<p>I have a high school daughter who is interested in Clemson and wants to be in a sorority. We live on the West Coast, and my concern is that southern sororities are extremely connected. We don't know anyone at Clemson, nor do we have any connections to South Carolina. </p>
<p>Can someone comment on how political and selective the process is? I know sooo many "top" girls who are attending southern schools from California and not getting bids. Thanks for your honest input.</p>
<p>I actually worked last year as a freshman welcome leader with a girl from the San Jose area who is in a sorority (Alpha Chi Omega) at Clemson. I can probably get some input from her on this question! I doubt the selection process is very political at all. I’ll comment more once I talk to her haha (not in a sorority or fraternity so I’m not qualified to answer this question)</p>
<p>She’s busy with exams the next 2 days (we have finals this week) but she told me to send you her email (I’ll message it to you) and she can give a better response later in the week!</p>
<p>My friends daugher also from the west coast, and beautiful, was shut out at rush and shocked and devastated. She felt that being from the west was a disadvantage.</p>
<p>Was that at Clemson? I haven’t heard many if any cases at all where girls have been shut out at rush. You’d have to be a complete idiot not to get a bid anywhere.</p>
<p>Pickwick, I also have a friend whose daughter was shut out at Clemson this year. Great family, darling girl! But I am hearing more and more of this. Another friend’s daughter (my sorority sister) was shut out of our sorority at our alma mater. Shocked and devastated!</p>
<p>From West Coast and I have S at Clemson. Have heard some of the same, but, as S pointed out, the 2 CA girls he knows that were “shut out” didn’t get a bid from the “all South Carolina” sororities…but did get bids from others and declined.<br>
FWIW, S said trying to get into a “southern” sorority (or fraternity for that matter) is setting yourself up for failure. My S is in a “northern”! fraternity–which has kids from CA, CT, CO, TX, MA, OH, WY, VA…i.e., just about everywhere but South Carolina. And is loving every minute…</p>
<p>I think gosmom is making a good point, you can’t come into rush with a preferred fraternity or sorority or else you are going to feel “shut out” when you don’t get in. I can’t say anything about geographical bias since I don’t know whether or not it happens but all the people outside of the south who decided to rush ended up in sororities that they are very happy with.</p>
<p>Thank you for the input. You have very good points… and I think you are spot on. If you are from California, finding the right fit is important… and that probably is not a southern sorority.</p>
<p>I was recnetly accapted into Clemson and definiteley want to be in a sorority. However, I’m from NJ and don’t really know that much about sororities. I was just wondering if recomendation letters are important and also how to go about getting them. Thanks!</p>
<p>More info here: [Reference</a> Addresses](<a href=“http://www.clemsongreeklife.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=29]Reference”>http://www.clemsongreeklife.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=29)</p>
<p>My daughter is a sophomore from Pennsylvania and is in a “southern” sorority at Clemson. There are girls in her sorority from all over the country - NJ, Mass, Illinios, Florida & California to name a few. The Rush process is pretty intense because of the shear number of girls. Typically over 800 girls go through Rush. There are 12 National Sororities on campus and they each have roughly 200 members (sisters). The number of new members they are allowed is determined by their national and is usually between 50-60. The selection process is computerized and done by a ranking system that both the “rushees” and “sisters” complete throughout the week of rush events. It is not a perfect process. The most important thing is to really make an effort to talk and get to know the sisters at each event and to be careful when ranking your top sororities - as this will eliminate the others. As far as being “connected” this is a myth, as the sororities can only hand out a small number of preferred bids. My daughter was a legacy and this only got her through the first round - she had to do the rest on her own. Also keep in mind that you can also rush as a sophomore. While it is a bit easier to do it as a Freshman, I know plenty of girls who waited and made an effort to really get to know girls from their preferred sorority and then rushed and got bids as sophomores. Hope this helps!</p>