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-   -   U of I fall 2010 recruitment--would love advice (https://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=114547)

greekmomjo 07-04-2010 10:31 PM

U of I fall 2010 recruitment--would love advice
 
My neice is going thru at Illinois next September. She is from a small town and knows maybe 2 girls who are in houses there. My sister and I are not familiar with this school's particular recruitment process, but are both Greek and know the drill---how many recs and letters are REALLY needed at this school, and do any of you alums have any other advice? She will be open-minded and really doesn't have preconceived ideas about houses going into rush.

Happy Independance Day everyone! !:D

33girl 07-04-2010 10:56 PM

Why is this in a different font than the rest of your posts?

Also, your edit didn't clear up the misspelling.

greekmomjo 07-04-2010 11:28 PM

misspelling: no excuse, up too late and should have checked it--I have become too reliant on spellcheck, you know?

thank you for pointing that out

lovespink88 07-05-2010 10:37 AM

In case you did not see my response in the other thread: http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...68&postcount=6

IrishLake 07-05-2010 12:42 PM

I have a friend in Missouri whose daughter will be a sophomore at Illinois this fall. Last fall, she and her roomate went through formal recruitment, and both received bids to their #1 choices (different houses). Neither had recs. Can't hurt to have them, but like it's been said, it's not like SEC schools.

greekmomjo 07-05-2010 01:10 PM

appreciate U of Illinois help/info
 
some big state schools really want recs AND mulitiple letters, so thought I'd better do some research--if getting 4 additional letters will help her pre-rush, then it would be nice to know. If those 4 additional letters will have the Illinois chapters' recruitment chairman rolling her eyes and muttering about over-achievers, even better to know!

really appreciate anyone taking the time to answer & share their Illinois experiences

and I did search, for HOURS, yesterday to try and find everything I could about recruitment at U of I on this site...and didn't find any specific Illinois threads--if I missed it, and didn't need to start something new I apologize
:)

CluelessIllini 07-05-2010 10:45 PM

Greekmomjo,

Try going to this site and click on recruitment if you haven't already. It tells a lot about the general aspects of the events.

I tried to get some letters from my close high school teachers who went to U of I, practically all of them did, but not all went greek. They thought I was better off going without letters so that I could choose the sorority right for me and with sisters who like me for who I am rather than having the letters help me out.

Let me know if you hear anything more!

lovespink88 07-05-2010 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CluelessIllini (Post 1950884)
Greekmomjo,

Try going to this site and click on recruitment if you haven't already. It tells a lot about the general aspects of the events.

I tried to get some letters from my close high school teachers who went to U of I, practically all of them did, but not all went greek. They thought I was better off going without letters so that I could choose the sorority right for me and with sisters who like me for who I am rather than having the letters help me out.

Let me know if you hear anything more!

I think that is very odd advice you received from your teachers and I feel as though you may be a bit confused about the purpose of rec letters. Recommendations letters do not guarantee bids. Heck, they don't even guarantee an invite back to the next round. The purpose of recommendation letters are to introduce you to the chapter before recruitment gets underway. At a school like U of I where there is regularly over 1200 PNMs, recs are very helpful. While they are definitely not necessary, having them would be advantageous. If you can get them, which it sounds like you can, then you definitely should.

33girl 07-05-2010 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CluelessIllini (Post 1950884)
They thought I was better off going without letters so that I could choose the sorority right for me and with sisters who like me for who I am rather than having the letters help me out.

That isn't really how recs or letters work. It doesn't "bind" you to the sorority in any way; however, it does sometimes get the sorority to give you a second look among the tons and tons and tons of girls where if they hadn't given you that second look, they would have cut you.

Rush was most likely very different when your teachers went through and not as competitive then as it is now. There are just simply more people in college, period. They really weren't doing you a favor if that is what they told you - in fact, their attitude and reluctance to write recs could possibly end up costing you membership in the group you want.

dgdramadawg 07-05-2010 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CluelessIllini (Post 1950884)
I tried to get some letters from my close high school teachers who went to U of I, practically all of them did, but not all went greek. They thought I was better off going without letters so that I could choose the sorority right for me and with sisters who like me for who I am rather than having the letters help me out.

Were the non-greek teachers the ones who were telling you to go without recs? Because I can't imagine that a sorority woman would give this advice for a competitive recruitment (which it sounds like Illinois has, with 1200 PNMs!).

