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  #46  
Old 01-25-2013, 01:50 PM
Sciencewoman Sciencewoman is offline
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I know she's young, but does she plan to practice medicine, or be a research scientist in a lab? My sister is a physician, and she is a sorority member who held an exec. board office. She remained highly involved during graduate school, even serving as chapter advisor for 3 years. Being a physician involves a great deal of interaction with every day people from all walks of life. Being in a sorority is a good way to develop social skills and respect/empathy for others.
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  #47  
Old 01-25-2013, 01:52 PM
ree-Xi ree-Xi is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JLCo View Post
Obviously you have no idea what competitive dancers and the dance team do. All the things you listed are stuff that is quite similar to what she does with her dance friends.
Then you've made her decision for her.

PS You don't know what anyone here knows. Have a great day.
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  #48  
Old 01-25-2013, 01:56 PM
JLCo JLCo is offline
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Originally Posted by Sciencewoman View Post
I know she's young, but does she plan to practice medicine, or be a research scientist in a lab? My sister is a physician, and she is a sorority member who held an exec. board office. She remained highly involved during graduate school, even serving as chapter advisor for 3 years. Being a physician involves a great deal of interaction with every day people from all walks of life. Being in a sorority is a good way to develop social skills and respect/empathy for others.

Good point. I appreciate your advice!
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  #49  
Old 01-25-2013, 01:58 PM
JLCo JLCo is offline
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Originally Posted by ree-Xi View Post
Then you've made her decision for her.

PS You don't know what anyone here knows. Have a great day.
No doubt!! I am posting here asking for advice about sorority involvement because I really don't know much about them.
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  #50  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:05 PM
SydneyK SydneyK is offline
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Originally Posted by JLCo View Post
No doubt!! I am posting here asking for advice about sorority involvement because I really don't know much about them.
I think ree was simply suggesting that you shouldn't presume to know what people here 'obviously have [any] idea about'.
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Last edited by SydneyK; 01-25-2013 at 02:07 PM. Reason: correcting her quote
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  #51  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:07 PM
AZTheta AZTheta is offline
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Originally Posted by JLCo View Post
Pinapple-
I don't think my dd is too awesome to be Grrek... just not sure if she will fit in with her personality type and if she would be able to do everything she wants to do at the same time...

Also- we are looking at some large universities in the SEC because they offer very generous scholarships to those with high GPA and test scores. However, we live in the Midwest. Any suggestions on making connections since we do not know any former alumni?
Thanks!!
You're worried. You're a mom with a daughter that you perceive as being different, and who is college bound, and you're worried. That's what I'm getting from all this posting.

If you search on this forum you'll find a treasure trove of suggestions on how to obtain recommendations. And the most important thing you need to know: don't ask anyone here to write a recommendation. No. No. No.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JLCo View Post
As it relates here I would be referring to hazing- or what I have heard about hazing. Please keep in mind that I had no interest in joining a sorority- so please be patient with my ignorance on the matter. I am primarily basing my assumptions on what I have heard or read on the media.

She gave me a specific example of what she considers a waste of time yesterday. She is very impatient that the student resource time designed to help students get their homework done has been turned into counseling sessions by their school guidance counselors. She was told that she needed to draw a poster about bullying during this time after they had a presentation. She told me she did not complete the poster. Instead she pulled out her homework and completed her homework.

What you cited as a behavior example is not unusual, and MY OPINION: sounds like she is finished with high school and is just putting in her time.

Again, you can search this forum for information. Hazing is not tolerated in any of the NPC sororities; does that mean it never happens? No. I will tell you that there are significant consequences when hazing is uncovered. Again, a search on this forum will give you some information that will address your concern.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JLCo View Post
OK. I see what you are saying. My daughter hangs out with the other "higher ability" kids at school. They are a fairly large group and have been in classes together since 2nd grade. She really enjoys their company. She tells me she gets impatient with some of the kids that are at the other end of the spectrum. It seems that what you are saying is that the sororities have a high caliber of individuals. This seems even more likely today than during my time at college since everything is so much more competitive now.

I am not really concerned whether or not she gets a "bid". I did not belong to a sorority and was quite happy with my choice. However, if she wants to pursue this, I will support her decision. Right now our main concern is trying to narrow down the college choices- so this is a factor relevant to the decision.
Sororities should NOT be a factor in college selection. Some of what you're posting is contradictory. You say it isn't important, but then it is. Fact: your daughter is going to fail at something. We all do. Rejection is inevitable for everyone. You can't cushion this for her and the sooner she doesn't win or get her way at something, the quicker she's going to mature and become a more compassionate person.

Further, you've referred more than once to her "impatience" for those "on the other end of the spectrum". Tolerance for everyone is something that your daughter will want to possess in abundance, b/c when she gets to college, she's going to discover that she is an "average" student. Trust me on this. The playing field is completely different and a whole lot more challenging. And graduate school (whether law, medicine, or another field) narrows that playing field even more. She may have a high IQ, but that won't amount to a hill of beans if she can't get along with the other 99.6% of the population.
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  #52  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:08 PM
Kappamd Kappamd is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sciencewoman View Post
I know she's young, but does she plan to practice medicine, or be a research scientist in a lab? My sister is a physician, and she is a sorority member who held an exec. board office. She remained highly involved during graduate school, even serving as chapter advisor for 3 years. Being a physician involves a great deal of interaction with every day people from all walks of life. Being in a sorority is a good way to develop social skills and respect/empathy for others.
This. I could NOT agree more.
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  #53  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:12 PM
Katmandu Katmandu is offline
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Originally Posted by JLCo View Post
OK. I see what you are saying. My daughter hangs out with the other "higher ability" kids at school. They are a fairly large group and have been in classes together since 2nd grade. She really enjoys their company. She tells me she gets impatient with some of the kids that are at the other end of the spectrum.
Do you mean this to come across as arrogant and elitist as it sounds? Being of "higher ability" does not in any way equate with the far more important virtues of kindness, empathy, inclusivity, charity and generosity of spirit. Those are qualities that sororities try to foster and it sounds as if they might be helpful to her.

