That all being said, I would counsel these girls to not go off the deep end if they don't get a bid in the first day or two.

If they're doing a big informal like this again next year, I'd really consider doing a much more structured informal, with Rho Chis and bid matching, etc.

They either need to go way more structured or way more unstructured (i.e. the women who get bids are women who probably already know sorority members). I know they're trying to remove some of the stigma from spring rush and that is awesome, but when it's a clusterfuck, it just makes the sororities resentful of having to do it at all.

Quoted from Dubai Sis-

"This is why I also think the campus panhellenics should endeavor to have actual total be very close to the prescribed total. I'm all for having a portion of the chapters "have" to do a spring rush in order to make up for the girls who pledged but didn't initiate, early grads and the variety of other reasons they lose members in a semester. Then they can accommodate the girls who simply didn't know better or who were so unprepared that they just bombed during rush when they are otherwise good candidates."

"When they're so far over total the only chapters informal rushing are the ones that are struggling and that puts a negative connotation on informal rush." [I]Spring 2010 the largest chapter at UF had approximately 178 members, the smallest had 122, so at least at UF, we are not talking a noticeable difference (numbers wise) to most PNMs during formal recruitment. Now perceived difference is something again, and something that no one has yet to figure out a way to combat. Sad thing is, we could probably randomly pick girls from each chapter and put them in one room, and we would not be able to pick out the ABCs from the DEFs, but the students on campuses think there is a difference.[/I]

"Are there any inklings of expansion at UF? In the meantime, increasing total is at least a compromise." I haven't heard any news about expansion, but often total is raised before a new group comes on. The problem at UF(like so many colleges) is that a new group would need a house and there are none available in the Panhellenic Drive area(where the majority of the sorority houses are). Pi Phi is in amongst the fraternities, but I don't know if there are any lots over there or anywhere near the university.

"I would like to see them do a Preference Night to help solidify some decisions on both sides and maybe give some girls a head's up that #1 super duper chapter is not going to be calling in a week when they have a bid from perfectly fine chapter in hand right now."Maybe they will eventually come to that plan. Informal recruitment is not something that is common to most of the chapters at UF, so it is a work in progress.
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Even houses that were WAY above the old total at UF were participating in recruitment this spring. Raising total by more than 20 women did not take into account normal ebs in membership (graduation, drops, transfers, etc). I know of at least one house that did not participate in this recruitment but plans on doing COB for the couple of women they need.

I have heard expansion rumors, but that's just smoke until total can be properly figured. I believe PC is seeing what numbers work comfortably with most chapters, then possibly expanding if the demand for becoming a sorority woman cannot be satiated by that number

I believe someone said that the pnms will have 48 hours to accept or decline their bid.

yep, here it is.

Anyone know what total at UF currently is?

Looks like it was 160 last year? I don't know how much they raised it though? Does anyone know? Here is last springs grade reports -

https://www.studentinvolvement.ufl.e...mic_Report.pdf

It includes who took spring new members last year - PiPhi, DZ, PhiMu, and AXO?

Being on the other side of it... it kind of does stink! Because I do have a top three, but I loved all of the girls I talked to! I would honestly be happy to join any of the sisterhoods I was at yesterday.
So because I'm assuming most girls are going to wait a little bit to accept/decline their bids, (just to see if any one else calls) even if I wait, I may already accept one and then my #1 could call 5 minutes later.
It sort of makes sense to say "Well, they didn't want you first anyway!" But some of them may only have 5 bids to give out! So if I'm #6 I'm not complaining! Especially because I'm a sophomore and I'm assuming some sororities already had friends lined up for the bids they had to give out.
Sorry this wasn't incredibly informational to anyone else! Just sayin'!

Good sleuthing HQWest. I could only find the 2010 spring statistics. The gap between smallest and largest had been narrowed.

Nope GatorPNM, you make perfect sense. I think that all the groups assume that most pnms will take their alloted time to make their decision. When you think about it, girls going through formal recruitment are getting several looks at chapters as the week progresses, so why not take your time?

PS, I read somewhere that the new total is around 185, but don't quote me on that!

I noticed that the size range of NPC sororities was very close 183-141. But then I checked the fraternity ranges, 153-10. Wow. The sororities seem to be larger than the fraternities. I wonder what effect, if any, it has on the social interaction between organizations.

Don't apologize! Believe me, we love hearing about recruitment (even informal!) from a PNM's perspective!

Did you visit all 11 yesterday?

Also, you shouldn't feel like "oh, I'm less wanted than the first five bids they give out, even if you are #6". Because bids are not going through PH, and the procedure is a little, um, chaotic, chapters probably sat around last night playing the same guessing game you did. So, in addition to how much they like* a PNM, they also have to consider how likely a PNM is to accept their bid. Just as you are worried about receiving bids in the wrong order, they are worried about giving them in the wrong order. They don't want to bid Suzie PNM who they love so much, if Suzie might sit on her bid for 48 hours and then decline.

I don't know if I'm making a whole ton of sense, but I'm trying to say that UF hasn't worked out the kinks of having a structured spring recruitment, and it sounds like maybe they also haven't communicated very well, so if you get a bid late or something, you shouldn't automatically think it means that you were "less-wanted".

Bids can be offered starting tonight?

*and by like, I mean how well she meets their membership criteria and all that

I just received a bid from my number two (and one more!). I'm VERY excited! But I have to say I'm a little disappointed that my number 1 didn't call. I know it's only been 25 minutes, but I think they had several callers call everyone at 7 to try and call first. I'm still holding out, but the more I think about it, I think my number two may be the best place for me. I keep thinking (and was sort of last night too) that I was having rosy thoughts about number one and it maybe it wasn't as great as I remembered it to be.
Either way, I'll post my recruitment story as soon as the dust all settles and I figure out where I'm going to be!