will i have a chance?

But there are girls who are also coming from across the nation and they have somehow made connections already. If you haven't already gotten all your recs to your rec writers, then do it as fast as you can. The faster you get on their radar the better. It's honestly a little late for that though, because actives from all the sororities are all over the country and all over the world at this point in the summer. Still, DON'T STRESS!!! Just get them in and make sure they have the correct info you need to have on it.

While connections are the main problem for out of state girls, there are SO many other factors that play into whether you get a bid or not, such as grades, personality, recs, looks (shallow I know), how the actual week of rush goes, etc.

You will be cut from most houses if you have below a 3.0. There are a few exceptions, but don't count on it.
You will be cut from most houses (or every house) if you do not have at least one rec (since it is a national rule for a lot of sororities for a PNM to have a rec in order to receive a bid), or if your rec writer says that they don't want you in their sorority. Get at least 2 recs if possible. I suggest 2 recs and 2 or 3 letters if you can. If you can't, 1 or 2 recs will do. But get at least one rec. This is especially true for you out of state girls so we can really get a glimpse of you since we don't know you.

Continued in next comment

You will probably be cut from the "top" houses if you don't know one active going into recruitment. I talked about this above. (if you have strong suits in other categories such as grades, personality, looks, etc, then you could get around this. But if you don't have great grades and you're shy etc, then not having connections could really hurt your recruitment.
If you aren't drop dead gorgeous, then you need to have strength in other areas such as grades or personality. I know it sucks, but everyone cares about looks. Looks are the first thing you see about a person. If you aren't that naturally pretty (like me), just make sure that you look put together. There are tons of average looking girls going through that will get bids to top tier sororities. Sororities would rather someone who isn't that naturally pretty but knows how to take care of themselves rather than someone who is naturally pretty but forgot to shower and brush their teeth.
If you are shy, there is a chance that you could possibly be dropped from a few houses because of it. Going back to the fact that so many girls go through - sororities don't have time to sit and wait for you to break out of your shell when the time is ticking and there are girls to be cut and there are PNMs that they are already obsessed with. But you will not be the only one. Try to get out of your comfort zone! If you aren't very good at small talk, practice in these next few months.

continued in comment

I meant to put the comment above this one as a reply to my first comment.... I'm really struggling! I wasn't expecting my answer to be this freaking long but I kind of took your question and expanded on it.

So key points - BE YOURSELF! Don't chance who you are or you'll be miserable for the next 4 years. DONT LISTEN TO STEREOTYPES (or what other people around you say)! While yes, there are rankings because some chapters are stronger than others, none are better than others! There is a difference in stronger and better. All of our chapters are outstanding. Go with your heart and where you feel most comfortable and at home. Prepare for recruitment! If you haven't done so already, put some work in and get your rec packets together and sent to your rec ladies. Jazz up your wardrobe. And something I forgot to mention in my other comments - keep your reputation in good standing! You will probably get cut from every house if you get flat out crazy drunk at the bars in Oxford every single weekend before recruitment starts and hit on upperclassmen. If that's just the kind of person you are, then by all means, continue on. Like I said, don't change who you are for a sorority. Just don't do something you'll regret on bid day when you are sitting alone in your dorm room.

You will end up where you're supposed to. It is a really crazy week but it is worth all the tears and hard work that you've done over the past few months. Goodluck and don't worry!

Hahaha, yeah I figured thats the way it would be for most people. I tend to explain really in depth. I considered stopping after like the first paragraph but I figured some PNMs would need to see all of that so I just continued lol

It's unlikely that anyone got into a top sorority without connections, especially from the north. Just saying!

It is definitely difficult to get into a "top" sorority if you have no connections and are from the north. However, it did happen to me and I'm just on here trying to calm the nerves of an incoming freshman who is scared just like I was two years ago. I will say that most of the people (guys and girls) from NY that I have met at Ole Miss happen to be in "lower" houses, but that isn't the case with me. Saying the rush is all about where you are from is ridiculous.

No Problem! Good Luck :)

Puppies and rainbows, puppies and rainbows! Why don't you promise her a unicorn as well? It's not at easy as this for MOST New Yorkers!