Oh come on - you know that's not the takeaway from this thread.

Everyone is free to give GENERAL advice that is beneficial regardless. HOWEVER we all know that these schools (plus others outside ones you listed) have their specific intricacies that could make or break it for PNMs.

Seriously. It wouldn't hurt for some of you to not jump all over Patty PNM everytime she posts a "OMGZ i'm planning to rush as State U, what should i wear, who should i pledge, what should i doooooooooo i'm a freshnaannnnnnn" thread.

Refer to the siggy. We tell PNMs/aspirants to not put all their eggs in one basket, yet we do the most in trying to give the most advice to just any ol' body. No, it doesn't make us bitches for simply replying "refer to your campus' website or your school's recruitment office for more information" every once in a while, especially when its CLEAR the OP hasnt done their part (especially when we don't even ask "have you checked with your campus/greek family members/older siblings?").

:p

U R AWE SOME.

i'll give you an example. in the "ready2011" thread, the op asks the general question,"if her religion will impact her ability to join or her membership experience." she is a 7th day adventist and keeps the sabbath, which for them is sundown friday to sundown saturday. i pointed out that many times initiation ceremonies are held either friday nights or saturdays. when she mentioned that she was interested in join a NPHC group, i asked her to disregard my statement, as it pertained to NPC. I have no experience in NPHC matters, and had she specified from the get-go that she was looking into NPHC organizations, i would not have responded to the thread.

And even that is a chapter-to chapter thing. My chapter always does Initiation on Sunday mornings/afternoons and I know some other chapters at UMD initiate on weeknights.

Well, did you call them out, or did you just sit there and say "tch, tch, tch" and let the PNM have the wrong advice? If you did the latter, you're just as guilty.

There have been some family members of rushees on here who straight up admitted they didn't know jack because 1) they rushed the year everyone was wearing "Nixon Now" buttons 2) they went to Teeny Noncompetitive School and little sister/brother is going to Big Scary School. Not to mention the helicopters. So sometimes the family isn't the best place to go.

That doesn't matter. We don't like giving advice to any aspirants because the informal stuff often varies by chapter so people need to get off the damn message boards and research and interact with others. And the formal stuff is NOT meant to be discussed on a message board. Either way, any NPHC aspirant who holds their breath for a GC response and takes it that seriously is a complete idiot who will probably never become a member.

As I always say, I come here to be entertained and not informed. I may choose to give an aspirant a serious helpful response one day and tell them something completely off-base just for shits and giggles the next day. The smart aspirants won't take ANY of it seriously.

And the fault was hers for being so vague about what she was talking about. If she came out immediately and said NPHC, we all would have kept our mouths shut. I personally don't care in that instance if she was confused.

ditto.

First of all, that is a Bar Mitzvah (or Bat Mitzvah) cake. Generally, not that large (don't go there) because French pastry is de rigeur, with the make your own hot fudge sundae bar for the B'nai Mitzvot. And a good pig in the blanket (you should excuse the expression) is always welcomed.

Food for a bris (if kosher) can be the fish platter OR meat platter but can range up to, and including, Wolfgang Puck from Spago catering everything including Jewish pizza and sashimi cones. But, dessert almost always includes rugelach. (Go look that one up! not the salad green) We do not discriminate: a good French pastry is always welcomed.

The new gift of choice is, I believe, a watch. We went to one Bar Mitzvah where the boy got 5, yes 5 Rolexes. But most of the time a Tag will do.......

So, while I do know my Bar/Bat/Bris Mitzvahs (mitzvah means a good deed) food selections if I have made any mistakes in advice for recruitment: mea culpa.

Ellebud, you have me intrigued- "Jewish" pizza? I get the feeling you mean something besides kosher.

Jewish pizza: (created by Wolfgang Puck) pizza dough pre baked. His isn't too crispy nor too chewy. Topped by: creme fresh, then Nova lox covering the entire pizza. A few dabs of red caviar and a few bits of chive snipped on top. Heaven.

Forgive my unsophisticated palate, but I gag at caviar. Had it at 15 at a theater opening and again at 16, and I just....ugh...

No prob. Hold the caviar!

I'll make reservations...:)