Sweet U. of Iowa story
 

Hi after reading lots of SEC stories how about a sweet Big 10! I'm a mom writing (with permission from Kid) her recruitment story. I've posted before asking about Iowa so I'm just laying it out there. There are 14 sororities on campus.

Recruitment is divided into two weekends.
Weekend one: Day one and two are Meet The Greeks, day 3 Welcome Back
Weekend two: Day 4 Sisterhood, Day 5 Sisterhood Cont. Day 6 Preference , Day 7 Bid Day.

I will still use code names just to add to the mystery. 749 girls are going through this year. My daughter is very excited (she has recs to 5 houses I won't say which just to see how it plays out. I'll tell later... maybe!)

We start at Day 1 Meet the Greeks (visit 5 houses)

I'll call the sororities:
Junior Mints
Snickers
Reese's
Skittles
Milky Way
Kit Kat
Pay Day
Twix
Hershey
Almond Joy
Mounds
M & M's
Baby Ruth
Butterfinger

On day 1 Meet the Greeks.
Each house sent out two/three executive board members to greet the waiting girls (no cheering) The girls were lined up alphabetically and led into the house and met their "guide". Each house served water. (now I get the SEC Ice water round thing!) Kid said that it wasn't just boring H2O no, no, no each house did something fancy and fun. Fruit, frozen berries, ice cubes with mint etc. Kid thought it was cute and fun!

Visit list:
Kit Kat - First house and a lot of fun. The girls had cute matching outfits. Kid felt she had lots in common with these girls.
Almond Joy - Loved the t-shirts the girls had on. Liked that many house members were involved in intramurals.
Mounds - Liked the variety of girls in the house. Kid felt like she "totally fit in" Had many activities in common with the girls.
Baby Ruth - Girls were VERY DRESSY! fancy. Felt the girls in the house were very simialr to each other. She felt she was "passed off" quite a bit. But several members liked her involvement in school.
Reese's - Liked the girls matching tops. Didn't feel anything "special or stand-outs" here. House/girls weren't memorable.

More to come on round one as Kid goes through remaining 9 houses today!

PS. Kid is well versed in understanding how the RFM works and anticipates big cuts after this round. She is also not allowing herself to fall hopelessly in love with one house and really likes the entire greek system.

Hungry for more?:D

I'm going to root for Twix. Just cus. I don't know which is my chapter. Yet! Maybe I'll figure it out as the week progresses.;)

Woo for Big Ten! I had a lots of classmates who chose Iowa, although only 1 went Greek. Also excited because I have a second cousin who is an active there AND my sorority is there! Yay!

I'm hoping Reese's the chapter I want it to be :)

good luck to your daughter, scrapcat!

You sucked me in with your first sentence. Can not wait to read the rest!

Yay Big 10 Story! Reese's all the way!

Skittles!

I agree! Big 10 and Reese's! Although junior mints or butterfingers will do in a pinch for me... hmmm, did I include chocolate in my hurricane supplies? Ooh, I think I did!

There were a lot of withdrawals from recruitment yesterday and today. Cuts started after the parties ended today

Is anyone thinking of that butterfinger minis commercial with the two southern belles? In my head, they're future SEC PNMs.

"My My, I just love butterfingers. Why, I think I'll try one"
"Oh no you won't!"

I'm rooting for my favorite on the list - Mounds. Mmmmm....

Meet the greeks cont....
 

Today kid went through the remaining 9 houses.

Snickers: Really, really liked them. Friendly, great conversation. Could really, really see herself here. (Great house as in physical structure)
Milky Way: Got a "weird" vibe here. Conversation was awkward. Girls didn't seem interested in her.
Pay Day: Loved this house. Nice "real" girls. Talked a lot about her activities. Girls were easy to talk to.
Twix: Liked this house. The girls here seemed to stress academics (which is fine with Kid).
Hershey Bar: Not a great fit. The girls were nice but Kid thought it would require effort to "fit in".
M & M's: Kid felt passed around at this house. Although she did think they were nice. She'd put them toward the top of her list.
Butterfinger: Very nice girls however, Kid felt a bit of sameness to the group. Rated them "ok". Toward the middle of the pack.
Skittles: A big LIKE! Had a fun conversation. Kid talked to the initial girl and had such a good time that the bumper couldn't get girl 1 to leave. Both girls stayed to chat. On her way out of this house Girl 1 grabbed Kid and asked her to please spell her last name! She wanted to "remember her". (good sign? who knows?)
Junior Mints: The real underdog here. Small chapter. No house (big give away). This chapter doesn't usually participate in formal rush but they are giving it a go this year. Kid thought the girls were very nice, but no real estate is a deal breaker for the Kid.


Rankings:
Girls rank 11 with number (1) and then the bottom (2) (3) (4)

Kid's ranking (1) in no particular order
Snickers
Skittles
Pay Day
Twix
Almond Joy
Kit Kat
M & M's
Mounds
Butterfinger
Baby Ruth
Kit Kat

And the bottom:
(2) Reese's
(3) Hershey Bar
(4) Junior Mints

Kid is prepared to get big cuts tomorrow. They can go to a max. of 10 parties. Kid says she'd be happy with 5! Time will tell.
Snack on!

I think it makes sense for AEPhi to give it a shot. Yes, they will do poorly relative to the housed chapters, but this will at least give 700 girls an introduction to the chapter which should make their informal rushing later more successful. And who knows? Maybe getting a house is in the back of their mind if they can get up to 40 or 50 girls. I wish them the best of luck!

They did discuss their lack of house with the girls. They are trying to get a house but many houses have "historical" status and renovations can be tricky if not impossible to achieve the "dorm" style sororities require. They also need a smaller house!

