How important are Recs/Legacy?

[Alison-Marie]

To be honest, I had never really thought about joining a sorority before this summer, because I had never actually met anyone who was in a sorority. I mean, I'd thought about it, but everyone around me (friends, family) thought it was crazy, so I sort of figured I wasn't the sorority type. But, after orientation, for a couple different reasons, I started re-thinking this and really looking into it. I've signed up for rush now, but I'm wondering if I have any chance at all.

My school is in the south, but I don't know if it's IN the south - competition-wise, I mean. It's in Florida, which usually isn't considered THE SOUTH, you know what I mean? So I'm not sure.

See, as far as I know, I don't really know any current sisters or Alumni to write me recs (although I don't think they're mandatory at my school) and nobody in my family has ever joined. I'm still looking, but I doubt I'll find them. So, should I expect to get turned away in the first few rounds?

I'm not going in "for letters" or anything - I'm going for friendship, sisterhood, and fun, if I decide to join. I don't know what makes a "cool" or "popular" sorority, and I really don't care one way or the other. I'm looking for girls that I like and want to hang with.

I'm a fairly attractive, fairly interesting girl with an excellent GPA, some community service, and a decent activities list. I consider myself a little shy, but most people think I'm fairly outgoing. I definitely don't have (and seriously doubt anybody would think I have) a bad rep.

Anyway, tell me the truth - or what you think the truth is, at least. Be brutal. I would rather go in with my eyes open. How likely is it that I'll be cut after the first round or so just because I don't have any connections?

Thanks,
Allie

[TrojanGirl]

Allie -
Here is my $.03....

Contact your Panhellenic office and get the number for the nearest local Panhellenic alum club. They can help you out. Also, try your high school and junior high teachers. Also your church can be an excellent source of recs.

TG

[GPhiBLtColonel]

Allie -- what school in Florida? Although I now live in GA, I used to live in FL and know some sorority women in various parts of the state who might be able help with recs...if you are going to a school with Gamma Phi Beta, I can even write you one! Recs are important but if a sorority wants you bad enough and you don't have a rec, they will find an alum to write one for you.

[LeslieAGD]

Allie, I think you're going into Recruitment with a great attitude! Sometimes having a rec can be the tie-breaker between two amazing girls, other times it might not matter much. If you let us know what school you'll be attending, I'm sure there's someone here who can let you know what Recruitment is like there.

[Alison-Marie]

I'm going to be attending UCF. Sorry, when I modified my post to correct spelling I cut and pasted wrong, and that part got cut out. Thanks a lot for the offer, GPhiBLtColonel, - but no Gamma Phi Beta here. If you know any women in my area (I live in Brevard County, but the Orlando area is very close nearby) that I could contact (who wouldn't mind) I would love to talk with them.

I have character references and resume information that I could send out to anyone who wanted to know more about me, first. I realize that it's a resposibility, reccomending someone (from reading about it on this board). Anyway, let me know.

Thanks so much for all your replies. Any more advice is welcome, especially if anyone knows anything specifically about how this might apply at UCF?

Another question: Is UCF part of the ultra-competitive SEC that I keep hearing about?

Thanks again,
-Allie

[GPhiBLtColonel]

Allie -- try this website for the Orlando area Panhellenic -- they appear to have links to some of the officers' email addresses -- you could email them and tell them of your rush plans/concerns about recs and do offer to snail mail them your resume, a picture, whatever to help them get to know more about you...
http://www.geocities.com/fl_alum/panhellenic.html
Let me know how that contact works out, okay?

[ZTAMich]

There's a UCF Greek or two around here, perhaps one of them can help ya out too!

[auakl]

I can answer a small portion of your question for you. UCF (at least in football) is a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), not the Southeastern Conference (SEC) which you were referring to in your earlier post. The SEC is comprised of 11 large Southern state schools and Vanderbilt University which is a private school. Coming from Florida the SEC schools you would likely be most familiar with would be the University of Florida, University of Georgia and my alma mater, Auburn University. The other schools in the SEC are the U. of Arkansas, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, U. of Mississippi (Ole Miss), U. of Alabama, U. of Kentucky, U. of Tennessee and the U. of South Carolina.

I would encourage you to seek out recommendations. I do not know how vital they are at UCF, but they certainly would not hurt. You would likely be surprised how many women your family knows that are greek and would love to help you, just ask around. For as long as I can remember, a ritual of summer has been my mother (Phi Mu) and father (Pi Kappa Alpha) sitting down and going through a handwritten list of high school graduates that my family knows who are heading off to Rush in the fall so they can write recommendations. Now I’m at the point in my life where my wife (Kappa Alpha Theta) and I (Alpha Kappa Lambda) each sit down and go through the same annual ritual of writing recommendations, and you know what, we love to write them! Being a fraternity brother or sorority sister is a lifetime membership, and writing recs is just one way we stay involved and support our respective organizations. I’m sure everyone on this board wishes you the very best of luck in finding the sorority that is right for YOU.

[Alison-Marie]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who took the time to reply.

I'm still working on it, but recs or no recs, I plan to have a great time at Recruitment this year (at the very least, I figure I'll get to move over a day early and meet lots of great girls).

If anyone has anymore advice/answers/thoughts, I'd appreciate it. I'll let you know what happens in August.

Thanks again,
Allie

[UC_Berkeley_jr]

Another situation: my grandmother used to work with a guy at her old job for a few years who is an alumni of Sigma Phi Epsilon. In fact, a company that she's started now, that I'm also working at, is doing some business with the same guy (he's not with the company that my grandmother and he worked at originally). He also happens to be listed on their "Famous Alumni" page. I have had limited email and phone contact with him, but never actually met him in person. Is it appropriate to ask him for a letter of introduction, or recommendation, or whatever he feels comfortable with? Or is it better to try to find someone I've actually met? Thanks for your advice again.

Matt

[SoCalGirl]

Matt,

I don't see anything wrong with asking him if he'd be willing to send a rec. It's not like you've never had any contact with the guy. The worst he could say is no. Go for it!