Let's be honest, anything lower than a 3.0 coming out of high school is going to be a grade risk at a Big 10 school.

I think I could have that pinned down (very good friend at other school who's in a sorority that allows collegian recs) for one sorority, but it seems like for others, I'd have to look for recs from those who don't know me personally. So I guess I was wondering if in that case, it might make for a better case to search for recent alums of specific chapters at the school (maybe through my high school's own past matriculation records) in addition to going through a regional network, so that I could have somewhat of same town and high school connection (and so those who read the recs could be all, "Oh, this recommender was a chapter sister!"), as I am OOS. I'm not sure how common this is, however, and I wouldn't want to come off as creepy or anything like that.

Recs do not have to be from the same chapter that will becreceiving the rec, just a member in good standing of that particular sorority.i have written recs for PNMs I did not know well. I invited them to meet me for coffee and talked with them. If I felt comfortable I would write a rec. Try that approach.

You'll need to network with any adult you know who went to college. Parents' friends, neighbors, employers, teachers, parents of friends, etc. When you find someone to write one, ask if they know someone in other groups. This is a heavy networking operation. And you can check the national orgs FB web sites for local alumnae chapters as well. You never know who you know and don't realize they are Greek.

The second best rec comes from someone who knows someone who knows you personally. For example, I have close friends in other NPC groups, and if they are willing to write a rec to their org for a PNM they know, I am definitely willing to write one to my org, because I trust their judgment.

And as you'll see in all of the rec advice threads, you know more sorority women that you think you do, we promise.

But remember, recs are generally not required at Big 10 schools. They can be helpful and if you've got good people to write them, then great. But digging up some rando just so you can have that box checked is not necessary like it is in other parts of the country. If you want to have them for as many chapters as possible I would start beating the bushes to see who you know because you probably know more Greek women than you think. But you're not doomed without them.

Thank you :) As an out-of-stater, do you think it would be more strategic to beat the bushes around the area my college is in rather than around home? Greek life is big in my area, though not my family, and you're definitely right in saying I probably know more Greek women than I think. I think I'm just worried it would probably be a weaker "know" anyway around home, like so-and-so from history's mother.

Wherever you can get the closest connection. We don't know where that is. And "so and so from history's mom" is not what you think. It's "we've known her and her family for x years." Please don't presume what we on this side see as connections. Beat the bushes and line them up. You'll be fine. If you were coming to Bama it would be different. But you aren't.

Except for the currently in chapter or very recently graduated members, the relationship to the specific chapter doesn't matter. The best connection to YOU is what matters, not to the chapter. Part of your membership for a lifetime responsibility and reward is you are considered an equal member, whether you went to MOST COMPETITIVE U or just barely a 4 year college that has sororities. I've never heard of anyone looking at a rec and saying, well THIS one is from Everyone's Heard of it U but that one came from Never Heard of it U so this one counts for more than that one.

I can think of particular chapters at the University of Texas and Ole Miss who would feel this way.

But, for the overwhelming majority of chapters you are 100% correct.

Really?

Oh yeah! And Alabama also.