<p>I was wondering if current/past W&L students could tell me how exclusive Greek life is, or how difficult/easy it is to get into a sorority/fraternity...I was just reading a past thread about a lot of people not getting asked back to any houses and how stressful/tearful Rush Week is. The thread was from about 3 years ago, so I was hoping somebody would have information that is more up-to-date. Can you describe the process of Rushing? Even though 75-80% are involved in Greek life, are a lot of people left out?</p>
<p>Thanks for your answers; I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Basically, if you don’t do anything really stupid Fall term, and you keep an open mind during rush, you’ll be fine. It’s not a guarantee, but 90% of the girls who “fell through” and didn’t get a bid actually dropped out when they didn’t get invites to houses they liked. You may not get a bid to your favorite house, but you will probably get a bid to somewhere, and you can have a great experience at ANY of the houses on campus.
Rush week CAN be stressful and tearful, but if you try not to let other people influence you, and you try to make the best of it, it will be fine. </p>
<p>If you don’t end up in Greek Life, or if you end up in a different house than your friends, that will be okay too. </p>
<p>I hope this helps, feel free to PM me if you want some more information.</p>
<p>As long as you can afford several thousand dollars per year in dues, you’ll be fine. So, the Greek system at W&L is definitely exclusive, but only to those who cannot afford it. Also, believe what you read on those three year old posts. If being in a group that excludes others due to their social status is important to you, you’ll do just fine at W&L. (By the way, a very limited number of scholarships are available, which cover a small portion of the fees.)</p>
<p>^^^^Wow, sounds like YOU didn’t get a bid :). </p>
<p>But really? Exclusive based on social status? That’s silly. We haven’t spent anything close to “several thousand dollars per year in dues.” Are there costs? Of course. That’s true for Greeks on just about any campus across the country. </p>
<p>Why waste your very first post on such a gross exaggeration?</p>
<p>My daughter just completed rush, and had a great experience. I don’t know how this translates to others, but she wasn’t cut by any of the sororities. If you are a legacy and make it past the second cut, I believe you can’t be dropped by those sororities.</p>
<p>"If you are a legacy and make it past the second cut, I believe you can’t be dropped by those sororities. "</p>
<p>^^^Not necessarily true. SOME sororities have a policy that if a legacy is at Preference Night (the last/fourth night at W&L), they will be given a bid. But not all sororities and it’s definitely not a given to make it to Pref. Some sororities only have a policy that legacies have to be invited to the second round. Sometimes being a legacy will get you cut faster, as the group doesn’t want to lead you/your mother on. Being a legacy is no guarantee of getting a bid.</p>
<p>Thanks for responding! My main concern was just that I can be a little bit shy at first, but I really want to go to W&L and be in a sorority. Money is not an issue at the moment. How many people per year would you say are unwillingly excluded from the Greek system?</p>
<p>For girls? Less than 5. 95% of girls who say they were “dropped” or “cross cut” from the system were actually offered a bid (or invite, if it was earlier in the week) and declined (or dropped out of rush). I don’t know WHY these girls claim they were cut, but they weren’t. They didn’t receive a bid or invite to the group they wanted and declined to be in the Greek system at all. If you go back and read, this is what happened in those threads from 3 years ago. Of course, this is their decision, but IF you keep an open mind, and are willing to take a chance with all the sororities, your chances are good to get a bid. </p>
<p>If you make grades (you will get a pamphlet with the SORORITY’S min. GPA. Pay attention to this, not the minimum to rush. Most if not all sororities have a min. GPA that is .5-1.0 above the Panhel minimum, and will cut anyone below that as a grade risk. This is 1st term college GPA, not high school GPA), and don’t do anything outrageous Fall Term, your chances are good, although, of course, not guaranteed.</p>
<p>Thanks beautyistruth, your posts have been very helpful throughout this whole W&L forum. I’ve been looking at the sorority websites and they look like a lot of fun. It sounds like I’ll be ok. I’m not close-minded about “social status” as long as I have a good group of friends to have fun with. Now just to get into W&L…</p>
<p>Are any of the sororities focused on Community Service? Not really into partying scene but definitely interested in a group dedicated to helping out in community and raising funds for international humanitarian aid. Any sororities like that at W+L?</p>
<p>The women’s fraternities each have a national philanthropy. Kappa supports Reading is RIF, Pi Phi also focuses on literacy, Theta’s is CASA, Chi) is MakeAWish, and KD’s is the GSUSA. Many of the students at W&L are involved with Campus Kitchens, the Nabors Service League, Shephard Poverty Project…</p>
<p>All of the sororities have a mix of girls in them - some are more oriented toward sisterhood, or philanthropy, or scholarship, or networking, others toward partying. Every sorority has at least one MAJOR philanthropy project each year, and I’m pretty sure each one has required philanthropy hours. There will be lots of opportunities to get involved in philanthropy at W&L (and, as motherdear noted, many opportunities outside the Greek system as well).</p>
<p>It can be stressful. Rush is delayed until second term and during the fall there are large “get to know the Greek” events (casual ie decorating pumpkins at halloween) and “rush dates” where upperclassmen take groups of freshmen girls out to get to know them (coffee, ice cream type dates). I think this is helpful for someone who is a little shy and who would maybe make a better impression once they feel more comfortable. So there is a good chance to meet girls from different sororities and see if there is a good fit anywhere before rush. If you are open-mindered there is a sorority for you!</p>
<p>Trust me as a parent of a W&L student not all girls are happy after rush. Many cry and are very very sad. Some end up leaving the school. It is especially hard for non-southern girls who before the W&L rush process have always been very popular with both guys and girls alike. The popular ones are not expecting to be rejected and have an especially hard time with it.</p>
<p>I’m sorry you feel that my concerns are pathetic; however, I think this is an absolutely valid concern considering the fact that W&L social life revolves around the Greek system. I applied to W&L and am hoping for acceptance, and if it does come, I’d like my questions to be addressed so I know whether or not it’s the school for me.</p>
<p>listen, it’s a totally legitimate concern, and rightly so when it’s such a big component to w&l. You’re fine dancepsychlove, don’t worry! This is a part of the W&L reputation anyway so physicsrule…calm down.</p>
<p>So here’s the thing: the school is about 80% greek, and if you’re a nice person, go out and chit chat with upperclassmen, and get to know people you’ll be fine. It’s a big deal in the fact that so many people are involved, but that also makes in less of a big deal in a way, if that makes any sense. If you want to join a sorority, then you most likely can. around 180 girls rushed this year, from what I’ve heard, and very few fell through. hardly any. Some girls didn’t get into the houses they wanted, and dropped out, but that’s okay too. Just because you’re an independent doesn’t mean that people won’t talk to you anymore! I have a good amount of friends who are independents, and a lot of my friends are in other sororities, too. </p>
<p>Words of wisdom to a first-year: Join clubs and organizations! go out and get to meet upperclassmen women, because they honestly want to get to know you too. You can join community service clubs, athletic clubs, religious clubs, and other extracurricular clubs. Mingle at parties, and get to know people. I can be shy too, and often, I blush like crazy, but it’s really okay. Just go have fun, and remember that you’re looking for a place you feel comfortable with, not a place that people say is the “best”. You’re rushing them, and they’re rushing you. Have fun with it!</p>