tips on looking past being bottom tier?

Go where you feel you fit
You will in no way have less fun

Every sorority has social functions, date functions, homecoming, game day events, sisterhood retreats, bid day trips, etc. You can attend any fraternity party you want and most girls do, as long as it's not a function that is specifically being held with another chapter. Plus, you will find that a lot of your free time is spent studying. UF is a whole other level of tough. Trust me, you won't miss out on a thing!

The vast majority of lower tier members love their house and have many friends with wonderful social lives, especially when compared to GDIs. I encourage you to stick it out. People are not going to care what tier you are in here.

Your four years of college are the best time to learn that looks & popularity aren't the most important things to judge people on. The experience of not getting what you thought was your first choice and loving it anyway will serve you well for the rest of your life. Find a house that is a great fit for you and focus on what really matters -- sisterhood, campus involvement, responsibility, and having fun. And leave high school ideas about what's "best" behind you because that has nothing to do with real life.

In a "lower middle" chapter there is absolutely nothing you don't get to do that women in other chapters do. Your chapter will have socials with different fraternities than other chapters but that's about it.