In Iowa City, parking is a key hindrance to new chapter houses. When A Chi O had to rebuild after the tornado destroyed their house, they had to build in parking as well. So now they have this amazing new house with a parking garage! That's a big deal in snow and cold country.

Welcome back round
 

Kid was invited back to 6/11 houses today. She was prepared for the big cuts. She said most girls had between 5-8 houses to visit. She did see one girl with a full dance card! But she also saw a few with only 1 or 2! I told her not to panic. She was VERY happy with all her invites... well... almost...

Here we go!
Mounds: Saw a cute slide show, likes their philanthropy, really likes them
Kit Kat: Had a house tour here. Felt she didn't get the opportunity to ask many questions during her conversations. Still LOVES It
Skittles: Felt a great connection here. Conversation was easy. Could be a first choice!
Snickers: Clicked with the girls here. Easy conversation. Another Love!
Junior Mints: Girls are nice, but they have that odd vibe. Not a favorite.
Milky Way: After getting an odd vibe yesterday, had great conversation today. Thought the attitude and girls were very casual. Liked them

She's moving ahead with the process. I hope the next few days she gets some much needed rest! She may take a long look and maybe change her mind.

She's not sure what to do. Because she only had 6 houses today she had to rank them all (1).
So going into Sisterhood round:

Mounds (1)
kit kat (1)
Skittles (1)
Snickers (1)
Junior Mint (1)
Milky Way (1)


And now dear readers... please make your way to the Concession Stand during our

********I N T E R M I S S I O N ******

Tale to resume on Friday!;)

Yes today was a LONG ASSED DAY. I'm just getting home

It looks like she is doing well. Darn it your post will start up when our recruitment begins. I hope I can keep up with it. BTW, we tried doing it over 2 weekends once leading into Labor Day and it didn't work out well for us I guess because we only did it one time.

They had A LOT drop out after the first round - 90 is what I think I heard. And now they wait for the weekend...

Thanks for sharing. As an advisor in one of those sweet houses, I love being able to follow along!

I'm glad some of you think Kid is doing well. She doesn't seem to think so. Her roomie was one of the girls to get 11 parties the second day. Of course the comparison is hard to pass up. I think the few days off inbetween should clear her head. I'm hoping she'll see some nice returns next round. But , with a max. of 7 parties (she only had 6 last round) odds are she may only get 2-3 back. I'm hoping she gets 5! (hope, hope, hope..)

Whoop, whoop, whoop.... ooopppsss! I may be turning into heli-mom! UG!

I really hope so, too.

we resume our feature presentation!
 

Pins and needles! Drum roll... kid was invited back to 3 houses (I totally guessed that one!) As a friend on here said" whoever said iowa recruitment isn't competitive is crazy" I digress ... help yourself to the treats!

Kid was invited back to....
mounds
junior mint
milky way

First visit@
milky way: looking back kid didn't mesh with this house but after 3 rounds she really enjoyed her time with them. One girl remembered her and was glad she returned. Kid liked their theme and was touched by their philanthropy.

Mounds; another like. Enjoyed their presenation. Had fun here. This house is a top.

Junior mint; girls are nice, but kid has nagging doubts about fitting in here in the long run.

One more round to go! Send all good vibes that kid gets some pref parties today! Several people have sent some great advice along to kid aka "my precious little snowflake". The best has been (if she gets a bid) to take the bid, test drive the house for awhile, if it's not a good fit she can de_pledge.

So pref invites go today. More to come....I hope!

Thanks for the update, hope she has a wonderful day!

I am sending very good vibes to her today! I will be heading there in a bit. I am crossing my fingers for her in a major way.

Snowflake, got some very good advice. And I like both houses, one is absolutely gorgeous (commence to swooning)

Just remember, it only takes ONE

preference round
 

Quick update.....

Kid got two pref round invites

Mounds
Junior mint

By far and away her favorite is mounds

Everyone please send delicious mounds vibes!!!

preference
 

Kid went to two parties

Mounds.. kid met with a girl she'd talked to in previous rounds. They had a lovely ceremony and kid was tearing up. Felt wonderrful here. Hinted that she really feels comfortable with the girls.

Junior mints ... the underdog. Kid went in all negative not wanting to be there. She put on a happy face. She was calm, asked good questions, voiced her concerns. The gilr was able to address everything.

Kid left confused. Cried on her rho gams shoulder. She listed on her card

Mounds 1
junior mint 2

Its been a long journey. Bid day is tomorrow. No matter what the outcome, I'm proud of the way my daughter handled this whole experience.

Thanks everyone on here for all your advice and support!

I am nearly certain that this is my chapter ;) good luck, every chapter at Iowa is a great chapter! And I hope that if it is my chapter, that she had a wonderful time at pref!

Wishing her love and happiness tomorrow (I'll be there!).

I'll be there too

Tic tock..... waiting for zero hour

Dang these pins and needles hurt!! Lol!

I hope you went back to sleep. it is still gonna be a while

when do bid day festivities start?

2 pm I believe. The girls are supposed to get there at 2 and they get their NMs at 3

Cards are signed, now the chapters are waiting to pick up their new members!

Do you have quota yet?

Quota: 34
11 chapters now at total
With this recruitment number of sorority women on campus is over 1,500
70% retention rate

Overall, a success! :D

No call yet. The kid said they'll have bid in hand around 230 run to sorority at 3. She plans on taking lots of pics I hope i'll be able to share them on gc.

CRAP! I'm gonna have to go to bed and not hear about her outcome until morning. boo! The chapters know... shouldn't the girls? Of course, they've got signs to make t-shirts to divvy up, soooo much going on in the chapter houses right now.

Fear not I'm sure you'll hear the screams" across the pond"