As a teacher, I love writing recs for my students. It makes me happy to introduce them to my sisters, and I get excited anytime a great former student is a potential new member and I can help her out with a rec. That's me, though; I can't speak for other teachers.

It just really surprises me that a GROUP of Greek women would all agree that they should not write you recs when you are going through recruitment at a really big school with so many PNMs.

I don't know much about Illinois recruitment, other than what I've read on GC, but based on that knowledge my advice would be: Ask them again for the recs, if you know how to get in touch with them over the summer. If they are teachers who are close to you and you tell them it is important, I would hope they would take the time out to help you have as smooth a recruitment process as possible.

Drolefille 07-05-2010 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgdramadawg (Post 1950905)

It just really surprises me that a GROUP of Greek women would all agree that they should not write you recs when you are going through recruitment at a really big school with so many PNMs.

Odds are they're remembering their recruitment and may not have had any idea what kind of effect recs had on PNMs when they were actives. And U of I is kind of unique in it's "competitive but not rec-focused" status. They have a ton of PNMs but a lot of chapters too.

But either way, yes, getting recs would still be a good idea.

dgdramadawg 07-05-2010 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille (Post 1950906)
And U of I is kind of unique in it's "competitive but not rec-focused" status.

Thanks... this is good to know!

CluelessIllini 07-06-2010 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgdramadawg (Post 1950917)
Thanks... this is good to know!

yeah, thanks. Ill try to contact them, but i probably won't be able to. I just wish I saw this site earlier. It is really helpful. I think I might join a sorority without a house though. I don't think I can afford the cost of dues if they are like 2k per year...

sydney bristow 07-06-2010 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CluelessIllini (Post 1950945)
yeah, thanks. Ill try to contact them, but i probably won't be able to. I just wish I saw this site earlier. It is really helpful. I think I might join a sorority without a house though. I don't think I can afford the cost of dues if they are like 2k per year...

I'll just go ahead and say it...I'm not sure if you really understand how recruitment/sorority life in general works. Read the stickies.

33girl 07-06-2010 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CluelessIllini (Post 1950945)
yeah, thanks. Ill try to contact them, but i probably won't be able to. I just wish I saw this site earlier. It is really helpful. I think I might join a sorority without a house though. I don't think I can afford the cost of dues if they are like 2k per year...

All the sororities are housed. If you don't want to live in a sorority house or be obligated to do so, you should not go through recruitment.

lovespink88 07-06-2010 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 1950952)
All the sororities are housed. If you don't want to live in a sorority house or be obligated to do so, you should not go through recruitment.

Unless she is talking about non-NPC sororities (although I don't think she is.)

Also, there is one NPC who owns a house but is currently not living in it and is renting it out to a fraternity. However, I have no idea how long that lease is...the sorority could be planning on moving back in soon for all I know. AND if a PNM would look at the one NPC that is not currently living in a house, she would be greatly limiting her options.

Drolefille 07-06-2010 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CluelessIllini (Post 1950945)
yeah, thanks. Ill try to contact them, but i probably won't be able to. I just wish I saw this site earlier. It is really helpful. I think I might join a sorority without a house though. I don't think I can afford the cost of dues if they are like 2k per year...

If you're living in the house, then you don't have to pay for the cost of living in a dorm. It's usually at least even, if not cheaper to live in the house.

lovespink88 07-06-2010 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille (Post 1951043)
If you're living in the house, then you don't have to pay for the cost of living in a dorm. It's usually at least even, if not cheaper to live in the house.

THIS. Totally meant to include it in my post but forgot (so thanks drole.)

I decided to take a peak at what the costs were for the public university dorms this year (I'm not EVEN gonna look at the private housing...) It's $3,000 more than when I started 4 years ago!! :eek: Sorority housing is currently around what I paid for in the dorms 4 years ago. Therefore, on average, you'd probably pay around $3,000 less living in a sorority than living in the dorms.

ETA: And if you're living in Bromley, IT or any of the private places, living a sorority will be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper.

Drolefille 07-06-2010 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovespink88 (Post 1951052)
THIS. Totally meant to include it in my post but forgot (so thanks drole.)

I decided to take a peak at what the costs were for the public university dorms this year (I'm not EVEN gonna look at the private housing...) It's $3,000 more than when I started 4 years ago!! :eek: Sorority housing is currently around what I paid for in the dorms 4 years ago. Therefore, on average, you'd probably pay around $3,000 less living in a sorority than living in the dorms.

ETA: And if you're living in Bromley, IT or any of the private places, living a sorority will be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper.

