Looking back, offering advice

I was attracted by their confidence. They didn't try too hard and they just naturally seemed to be themselves. I also appreciated their diversity, not just race, but looks and interest. The lower tier houses just seemed so desperate

Wait adpi and chi o were too houses?? :/

I didn't meet many that were interested in any of the houses you mentioned and if they were, not one got past philanthropy.

What I learned is PNMs knew about where they were going and girls with no connections were left to figure it out. The only differece between a fictional top house and the rest is, the rest welcome everyone while other houses don't. It's why fictional top houses have high drop rates after rush while some of the others don't. Top houses already met, knew and picked their members before the rush process even started. It doesn't make them better for meeting quota, they already had their list.

PHA tells us to trust the process and that is a lie. Unless you have already secured a spot, you are left with 5 maybe 6 houses that actually make rush fair.

If you are one of those who is going into rush without a connection, out of the choices that welcome anyone going through rush, the best house you will get into is KD especially if you don't have recommendations. They are one of the only "upper mid tier" house that doesn't require knowing someone.

Best advice, know your options. Without connections, your choices are slim during formal rush. If you are not asked back to KD during sisterhood, you will have one or all of the following SK, Phi Mu or Tri Sig as your choices. If you get lucky maybe Tri Delt, Kappa or DG with KD only if you went to school with someone in the house and they liked you. The is always that handful of random success stories but they are rare.

As of the end of fall, there are the top 5 houses in order of member size: Pi Beta Phi, Alpha Pi, Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi and Kappa Delta

Top 5 in order of GPA: Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega and Kappa Delta

Out of all the top houses above only KD takes PNM without recommendations. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

those houses like pi phi, adpi, and chi o are extremely selective for a variety of reasons. you can definitely make it to all of those houses without rec letters or knowing anyone if you are smart and well rounded with a good social media presence. after you make it through the first round the houses are looking for girls who are genuine, passionate about something, easy to talk to, and willing to get involved! t

I’m in one of those “top houses” and what made them my top choice was this - when I spoke to the women there I not only felt welcome and like I could be their friend, but also I thought they were someone I wanted to be like. I spoke to a senior during philanthropy who was super nice and shared about how how she’d grown through her experience in the chapter. She asked me questions that weren’t superficial and seemed to genuinely want to get to know me. I walked away from that conversation thinking “wow, i hope i can be like her in 4 years”. Impressive- but still kind and not intimidating.