the process is a joke

Sorry you feel that way. Recruitment can be a big shock or wake up call some girls just aren’t ready for.
This is why the GPA talk here is misleading. Sororities will still cut you for various reasons if they do not see you as being a member of their chapter.
You did have 3 chapters inviting you back for the next round. They obviously were still interested in you. You only need one in the end. You did not “trust the process” at all actually you barely got through half of it.

You are correct that this process is random, it is impossible to feel connected to someone during 15 minutes of mindless conversation. GPA is misleading and you do get dropped even with a 3.1 GPA while those who may have lower GPA's get invited back. This is a random process. But you if you want to be a member of a sorority, you may want to consider going to the two who invited you back. You can find connections in any of these groups and life long connections despite your first impression.

Keep in mind that ranking is nonsense. Top tier is a myth.

I went through recruitment twice. The first year I was pretty attached to the idea of tiers and even when I THOUGHT I was ranking with my gut I was totally caught up in which sororities mixed with the best frats and what groups were "hotter" than others. I dropped and watched the rest of my friends accept bids. Truth is there was NOTHING wrong with the sorority I received a bid from...I had great conversations with 70% of the girls. Then I rushed as a sophomore, I had more options but ultimately ranked and received a bid from the same sorority. Now I'm so happy (as a senior) I could kick myself for not getting out of my own way sooner.

There is no shame is going through the process, accepting a bid you don't love, and dropping before big/little. Either way you'd be rushing the next year.

Those of you who feel being nice is inappropriate, you obviously have not been rejected beyond expectations. Rush is cruel to many who participate. it is random and you should not take it too hard. But you should give it a chance. Even a sorority you did not see yourself in, is a possibility. I did not see myself in the sorority I joined. I am attractive, and I had a descent GPA and was a retired athlete. Perhaps my years of athletic training inhibited my ability to fit in with normal girls, as I spent my high school years training and flying around to competitions and signing autographs. But for whatever reason, I was rejected by many sororities. I stayed in, and gave it a chance despite feeling rejected. I did not even like the sorority I jointed, but gave it a chance, and decided to stick it out. I have made friends, and I am happy I stuck it out.

Don't cheat yourself, give it a try, and stick it out.

If ur favorite sororities were the top tier ones and you aren’t that good looking that’s probably why you didn’t get a bid. I know that’s super shallow but that’s just how some of those chicks roll

I’m so sorry you’ve had a bad experience with rushing. It’s so overwhelming and disappointing when you don’t get back what you want. Maybe being in a sorority isn’t meant for you, or maybe one of the 2 you got back really is your forever home and you aren’t giving it a fair chance. If you don’t agree with that, then take another year to grow as a person and try again next year. I promise you that if any of the sororities that you got cut from could see you in their chapter, they wouldn’t have cut you during open house round. Why would you want to be in those chapters if the girls don’t think you’re a good fit for their chapters? But obviously 2 chapters DO think you might be a good fit for them, or they wouldn’t have asked you back. It’s either not for you, you aren’t ready yet, or one of those 2 chapters is your best fit. I’m sorry you’re so upset I know how hard the process can be! Try to stick it out.

The whole "rush" process is so fake...the entire process is so choreagraphed..the sororities have been practicing their bump groups and exactly what theyre going to say, when theyre going to come over to talk to you and exactly what theyre going to say for weeks...you realize that, right? How is anyone supposed to "get to know" someone in 15 minutes of fake, forced conversation? How are you supposed to "find your people" when you talk to maybe 3, 4, 5 different sisters in a 200+ group of girls...? It's just sad how many people get so heartbroken over this...unfortunately a lot of it is based on looks and who you know.

I say just keep your mind open to different sororities, disregard the "stereotypes" that you've heard...just go with what YOU believe, how YOU feel, etc. Maybe you're not gonna get your first choice..maybe you will. There are going to be nice girls in every sorority and there are going to be mean girls in every sorority. Don't pay attention to the "tiers" or rumors or what your friends think or say, just go with whatever you feel is best. If you're left with a few sororities that you weren't crazy about, just try it out and see how it goes. Maybe you'll realize that you really clikc with one of them, or maybe you don't and then you can drop. Good luck!