sororities, I really want to but I’m not a legacy or have a recommendation from a person that has already been in a sorority.
Also I’m applying to
Uc boulder
Indiana u Bloomington
I Wisconsin-Madison
And others
If you’re considered beautiful funny smart popular and people love being around you it’s an easy process. For the rest of the world it’s a mixed bag. Can be great. Can be stressful. But students seem to really like them once your admitted and make friends.
It really depends on the individual.
I like it better when they rush later in the year the right out of the gate.
It takes some time to adjust to the new school and first semester classes. The commitment of time will be significant on top of school work and you won’t be able to make friends naturally on your floor etc.
However some think it removes the stress of having to make friends.
Completely agree with @privatebanker regarding delayed rush. Don’t know about the schools on your list, but lots have moved to a spring semester rush for freshmen. I think that’s great as you have a whole semester to figure things out, meet people, form friendships that don’t have to blow up just because of greek life, etc. During that process, you’ll get invited to tons of parties and many kids attend whether they plan on rushing or not because it’s a way to meet tons of freshmen. Based on that experience, some people who weren’t interested in greek life decide to rush, while others who thought they were all about it decide it’s not for them. That’s the value of the delayed rush. You really get to know yourself and your interests.
While you do not need a recommendation for any of the schools you listed, you can easily get one by just asking. You can contact the PanHel (alums) group in your town; they often have spring or summer events for girls wanting information about their chapters at different schools. It is really only some of the chapters at some schools (usually the big flagships in the south) that require recs.
I disagree with PrivateBanker that you have to be “considered beautiful funny smart popular and people love being around you.” The chapters I work with, including Boulder, have all kinds of people as members and reflect the make up of the student body. GPA plays a big role in getting a bid, as well as community service and club activities while in high school.
I know Boulder uses a formula (most schools do) to try to get everyone who goes through rush a bid. It is a somewhat complicated system, but it works and almost everyone who follows the process gets an invitation to join a house.
@twoinanddone I can see how it could misunderstood, but I never said what you quoted in your post.
What I did say specifically is that if you have all of the qualities listed, one of which was beautiful, popular etc it’s an easier process.
The rest of us it can be a mixed bag. Some good. Some bad.
Now if you don’t agree with that it’s ok.
But not everyone loves rushing.
And at most schools under the bicker/large group rush week process, it is definitely easier on some. That’s all
I thought I had to have a recommendation letter because I live in the south , and majority of sororities here recommend to have it , but thanks