<p>Hello everyone. I'm currently a first-year student at a large state university with a very active greek system. I am currently considering rushing a sorority, just for the experience and to see whether or not any of them are a fit for me. I figured why not, it seems like a fun college tradition and maybe I'll end up gaining something out of it.</p>
<p>Now, here's my main worry. In high school, I was not considered part of the "popular" crowd. My friends and I weren't sociopaths or losers; we had a very active social life, just not with those you'd consider popular. </p>
<p>A vast majority of my former high school peers who HAVE been rushing at their respective schools were all part of the popular crowd, and this leads me to my area of concern. My friends and I weren't like the rest of those girls, so if sororities are filled with narrow-minded, backstabbing, shallow *****es, then I want no part of it. However, I understand this is a stereotype so I'm just curious... Is sorority life a good fit only for these kinds of people, or can normal people like me find their place in a sorority as well?</p>
<p>I hope this is a real question, but the answer is: when it comes to anything in college, drop all the social preconceptions and do what feels right.</p>
<p>This is especially true for sororities. Chances are, at a college with a very active Greek system, there will be a house that’s perfect for you.</p>
<p>Just be a cool person, and you will be popular. Thing is, in high school, what makes you “popular” depends on which clique you associate with, whereas in college, it depends on your unique qualities that others appreciate.</p>
<p>By the way, if you’re going through formal recruitment, keep an open mind and consider all sororities. It should be “undergoing recruitment for the sororities” instead of “rushing a sorority”.</p>
<p>Popularity is not an issue. There are too many people for there to be any real cliques. The issue would be if you are ugly and/or reclusive that would make it impossible for you to be accepted into any GLO.</p>
<p>I was never your typical popular girl either in high school, but I just went through rush. The sorority I wound up in wasn’t the one I expected to wind up in, but I’m loving it more and more every day. Everyone with a truly open mind will find the sorority for her.</p>
<p>College is a clean slate. Sororities do look at your high school grades (most require a minimum GPA to join) and your extracurriculars, but select members they think will be good additions to the organization. Sometimes being “popular” is a detriment - a lot of these girls come through recruitment like their God’s gift to mankind and it is a huge turnoff to sorority members.</p>
<p>I second footballmom104 that you have a clean slate now. I wasn’t a popular kid either in high school. I never attended a party in high school. I never planned on going Greek when I came to Purdue. However, I attended a rush event and started to grow an attachment with the brothers and the house. That was why I decided to pledge after receiving a bid. Just be yourself since this is the time you get to show your “real self”</p>
<p>I’d 100% recommend rushing if you have even the slightest inclination towards Greek life. As a freshman, you’re in the BEST position to find your perfect sorority. Houses want freshman SO BADLY and your chances of getting into your perfect house go up dramatically. (If you rushed as a sophomore, you’d be at a disadvantage and competing with more desirable freshmen for the same spots)</p>
<p>My attitude was “Well, I’ll just go see what all the houses are about, and if I don’t like them, I don’t have to accept a bid or pledge.”</p>
<p>All of the houses are different, with different personalities, and you’ll probably find the perfect one for you. I chose mine based off of three things (1) How much I liked/got along with/connected with the girls (2) To what extent they adored Harry Potter and Glee and (3) How nice their study rooms were.</p>