Registration for Florida State 2013 Fall Recruitment Announced
 

Panhellenic Association at Florida State University

We are proud to announce that 2013 Formal Recruitment registration will open April 8th, one month from today!

Do you by any chance know the dates for recruitment? I know that classes begin Aug 26th and I am hoping that recruitment starts the weekend before. Any info would be appreciated!

Recruitment is traditionally the week prior to classes starting, with Bid Day either Saturday or Sunday before the first day of class.

thank you sooo much FSUZeta. My daughter will be participating in recruitment and is so excited. She spends so much time on Pinterest finding the right look for her as well as for her dorm room! I'm excited as well as my greek affiliation has a chapter at FSU. Things have really changed since I pledged back in the 80's lol. Do you know if parents can be there for bid day? I would love to be there even if it is across the street with my camera :)))

Ordinarily FSU doesn't do the parent thing like schools such as Auburn or Bama. Some alumnae may be at the houses to assist, but they are most often chapter advisors and local alumnae. Of course, no one can stop you from being across the street with a camera-lol! When my daughter rushed (at a college out of state) I was able to check with some of the local alumnae to see if mothers attended bid day, and was told that typically they did not, so I stayed home. I did attend her initiation though!

Most sororities do hold a tailgate, brunch or bar-b-que a few weeks later during parents weekend and you definitely should attend that-and the football game! Parents weekend will be designated on the FSU football schedule-it may already be for all I know.

FSU Greek Life will have a digital "Meet the Greeks" sort of magazine later in the semester or sometime during the early summer. The link is usually provided on the Greek Life webpage. It is very well done and you and your daughter will learn a lot about the parties and FSU greek life in general. She really can't go wrong at FSU. Good luck to her, and please let us know how everything goes.

UPDATE from Florida State University panhellenic:

2013 formal recruitment registration will be open THIS coming Monday, April 8th at 9am!

Formal recruitment dates are August 18-25.

Rushing as a Junior..?
 

I will be a Junior at Florida State this fall. I started at FSU in the spring of my Freshman year, and wanted to wait for the full fall recruitment so I could get to know which sorority I would feel the most at home in. I decided to focus on academics my Sophomore year, and make sure I really knew myself and had a good GPA before I decided to rush. Now I’m worried that it is too late. I understand that FSU has an upperclassman quota – how will that benefit me? I do not want to miss out on the wonderful experience, and hope it’s not to late for me yet! I plan on rushing this fall – any advice? Thank you :)

Get recommendations for each sorority. Be open minded and roll with the punches-even if you have just one invitation, accept the invitation and go to the party-it only takes one and you can only receive one bid, so why not?

Alpha Omicron Pi will be colonizing this fall. It is not any easier avenue to a bid- even though a colony usually wants an assortment of new members from freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors-but it is an added opportunity this year at FSU.

Hi everyone! I just had a few q's about 2013 rush at fsu and I didn't see a thread about it. I'm a new member though so maybe I'm just not searching right lol

I'm rushing as a sophomore and I've managed to secure two recs which I'm so proud about! But I'm a little nervous about my GPA. My first semester was really tough for me and I ended with a terrible GPA but I managed to kick butt this year and raised my GPA a ton and even got very involved (lots of leadership positions). However my fsu GPA is not a 3.0 but above a 2.75 (sorry I'm being so ambiguous! I've just heard that sorority girls do lots of stalking and I don't want them to possibly recognize me from this post!)

What I'm basically asking is will this hurt me significantly? Even though I've had lots of involvement and have, I think, a very amiable personality?

Another q I had was a money one. Sororities cost and even though I think that the dues are very reasonable considering everything, I'm worried about how I will be able to afford membership. One of my sorority suite mates says that there's scholarships and financial aid but she didn't go into any details and I just wanted to know if anyone here knew how the financial aid worked and if it really helped or was it minimal? (The scholarship process I assume is just like any other. And may I clarify, I don't mean to sound ungrateful by saying "minimal." Any aid is helpful but with some dues being $2500+ the 1st semester, a financial aid award of $200-300 is barely a dent.)

Thank you so much for any help everyone! Being the only person in my family to ever go Greek and having only one Greek friend (my old suite mate who is very hush hush!) I really need some help!

Speaking for only my GLO, you must have at least a 3.0 GPA to apply for a scholarship..and most that are awarded (in the spring for the following school year) are awarded to women with very high GPAs, like 3.8 or better. Financial aid is awarded on a case-by-case basis, and often involves life altering issues like cancer or natural disasters.

