This really doesn't work very well anymore, from what I have heard. I don't know how common this used to be, but now the "name" houses are already at or over total, so they don't have room to take these girls either.

And they are pretty wise to this ploy, too.

I agree.

While it's been done, I don't think it should even be thrown out there as an option. The risks definitely outweigh the benefits here.

they came straight from a report from UGA greek life, from their ICS system

I've also sent you a PM

Early Release and Quota
 

I actually talked to the recruitment advisor at our national office and she was very aware of many of the things we've discussed on this thread. She helped me understand some things about rush that were new to me. Evidently on some campuses where the "good" sororities were getting bigger and the weaker sororities were getting smaller there has been an Early Release policy instituted. As I understand it, houses who do not think there is a likelihood that a rushee will receive a bid are encouraged to release them after first round so that they will go back to other houses where they are more likely to get a bid. The idea benefits the rushee (theoretically) because she doesn't keep strong houses who aren't going to invite her back later at the expense of less popular or less known sororities who would keep her all the way through. Prefs are also weighted to allow smaller chapters to have more girls at their parties than houses who have filled quota repeatedly. This wouldn't lessen the sting of a legacy being cut after first round but the first round cut isn't the slap in the face it would have been before early release was introduced.
But a quota of 56 at a school like Georgia? Bama had quota in the 70's. Maybe the early release policy is causing more girls to drop out and by the time quota is figured the numbers are smaller.

This is true at many schools now using release figures, chapters are forced to cut more and sooner. Thus quality women may get released after first round more so than in years past. Sometimes as well, girls are nervous in first rounds (actives and pnm's) and legacies may be more nervous in their legacy house which may result in less than favorable conversation or perceived shyness.

Alabama has fewer sororities than Georgia participating in rush. That's why quota is higher.
I think the early release method has proved it is helping smaller groups. More are pledging quota or very close to it.

There are definitely groups known for being out-of-state-friendly and groups known for being Georgia-only or certain-parts-of-Georgia-only. Not having been present for MS for the latter two, I can't verify whether this is true or if it's merely coincidence.

I suppose it's possible that a few girls might have made a stronger impression after two rounds than after one, but I honestly think that at UGA, the girls still used to drop out of rush; it was just all at once right before prefs when everyone pretty much got released by all the groups who didn't them on the bid list-- right at the same time. They saw where they were preffing and quit. (And this ended up hurting smaller groups because quota was set based of pref. invites, if I remember correctly, so it basically meant there weren't even enough girls left in the process for all the groups to make quota.)

I think there's a tendency for PNMs and parents to imagine that if a girl went back to more parties with a group, she would get a chance to shine and the groups would give her a bid.

But I don't really think that's how it ever happened at UGA.

Even before release figures, I think probably the top third of groups by what we'd call return rate today had 80-90% of their bid lists in mind based on girls they already knew from their hometowns. The middle third took about 50% girls they knew of before and 50% good candidates who they first met at recruitment. And the bottom third by return rate, might have gotten 25% girls they knew before recruitment and then had 75% of their pledge class from good candidates during rush.

My point is that even with three rounds to make an impression, I don't think that a girls real chance of pledging was ever really that much better than it is today.

Dee, that's "cultural diversity." :)

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This new release policy was instituted at WVU 2 years ago. The sororities who have the highest return rates have to drop the most girls the first day. My chapter rushed #1 2 years ago, so last fall rush we had to drop over 1/3 of the girls rushing after the first round. Like estherjb said, this is to encourage PNMs going back to other "smaller" houses. In my opinion, I like the policy. Chapters who cut heavily still made quota, as well as some houses that typically don't.

Red & Black
 

I'm posting a link to the Red&Black for a sad article of attempted suicide. The reason I'm putting it here is because of a comment made by a former UGA police officer. Someone else made a post to the police officer, but perhaps the campus Panhellenic could "advise" the UGA police on using better discretion since Greek Life is supported by the University. It also seems that the Red&Black does not "support" Greek Life based on previous articles that I've read online.

http://www.redandblack.com/home/inde...3-fec525c136d4

Also If you have not seen the articles of recent crime in Athens or if your student has not read their emails from UGA police yesterday and today, please encourage them to read them and to be extra cautious around campus at all times. It never hurts for us to remind them!

I've heard stories about this sort of thing happening too. I've heard of girls deciding which sorority they want to belong to at the big ultra-competitive University. They research small schools and pick one with a weak Chapter of that sorority. Presumably it's easy to pledge there. They don't want to run the risk of getting cut or "stuck" with a bid to another sorority on their intended campus. So after initiating, they transfer at the end of that first semester.

Problem is they didn't count on not being welcomed with open arms as a sister. They're shocked to discover that the Chapter wasn't obligated to let them affiliate. So they wind up being a 2nd semester Freshman on alum status. Not quite what they had in mind for their college years.

I am fairly sure that I know who this article is talking about. If it is the girl I am speaking of, she did not go thru rush at all.