pledge classes

I like this question. Now that things have settled down a little, here is my opinion (like the post above, not ranks, so I am going to address things randomly as the come to mind). If I don't mention any house, it is because I see them as status quo from last year's PC or not remarkable in terms of breaking any sort of pattern.

ADPi/PBP/ZTA: PBP made good steps to coming back toward the top of new row, but while they were gone (while their house was being rebuilt) they definitely fell behind Zeta. Before ZTA and PBP went through their housing changes, PBP was a notch above Zeta. Now they are a half notch behind. ZTA did very well and in line with their past few PCs. I think they have toned it down just a little, which is good for them. It does not hurt that they have selected very strong rush chairs (last year, definitely) who was able to close on some top PNMs, especially from Texas. They also have a great pull with the strong girls from the northeast who do not get swept into the old row thing. ADPi is still the next in line for the top of new row sweepstakes. They got some really good looking in-state girls from places where ADPi is not usually strong, which looks good in pics and social media. I have no idea what those pngs have turned into other than they are not around some of the activities that are considered leadership stuff. But who really knows.

PM/DDD/AXO/KKG these are the top four in my opinion (in no order) and they all did very well and mostly true to form. I agree with the post above that PM did not have the outlier top class like last year's PC, but they were in a tie with the others in this group. Looks like they have made some changes to get some sacrifices in the looks department in exchange for some improvement in their grades and legacy support. KKG did same as usual too. For people I know, they are still taking some QRs and such from others but the risks all look like they turned out fine. Tridelt in my view made the most improvement of the top group with this last PC. they got some real top girls that everyone was recruiting and who had all the options. AXO was true status quo and they did lose out on some very good in-state legacies (one in house) that must have really hurt. They are status quo because they have been trending slightly down over my years around here and they just can't get any real social uplift to compete with the others in this level. It is like Auburn being in the SEC West. They are good, but hard to beat the others in the division.

XO is by themselves in my view in some sort of limbo land between the top four and the lower part of old row that has AGD and KD. The girls they got seem fun and game for things which is typical XO. I think they sort of take themselves off to the side a lot. Strange vibe for them actually. I like the XOs I know, but some how they make me feel like everything is surface level rather than real. \n\n\n\n\n

1 and 2 are almost identical... strange

That’s a mom. No one knows all that stuff or has time to care & doesn’t use that style language/writing. It’s a veiled hit job on AXO... seemingly by a Zeta as those 2 got the most I’m depth analysis.

Still too early to tell. Seems same ranks as usual. Old then new row.

In my humble opinion:

As expected: ZTA, DG, ADPi, Theta, AOPi
Better than usual: GPhi, Tri Delt, Pi Phi, Alpha Gam, DZ
Below usual expectations: Chi O, Alpha Chi
Different than expected: KD and Kappa, Phi Mu

Because different is vague, here are explanations:

Phi Mu seemed to swap their beauty queen dream team from last year for more of a California, chill type pretty and some more average girls. Rumor is it was for legacy/sisterhood/GPA reasons. We’ll see if it’s a one year thing or a new direction. Still got some solid usual tops.

Due to a decrease in the same usual MB/Mobile/Montgomery girls, both Kappa and KD seemed to focus on in state girls from other towns than just the usual. They also both cut more legacies, giving their OOS girls a chance to pull a Tri Delt (aka taking cute OOR girls who sometimes have QRs). Seems to have worked out.... mostly. Didn’t have the same in state wow factor with $ but more well rounded PCs.

Before anyone jumps on me, this is totally just my opinion, and some houses may just barely make their category. For example Alpha Chi didn’t get a bad pc, but lost out on some big legacies. DZ’s pc wasn’t OMG top house now, but it was a step up from last year and the quota disaster. I personally didn’t think any one house had a particularly bad or outstanding pc, it was much more even this year than last.

Two houses stand out for their new classes -- Tri Delta in the top half and G Phi in the bottom half. Both did much better than usual this year

Everyone did great. Different criteria makes “great”