what makes a house a bottom house?

Although the members of "top tier" houses would tell you otherwise, I believe it all about looks.

Well I think most, if not all houses have something to offer. The "worst" house at Mizzou probably offers a better Greek life experience than many of the "best" houses at most universtities.

I think too much is made of "tiers" ( yes I know I am on this website, guilty) You can have a good experience in any house if enough people put the effort in.

I think retention rates might be one good indication of how well a house is doing. If people do not stick around clearly there are problems.

The bottom houses are among the newer houses who came to this campus when there were many more girls going through rush. They didn't have the history, reputation or same number of legacies as the other houses, so they have always been playing catchup. They also have houses (physical structures) that aren't as nice or historically significant as the PiPhis, Kappas, ADPis or even AXOs. They just can't be as selective as the top tier houses so they have a reputation for taking girls who might not make it into the higher tier houses. But many of them have outstanding sisterhoods and members who are extremely proud to wear their letters, as it should be. There also are some problem houses that recruit based on looks alone and have serious retention problems. But that's a problem of their own making.

It doesn't help that small-minded people who hang out here continually post negative things on this site aimed at taking the "bottom tier" houses down a notch - even those sororities who have made significant improvements to their membership, leadership and facilities.

I'd much rather be in a sorority where I feel at home and I am loved and supported for who I am. And if that means a "bottom tier" house, then so be it.