next year 2018

It is a bit different in the south, but it's all what you make of. There are girls from the north in every sorority (some have more than others). Are you a legacy? If not, I would try to visit soon and make connections with actives. In fact, even if you are a legacy, you should do this.

The biggest thing is connecting with people and that's going to be true no matter where you are from. I wouldn't give up after the first semester. I am also an OOS student and I will say it is probably easier for the Mississippi students who are coming to school with a large number of already established friends. If you are planning to go Greek you will probably find it easier to connect within the sororitys that are made up of mostly OOS students. However, I have friends in all the sororitys, some are from Mississippi and some are OOS students. One thing that will help is if you are in a 'school' such as Honors, Public Policy, Croft, etc., those students seem closely connected to each other. Plus since your grades are good you would want to consider joining the Honor fraternities when you are invited or look for any of the clubs that appeal to your interests. Don't limit yourself just to Greek Life - it's good, but because the sororitys are so big you have to work harder to find the people you have some common interest with. I love Ole Miss - but I had to work at making myself join things and get involved. I actually went through recruitment as an after thought - sort of a last minute decision. There are some girls who come here strictly for the sororities - and that was interesting and entertaining to me. I have found a few friends in my sorority but honestly most of my best friends have come through other organizations. So my only advice is if you come to Ole Miss - look for clubs/organizations to join and start meeting people. Meet the people in your dorm. Just meet people until you find your group.

dont come here! if you aren’t from here, you’ll be looked down on.

If your ACT is really that high, what about U of I, Wisconsin or Northwestern? Any Big 10 school is ranked above all SEC schools academically except Vandy. U of I Greek Life is huge (Bama huge).

Some hard messages here, but one thing that is on target is that OOS, usually OOR, girls are sometimes surprised to not make a "top tier" house when they would have made that level of house at their own state university, etc.

The "lower tier" houses here are fantastic (and getting even stronger), so I think most girls who land there are happy....but I have known girls (and their moms) who were really upset that they that were cut from top or mid-tier houses simply because they didn't know someone. So from that standpoint, that can be a tough landing if you were a super-star back home and didn't realize how key connections are.

The only advice I have for the OP is to be aware of this and the overall culture of OM, then decide what works for her. Just because she knows girls who left doesn't mean she won't like it, but these are good questions to ask.

Post #4 hit the nail on the head

I know Ole Miss has a type, either you fit in or you don't. But for the longest time, I couldn't figure out why some out of stater's were happy and some hated it, like there is no middle ground. But post #4 just made me realize.

Yes, if you are OOS you won't have a chance at a top house, and not only that, most girls will over look you. The jackson, MS boy is going to spend his life in Jackson, MS and he just isn't interested in a girl from St Louis/NC or wherever.

Personally the reason OOS give for coming here is "it's a pretty campus" I think is bogus, I don't even think the campus is great and I think that's probably the dumbest reason to pick a college over.

If you want the southern thing and have the grades, personally I'd pick Vandy, Nash is a great city, has a southern charm but they aren't 50 years backwards, SMU is also good. If you are looking public, BAMA has us beat in everything. And you'll get more of a fair shot there. I think Auburn is most like us, but again, you'll get more a fair shot there.

If you come here, just know you'll be digging yourself out of a hole. I mean I am happy here, but to be honest, I think I'd be a lot more happier elsewhere

I'm an OOS from the upper South who came to Ole Miss with no sorority connections, and to be honest I was unprepared for recruitment. Good recs, good grades, good high school involvement weren't enough to get me into the mid tier house I wanted. Without connections you'll most likely end up, like I did, in a lower tier house, where you might not fit in as well as you would with a mid or upper tier house. Variable quota's first year was my freshman year and it made our competitive recruitment even more brutal for girls without connections. VQ has helped the 2 new sororitys to grow, but that growth has been forced. Know the truth- that without connections recruitment is rough. If you care more about being in any sorority than being in a specific sorority you will be fine. I had made good friends before recruitment, so I have friends in all sororitys, including my own. I love being Greek and I love Ole Miss. Connections will get you in higher ranked houses, but loving Ole Miss is all down to how much effort you put into Ole Miss.

Do most transfers leave after first semester or at the end of first year? These posts are disturbing.

Thanks to everyone who has posted here. It is shameful. These posts have corroborated what we thought were protestations of a homesick student.

as a out of region student post #4 is totally right. i’m pretty wealthy, had an outstanding resume, extremely high test scores, and solid recs, some from a few major ceos and coos alumi and i ended up bottom tier and am extremely unhappy. if you arent from memphis/mississippi you might have a hard time fitting in.