sororities

Kind of both! There is always a handful of girls that people in the chapter already know well and are the total package, so the chapter is pretty confident they want them.
But that in NO WAY means that everything is predetermined and recruitment doesn't actually matter because that isn't true in any way.
There are a ton of girls who look good on paper, if girls in the chapter don't know her well then we have to find out during recruitment if she is who she appears to be on paper, and it can go either way.
And then there are girls who impress us during the week. Maybe because her GPA was on the lower side but she is an amazing conversationalist.

The system is really pretty fair.

Some know who they will cut more then others.
So called "rich" sorority will already weed a lot out based on where you live.
Highest GPA house will weed out based on GPA.
House who has the "prettiest" girls (that's debatable) will weed out based on what they think is best fit based on looks.
Of course ths is true, it's based on results.

Lots of other houses who don't have quite the "checklist" others have.

You can still be cut by "rich girl " Sorority later even if your address is good for example but initial cut will happen even if you are well rounded in every other way.

Not critiquing, just a fact of life even though some will deny.

Deny deny deny but truth is you don't have $ you're not in..
You sound very defensive so you must be in one of those houses lol
Doesn't make you look very good does it?
Guys do prefer the pretty girls over $, so sorry if the. "Best looking" house cut you. You're the bitter sounding one.

Yeah you will get cut.
Certain frats cut you for same reason.
It's not area code either, it's tax rolls. how would I know that ? Hmmmmm