I think you did include it in a previous post to her, in another thread... I think. Meh I can't keep it all straight.

sydney bristow 07-06-2010 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovespink88 (Post 1951052)
THIS. Totally meant to include it in my post but forgot (so thanks drole.)

I decided to take a peak at what the costs were for the public university dorms this year (I'm not EVEN gonna look at the private housing...) It's $3,000 more than when I started 4 years ago!! :eek: Sorority housing is currently around what I paid for in the dorms 4 years ago. Therefore, on average, you'd probably pay around $3,000 less living in a sorority than living in the dorms.

ETA: And if you're living in Bromley, IT or any of the private places, living a sorority will be SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper.

So true it's like this at UK too. I know it's true with chapters on my campus but I can't presume to speak for others BUT if you live in the house of course you pay housing fees but your DUES are significantly less. Is this true at most big schools with large-ish chapter houses (ours hold 40-60).

lovespink88 07-06-2010 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sydney bristow (Post 1951081)
So true it's like this at UK too. I know it's true with chapters on my campus but I can't presume to speak for others BUT if you live in the house of course you pay housing fees but your DUES are significantly less. Is this true at most big schools with large-ish chapter houses (ours hold 40-60).

For my chapter, our dues were the same whether or not you lived in or out. We did have a live out fee, which kind of made it seem like in house dues were less, though.

sydney bristow 07-06-2010 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovespink88 (Post 1951118)
For my chapter, our dues were the same whether or not you lived in or out. We did have a live out fee, which kind of made it seem like in house dues were less, though.

Interesting...I was just curious really.

CluelessIllini 07-06-2010 05:06 PM

thanks everybody. I just thought that some did not have houses because of something I read on there once, and I knew of one listed on the site that didn't have a house, but that one isnt a part of NPC. sorry. lovespink88 explained everything to me and I got it straight. I can't wait for Open House and everything! This dues issue was really freaking me out before, but now I feel really confident in joining this year than next year.

Drolefille 07-06-2010 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CluelessIllini (Post 1951220)
thanks everybody. I just thought that some did not have houses because of something I read on there once, and I knew of one listed on the site that didn't have a house, but that one isnt a part of NPC. sorry. lovespink88 explained everything to me and I got it straight. I can't wait for Open House and everything! This dues issue was really freaking me out before, but now I feel really confident in joining this year than next year.

Good luck and have fun!

greekmomjo 07-07-2010 10:11 PM

Costs of Living In vs and Apartment
 
The actives in my large Midwestern state school did a comparison of living in the house (80+ women) vs. living in an apartment of 4 women (2 bdrm/2 bath). The soroity was significantly cheaper IF you ate the many of meals provided in the house and did not eat out a lot. Not cleaning your own bathroom and always having someone else to study with or make a Starbucks run with were a big plus. And the intangibles (really getting closer to your sisters by just being around) of being a day-to-day live-in Greek women were impossible to calculate. Good luck to you!

And thanks to all who have posted "inside info" about U of Illinois rush.

FSUZeta 07-08-2010 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greekmomjo (Post 1951887)
The actives in my large Midwestern state school did a comparison of living in the house (80+ women) vs. living in an apartment of 4 women (2 bdrm/2 bath). The soroity was significantly cheaper IF you ate the many of meals provided in the house and did not eat out a lot. Not cleaning your own bathroom and always having someone else to study with or make a Starbucks run with were a big plus. And the intangibles (really getting closer to your sisters by just being around) of being a day-to-day live-in Greek women were impossible to calculate. Good luck to you!
.

This!! i would not take anything for the years that i lived in the sorority house=priceless!! and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. i point out to collegians that they can live the rest of their lives in an apartment, but they only have 3 or 4 years to live in a sorority house.

our national housing corporation did a study years ago that concluded that it IS less expensive to live in the house.

irishpipes 07-08-2010 10:11 AM

Not to mention that at U of I most of the houses are WAY WAY WAY closer to the quad than the dorms are.

Benzgirl 07-08-2010 10:41 AM

Another thing to think about is safety...
Often Greek houses are located in a high(ish) traffic area and many apartments are not. When you have a lot of people around, you are less likely to be mugged or worse.

I lived in an apartment one year and in the house 2 years. Whether is was a late night at the Library or out at the bars, I always felt much safer walking home when I lived in the house because people were always hanging out on the porches of the Greek houses. Now that I'm older, I realize this is something that you can't put a price tag.


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