Not getting #1 pick: Did this happen to anyone else?

I went to a different school and did rush 20 years ago (yikes) so why am I even here? I can't explain it. But the exact same thing happened to me, and I totally get what you are saying about wanting to make the best of it but being caught off guard on Bid Day.

I did not have the best Bid Day because I expected to get my #1, but I stuck it out. I made my best friends in college in my sorority, and I am still close with many sisters to this day. The funniest thing I realized is that the president of the sorority I wanted to join is basically a fan girl of my BFF from my sorority/college now in real life. In other words -- I hung around, made wonderful friends, had so much fun, and then karma worked its magic, because the place I thought I so wanted to be...ended up wanting to be with me and my BFF a decade later.

Obviously this is a very specific experience, but I thought it may help to share! Have so much fun, life is what you make it, not some dumb sorority recruitment algorithm <3

"Trust the process!" Please don't feel rejected. You have a chapter that wants you, and the "best" house is the one where you will feel comfortable and appreciated. Go with it! And have a great year.

This happened to me as well. While at first it was difficult (so much so that I considered dropping) I now know I'm in the best place where I belong. I know the saying "everything happens for a reason" is cliche but it is very true in cases like this.

On another note, several girls don't receive a bid at all so feel good that you are now apart of Greek life!

If your 2nd pref house has your # outside their quota range, does that mean you get no bid at all?

this is common and your feelings are valid. If it was a top house that was your #1, then changes are many, many girls also had it as their top choice. Don't linger on that. What you should focus on is the fact that the house you go a bid from wanted you so badly that they ranked you high enough to get you, even though they were your number two. However, give them a chance and enjoy getting to know your pledge class and actives. EVER PERSON i know who was disappointed on bid day ended up LOVING their house and have said they now couldn't picture themselves anyplace else.

It is true that most pnm's get their first choice because bid matching is the time that a pnm's ranks actually carry a good deal of weight. But I don't think it's quite as high as 95%.

You aren’t alone bc I’m going through the same!! I totally understand how you’re feeling. I’m seeing people praise and praise my “would have been” sorority and all the guys flocked there on bid day. Meanwhile the one I ended up in hasn’t even been mentioned at all which kind of hurts. But the experience will be what we make it! I’ve heard freshmen year is the most fun in terms of sorority life so we can just stick it out for this year and if we decide we like it.

I’m sorry you’re feeling down about not getting the sorority you hoped for. Rush is a grueling process and while it may not seem like it, most if not all girls who went through Rush faced disappointment at one point or another whether it was getting cut from a certain house early on, getting cut completely, or not having the Bid Day they expected. Your new sorority may surprise you so give it a chance :)

Also I’m glad people in these comments are taking your feelings seriously and not trolling. That’s real Pan Love.

the same happened to me! but literally all of the people i call my best friends to this day i didn’t meet until nearly a semester after bid day. the universe knows you were meant to be apart of this amazing house! keep getting to know people, go to events, join anything you possibly can and have the best time!