rush

No one can tell you the reasons you were cut. I can give you some general reasons. The most common reason for cuts is grades and that's something that is going to be hard to change. If you are a freshman and you make a 4.0 both semesters that is going to make a huge difference for next fall's recruitment. Also girls get cut because they have a bad reputation from high school. Some girls get cut because they don't prepare physically for recruitment. You need to have outfits that look good on your body type, a hairstyle that looks good on you, makeup that enhances your appearance, nice fingernails and toenails, etc. Some girls get cut because they're awkward socially. When sorority members try to talk to them they give one word responses and act shy.

The bottom line is that no one wants you to "change." They just want to see you at your best for the week of recruitment. Work on your grades, plan your appearance, and spend some time learning to be proficient in conversation with strangers. Make friends with as many girls in sororities as you can -- they can help pull you into a house.

But (and this is very important) don't give up on any sorority. You say you had one left. I don't know if you dropped out after that, but if you want to be greek, that may be your only choice. Spring recruits and sophomores have very few options. All the houses are good and it's only on here that this whole ranking thing is big. Our "lowest" ranked house here is the highest ranked at Univ of Alabama -- the biggest greek system in the US. So as both an active and as an alum, you'll have great people to associate with.

Good luck!

You should have accepted your Gamma Phi Beta bid

You should let the panhellenic office know that you're interested. All the houses made quota this year so only the ones who have a lot of Christmas graduates and whose nationals permit it will spring recruit. My best suggestion is to get to know girls in all the houses and let them know you're interested.

Ugh, I remember how confusing it was for me when I went through rush. There were top houses who kept me all week and a lower-mid house that cut me the first day. I was like, huh??

Having been on the other side, I can tell you that the first reply is pretty accurate. But I wanted to add a few "ah ha!" things I have learned since I was a freshman.

I am from out of state and there isn't a chapter of the sorority that cut me the first day within a 500-mile radius of where I grew up. I knew zero active members or alumni. Chances are, their nationals required an alumni recommendation and I didn't have one. My day one "rush crush" got released the first day this year because she had no rec--and there wasn't a dang thing I could do about it.

Now, maybe the girl who rushed me at said house my freshman year could have hated me, but it was probably not as personal as it felt at the time.

The second "ah ha" is how much of a numbers game it is. With SO MANY girls going through rush, it is almost impossible to judge girls the first 2-3 days based on much more than grades, activities and recs. I don't know how all houses do it, but these things are weighted as high as how well the party conversation went. All four things are mathematically calculated. Depending on the number of girls who can be invited back, the ones who are cut are almost always mathematically low on the list.

So, work on your grades, get to know as many people as you can, keep your nose clean and try again. And if you only get matched with one house again, maybe it's meant to be. Good luck!