Of course, she will have to contend not only with sisters who rival her for awesomeness, but also sisters who might try her patience for a variety of reasons. Many of my beloved, adorable sisters were completely average--and I learned more from them than from the superstars.
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  #54  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:14 PM
AZTheta AZTheta is offline
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^^^^^^^ THIS THIS THIS^^^^^^^ thanks, Katmandu.
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  #55  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:20 PM
JLCo JLCo is offline
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I guess i was against her involvement in a sorority until I read some of your posts; I will need to reconsider as the activities described might be a good fit for her. Now it is just a matter of whether she would want to do dance team and a sorority at the same time or perhaps just do dance team. Another option would be to minor in dance and rush for a sorority. Thanks everyone for taking the time to point out some considerations we should keep in mind!!
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  #56  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:23 PM
JLCo JLCo is offline
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Originally Posted by Katmandu View Post
Do you mean this to come across as arrogant and elitist as it sounds? Being of "higher ability" does not in any way equate with the far more important virtues of kindness, empathy, inclusivity, charity and generosity of spirit. Those are qualities that sororities try to foster and it sounds as if they might be helpful to her.

Of course, she will have to contend not only with sisters who rival her for awesomeness, but also sisters who might try her patience for a variety of reasons. Many of my beloved, adorable sisters were completely average--and I learned more from them than from the superstars.
No. I am not being elitist. I am being honest in my assessment and realize that she needs growth in this area.
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  #57  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:32 PM
DeltaBetaBaby DeltaBetaBaby is offline
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Okay, I'm gonna bite....So I wasn't on dance team, but I was/am very gifted academically, and I obviously joined a sorority.

Rush was tough for me when I was a PNM. I hate making small talk and I am not particularly good at it. Getting gussied up and painting my nails and all that stuff seemed frivolous to me then, and frivolous to me now. Cuts were rough, and that was surprising to me, because I thought that GPA/honors program/campus leadership/etc. would mean a lot to sororities. If you don't make a great first impression, it doesn't matter.

However, it turned out that rush on the active side was actually pretty easy for me. My ability to memorize huge amounts of information about the PNM's coming through made it easy for me to prepare, and I think that I learned what I need to do to be successful in these types of situations later in life. I know that if I am going to a networking lunch, for example, I need to think in advance about who will be there and some opening lines I can use for people I want to talk to, or to just think about some general questions I could throw out. At the same time, other people were happy to pick out my outfits, do my hair, etc.

I feel like I could go through every aspect of my sorority membership and give you the same sort of two-sided analysis: some things were tougher for me, some were easier, and then I learned something. I think your daughter's experience, if she is "different" from most women her age, will be different. But it can be rewarding, even if it is, sometimes, frustrating.

Last edited by DeltaBetaBaby; 01-25-2013 at 02:38 PM.
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  #58  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:33 PM
Tulip86 Tulip86 is offline
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Nice to meet you. I've been dancing on dance teams and national competitions half my life. My IQ scores are placed in the "highly gifted" category. In high school, this made me different. I can get impatient with people who can't keep up with me and sometimes have trouble remembering not everyone thinks and learns the same way.

First thing I learned in college? There was nothing special about me. In college I was (and am) among many, many other gifted people, and people way "smarter". Most students here are winners, competitors, models, debate team captains, homecoming queens, cheerleaders with national titles and student body presidents.

Going Greek (or the equivalent of Greek life since I'm in school in Europe) has made me more social, and has taught me more than I'd ever imagine.

You can't succeed in life with just smarts and hanging out with people who are like you. Social behavior, wit, empathy, resolve and problem solving will get you a lot further.
Believe me, I know, it took me 8 long and hard years to learn that.
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  #59  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:36 PM
sigmadiva sigmadiva is offline
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Originally Posted by JLCo View Post
I guess i was against her involvement in a sorority until I read some of your posts; I will need to reconsider as the activities described might be a good fit for her. Now it is just a matter of whether she would want to do dance team and a sorority at the same time or perhaps just do dance team. Another option would be to minor in dance and rush for a sorority. Thanks everyone for taking the time to point out some considerations we should keep in mind!!
Do you understand that she will need to make these decisions, and not you?

The point that is being made is, once she goes to college your daughter is an adult who can make her own decisions. You have to let her do that.

If she wants to be in a sorority and on the dance team and manage her school work, then she will find a way.
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  #60  
Old 01-25-2013, 02:42 PM
AZTheta AZTheta is offline
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The University of Arizona's School of Dance is one of the top departments in the United States. There are actives from Theta and every other NPC GLO on campus who are majoring in dance, achieving excellent GPAs, participating on Pom Line, holding office in their chapters, etc.

Just sayin'...

(and I love the posts from my Panhellenic sisters, confirming that getting along with others is the single most important skill in life to have. Well, okay, maybe they aren't saying that exactly, but that's the take-away message I'm picking up).
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