GCers - do you think this PNM should contact the different Alumnae Panhellenics for each GLO? I am thinking that there is a San Antonio Theta Alumnae group, for example. I'm asking b/c I don't know Texas protocol. And this might be a horrible idea. I know that if a PNM contacted the Phoenix or Tucson Theta alum groups, she'd likely get a response from them.

This is contrasted with the Tucson Alumnae Panhellenic, which has members from almost all 26 NPCs. And a PNM might wait a while before hearing back.

Am I making sense? I don't know that LadyLonghorn is still around, and I forget who else is UT - pinapple?

First hit on Google:

http://www.sapanhellenic.org/index.php?page=recruitment

There is nothing there that says you should expect a response. Did you go to the events?

When I was a member of the Houston AP, we recommended contacting sorority alumnae and the individual alumnae associations.

The Texas AP's want you to register with them so they can keep tabs on who is going where and to help where they can. They aren't a rec-writing service and they encourage you to get as many personal recs as you can and have those personal recs sent to the rec chair of that particular individual sorority area alumnae association, who puts them together in a packet and mails them all out to the chapter. (But that isn't required-- you can get recs from any alumnae of that sorority and the alumnae can send them to the chapter on their own.)

So yes, she can contact the various sorority Alumnae Associations in San Antonio and ask for their help to meet an alumna of their organization concerning references and info-recs, and ask them to introduce her to other sororities and their alumnae, which they will happily do.

Basically, as with anything else in life, you can't expect the mountain to come to you-- you have to go to the mountain. OP has made a great start and just needs to keep following up and reaching out to people.

Low D Flat- yes I went to the event and they said to expect a response within 5 days. I know that they are busy, so I am fine with waiting a little while, I just want to use as many options as there are available to me.

Make a list of the groups at UT. Go to each group's national web site. Locate the section with the list of their alumnae groups. Go to Texas and then look for the one in SA. Contact them. They will find someone who knows you.

In addition to Titchou's great advice, have you had a heart to heart talk with the person who is going to write a rec. to her sorority? Let her know how much you appreciate her helping you out, and how much you are looking forward to meeting her chapter at UT-Austin. If she does not offer to pass on your info. to ladies she knows who are members of other sororities, tell her how difficult a time you are having locating a member of ABC, DEF, GH, IJK, etc. who would write a rec. for you. I don't think she would be offended. Just be clear that you need and would appreciate her help in connecting you with any alumnae of other sororities that she might know.

Whenever a PNM asks me to write a rec. for her, I always ask her if she has a rec. to all the other sororities on her campus. If she answers "no", I offer to pass on her information to alumnae I know who are members of those sororities. Most of us want to help, so that not having a rec. is not what keeps a PNM from receiving a bid. we do not take it personally if a PNM we helped joins a sorority other than our own.

Just googled to find the same thing, and found that LowD had beaten me to it. ;)

An exact quote from the website: "If five days have passed and you have NOT received an acknowledgement email, please contact sapanhellenic@hotmail.com to ensure that your files were received."

It is good practice to register with the local alumnae panhellenic, but you should consider it a last resort for recommendations. The APH forwards your information to the sorority alumnae and they can write a recommendation for you, but how good can a recommendation be if the writer has never met the person she is recommending? I have written recs for girls who I don't know, but there is a limit to how helpful the information I can provide is because I simply do not know the person. The point is not just to get recommendations, but to get GOOD recommendations.

As someone else suggested, you need to contact the local alumnae chapters in your area (so the San Antonio Kappa Delta alumnae chapter, Chi Omega alumnae chapter, etc.). Tell them that you are planning to go through recruitment and you are looking for someone who can provide a recommendation. Offer to meet them for coffee so they can meet you in person so they can write you a stronger recommendation.

BTW, it is probably the general practice that you hear back from the local APH within five days, but most of the women involved are very busy and life happens. People get sick, have to work late, go on spring break, etc. Those things happen.

Thanks, I went to every local alumnae chapter for UT sororities in my area last night after the first comment suggesting that. I emailed each one that I could find, but as it hasn't even been a day, I of course haven't heard back from any.

I completely understand about having to wait longer than five days and have no problem with that.

One thing I will say: you're doing a great job of following up on our suggestions. From the responses following my suggestion that you contact the individual alumnae chapters, I'm thinking that's definitely a good plan. Keep at it.

Note to self: tell every PNM to contact individual alumnae chapters when searching for recommendation sources. They likely aren't aware of the existence of same.

Thanks:) Like I said, not having anyone in my family to help me, I knew I would have to put in a lot of work and really research (I have spent countless hours looking at UT hreads, emailing possible rec writers, looking through all the UT chapter websites, etc.) So if any helpful advice comes my way, I will definitely use it!

But I would really try to use the sorority women at your current school for information and support. Beyond getting you help with recs they might be open to explaining the process and get you ready for the conversations you'll be having.

Great. I didn't understand from your previous post that you had contacted them. I would expect that you will get some responses. I concur that you should try to get to know the sorority women on your campus (in a non-creepy way, just friendly and wanting to know more about sorority life, and btw, how did they find recommendations?). They all have advisors, who could potentially serve as a rec. writer for you (I wouldn't suggest that you ask them for that, but know that it is a possibility if they get to know you and like you--they might offer it up.)

I commend you on your diligence in beating the bushes, early! I realize that it can be challenging to find the contacts that you need, but it sounds like you are going about it in a methodical way, so I have no doubt that you will find them.

Keep us posted, and good luck!

The only thing about finding sorority girls at my school is that UTSA and UT only have one sorority in common (ZTA). However, if I can find any ZTA's in my classes I will definitely talk to them!