So does that mean approx 500 girls didn't maximize at preference? That seems crazy- does this happen at this scale at other schools? I know I sound like a broken record but this sounds like a tier problem to me.

yes, that means 500 girls didn't maximize their options. And at this point, I'm just happy that it looks like about 92% of the women that went to preference received a bid (based on the numbers above).

Maybe I'm just jaded from IU recruitment, but I would rather the girls that go bidless be because THEY chose not to maximize rather than it being the fault of the chapters because quota was too low or whatever the complaint is that day.

I know the Rho Gammas were encouraging everyone to maximize but we all know how well 18-19 yr olds listen.

It does not happen on that scale at most schools.

Can someone explain how they're doing QAs? I know they have to issue a minimum of 50 bids but since some groups set their quota higher aren't QAs kind of weird to have? I know they are supposed to help place as many women as possible but with so many different quotas and no set total it seems it would be more possible to manipulate it. Apologies if I missed a more detailed explanation.

QAs have nothing to do with total.

This year, there weren't a bunch of different quotas. Each group was told to expect to get between 50-55 women. Then after each group (hopefully) matched 54, they went back and offered each group quota additions. It was up to each group if they wanted to accept QAs and how many to accept.

Does that help?

For comparison, here are statistics from 2012-2015:

2015
• 2,088 women registered
• 1,234 women participated in bid matching
• 1,104 received bids
• 130 women not matched in process
2014
• 1,905 women registered
• 1,319 women participated in bid matching
• 1,002 received bids
• 317 women not matched in process
2013
• 1,735 women registered
• 1,160 participated in bid matching
• 1,025 received bids
• 146 women not matched in process
2012
• 1,720 women registered
• 1,086 participated in bid matching
• 890 received bids
• 252 women were not matched throughout the process

(This is from an archived version of the IU Panhellenic Recruitment page.)

Thank you and yes, agree 100% on all above.

Grrr, I meant to say that some groups set their quotas higher (editing now). So that is not a thing anymore? One quota for all groups? I thought I saw somewhere that one of the groups set their quota in the 70s.

QAs are the women who do not match otherwise and who did not suicide. They are placed by the RFM specialist in chapters with preference to the smaller chapter. It's impossible to get a QA if you didn't make Q. It matters not what Q is as long as the chapter has made their Q. Understand now????

Part of the reason that many girls may not have maximized is because they had three preference options instead of two. Per an RFM training I went to in December put on by NPC, NPC is moving towards two preference options no matter how many chapters a campus has in part because women are much less likely to be happy with receiving a bid from their third choice chapter if they have three choices to list.

I would guess than many of the women who did not maximize listed two chapters rather than just one, where if they'd only had two chapters to begin with they wouldn't have not maximized and that figure would be lower. It would also cut down on chapters inviting back women to their preference who would absolutely not accept a bid from that chapter and perhaps don't need to be at their preference event, if going to the three parties prior and then pref didn't change their opinion of that chapter.

I agree that PNMs run the risk of not getting a bid if they don't list all their options and shouldn't be rewarded for it, necessarily, but with a figure that high maybe that's something Indiana needs to look to. Disclaimer: I don't work at Indiana and only have information about it based on what I read here, but I could see this helping with those figures.

While I understand that many IU PNM do not maximize their options.

I feel that the above statement is more of the driving force at IU! I would like to see Mandatory Policy of ALL Fraternities having pairs on a rotation system. This would stop many girls from just dropping out all together. Just because they received invites from lower tier sororities. Once this stops, maybe we can obtain a better idea of statistics for recruitment. Just a thought...........

That is a thumbs up.

About mandatory policies: you can lead a horse to water...

IMO, if the sororities don't accept invitations, and instead break that pattern of XYZ only pairs with DEF (for example), that's going to make a difference. I have seen it happen. It rattles a few cages, for sure. But the sun still rises in the east.

The women do have a whole lot more power, if you get my drift here.

And I think it's not just Indiana. It's endemic to sororities and fraternities at many campuses.

Here, here!