Recruitment experience

Sorority rush is an experience like no other. I was uprepared for the emotional toll it takes.

In my preference round freshman year, I had to choose between two chapters - one I absolutely loved but is a "bottom" sorority on greekrank and one that was undeniably more popular but where I lacked any real feeling of belonging. I ended up in the "bottom" chapter, and I honestly couldn't be happier. Maybe not so much on bid day - but the more I met my sisters, the more I loved my chapter. I've had tremendous opportunities to be a leader in my chapter. I've gone to frat mixers and parties, GBD, Halloweekend, participated in POTH and other philanthropy events, had the whole Greek experience in my chapter. Greekrank perpetuates the idea that certain people’s lives matter more than others or that only certain groups can give you a great experience. As a senior who has watched this play out for three years, I can guarantee you ranking does not matter.

Realistically, what matters when you join a sorority is that you feel comfortable. You shouldn’t ever feel like you’re in a chapter that you have to change to fit into — you are the person you are supposed to be, and if someone doesn’t appreciate that, they are not meant for you. On the flip side, if you are comfortable within your sorority and people are making you doubt that because of a made up ranking, they have insecurity and validation issues they need to figure out for themselves. Your happiness should not be contingent on the opinions of a frat bro.

I am one of those girls that did get 11 chapters back for philanthropy and 7 chapters back for sisterhood. And if you saw my list, and list of lots of other girls that go through recruitment, you would see that the girls who are going to recruitment parties at "bottom" tier chapters are also going to parties at "top" chapters. SAME GIRLS. Sometimes where you end up is just fractions of a point based on who you know from high school. There are some things about recruitment the PMN has no control over that were decided well before they ever applied to Miami!

All of this is easier said than done at a school that fosters such social hierarchy thinking. It may be something each person has to live through on their own to understand. However, if I can help just one person realize the absurdity of Greekrank and the ideologies it fosters, I will have done my job.