One of the reasons why the spring preview weekend is so very important!

Total bummer that she had 2 prefs and no bids, but I think it's fantastic that she seems to be dealing well. Good for her.

I thought if you made it to pref and maximized your options you got a bid? Does that not happen at Bama?

I don't think they guarantee you a bid.

Nanners52674 - I believe that is the case. Unfortunately, she wasn't instructed about filling out her bid card with BOTH sororities and chose to put down only one. The way it has been explained to me is that since she didn't "maximize her options" and put down both sororities, she was no longer guaranteed a bid. The girls who put all the sororities from prefs on their bid cards were guaranteed - and the way that is accomplished is to put people like my daughter at the bottom of the list. So the house either hit quota or she just didn't get a bid. Sad set of circumstances : (

But there is a reason for everything. We just don't know what it is yet. Life is still good - she's at ALABAMA!!! Roll Tide!

Unless they have just changed it this year, Alabama does not guarantee a bid even if you maximize options. However, with the increase in chapter total and the use of quota additions, I believe most girls who maximized their options this year were placed. I think no extra effort (i.e quota additions) were made for those who did not maximize their options.

It is so unfortunate that my daughter did not understand that she was supposed to put both sororities she went to on pref day on her bid card.

Does that mean that she will not be eligible for COB?

Also, since she didn't maximize her options, is she just out of luck until next fall's rush?

That is welcomed news! She went to the Panhellenic office twice today but no one was there either time.

She'll keep going back until she gets someone to ask about signing up for COB at Bama. I'll let everyone know how it goes : )

That's a shame that their Pi/Rho Chi/whatevers didn't explain that well.
You're correct. This keeps PNMs from only listing their top choice, no matter how unlikely and all all getting QA'd to the top top tier chapter or what have you.

I agree that would be very unfortunate. The MRABA was changed slightly this spring and sent out to all college Panhellenics in June with clarifying language.

The MRABA now clearly states that you can list one OR any of the chapters whose preference round you attended and which you are willing to accept membership. (This change was in an effort to clarify language and to eliminate the excuse by women those who claimed their recruitment counselor "forced" them to list all chapters on their MRABA but were disappointed when their received their second or third choice...and were still bound to the calendar rule for for joining another group after declining a bid.)

AND the very next sentence states that "I realize that by not listing the maximum number of events I attended, I may be limiting my potential to join any other NPC group during formal recruitment should I not be placed with my choice(s)."

I really thing these changes are excellent and should really eliminate most if not all of the confusion. All CPHs also received a reminder message about the new MRABA so hopefully most CPHs will be on board and everyone will benefit!

TideMom - I truly hope your daughter finds ways to get involved and have a great Freshman year. It sounds like she has already gotten started and that is great!

i'm sorry that rush didn't work out for you this year. i'm sure that you gave this a lot of thought. please be sure to check out the upcoming organization fair and get involved on campus in some clubs, committees or organizations.