In my opinion, based on your information and questions, Greek Life at FSU may be a stretch for you. I never try to talk someone out of going Greek, but I think the possibility of a scholarship or financial aid is something that you should not count on. The FSU Greek system is huge...and I am willing to bet that the dues and social fees, meal plans, etc. are much higher than a system where the average chapter size is 50 and they don't have houses.

I see. Perhaps, as FSUZeta mentioned, rushing Aopi might be a better choice. Would it also be better financially? I can't imagine their dues being too astronomical since they don't have a house/meal plan/etc

I don't know if this is the case at FSU (and FSUZeta can probably address this) but some sororities have payment plans. Most of the PNMs I do recs for are in the SEC and the financials have been a concern for some of them -- but they were all able to use a payment plan option for managing their dues and fees.

So I did some research and was able to get my typically quiet ex-suite mate to crunch some numbers with me and explain the financial aid. She told me that if I got aid, at least for her sorority, it would be very little. I'd have to pay everything plus the other fees for t-shirts, big appreciation, and philanthropy paraphernalia. She said the payment plans do help but after calculating everything I'd still have to take out loans to afford membership and the loan debt would be around 15,000 (using the median dues&misc fees range of 2,500 a semester. 2 semesters {$5000}over three years=15000) and I just can't afford it :(

She was quite saddened on the phone when she told me her advice and it was to consider either AOPII (though she said their dues would be less the first year but increase significantly, in her opinion and assumption) or forfeit being in a sorority altogether.

I'm also very sad because it was something I wanted soo much and I was so excited about but I don't want to be more in debt than I already I am.

I would not assume that a new colony would have lower dues. They may have a meal plan. Even without a house, they want colony members to bond and may have meals at a dorm or other location. You would not be paying room and board as you would if you were living in a chapter house, but would still pay parlor fees (just like a new member or out of house member of any other chapter.)

You also should NOT think that getting into a colony will be easier, or that they won't care about your GPA.

I know it's disappointing to find out that the expenses are too much, but you're wise to be investigating it now. Too many go full steam into recruitment, pledge a chapter, love it and then realize they can't continue because of the financial obligations. They then have to drop from a chapter they've come to care about. :(

FSU Dues, Financial Aid and Scholarships
 

Some sororities do offer scholarships and/or financial assistance (for emergency situations), but some don't and you would really have no way of finding out which ones did offer them. I would imagine a brand new member would not be eligible for those right away, anyway. As with most scholarships/financial assistance, etc., it would not be automatically granted for the next year, so making a long term commitment based on short term resources might not be advisable.

There are sorority members who work in order to pay for their dues. Would that be an option for you? If so, you would need to be mindful of how flexible your time would be. You need to allow time to study, as well as time to enjoy your sorority membership. Could you work this summer and save that money to use toward your first semester dues?

I would imagine that most sororities do offer payment plans so that dues/room/board are stretched out over the whole semester. You have learned that the most expensive part of your membership will be the first semester, when one time new member fees, initiation fee and badge purchase are assessed.

More than your class standing, your GPA will probably be a detriment to your recruitment, but different chapters will have different GPA requirements. Many of the chapters used to (like in the past couple of years) mention the minimum GPA they were looking for on their chapter websites. You might see if they still do.

Realize that some things are stacked against you, and do what you can to make up for that. You have 2 recs. and that is good, but you really, really, really do need recs. to all the houses. That is something you can control-so do whatever if takes to find the recs. you need.

Hi ladies! I just wanted to post to give y'all a very exciting update!!

After chatting with my roommate and getting feedback on here, I decided to sit down with my parents (who do support my decision to go Greek) about the reality of my financial obligations in joining a sorority and after much talk they have agreed to help me with the help of the sorority payment plans!!! I am so happy!! The reason they agreed is that my mom had told me if I didn't pledge a sorority, she wanted me to get an FSU meal plan because cooking this year was very hard for me with all my work and involvement. So I convinced her that if she was willing to pay for a meal plan (around same price as sorority dues) why not help me afford membership!

Also, I sent a letter to my financial aid office requesting more funds (I didn't receive as much due to a discrepancy, my fault, in my FAFSA) and they said they would take a look and see what they could offer me. I know that it's not at all a guarantee that I will get more, but it does make me hopeful. Even if they don't, however, my parents are still helping me which is enough.

Also, I took FSUZeta's advice and really hustled to get rec's. I already had 2, from two women in my church, but I didn't know anyone else. I literally couldn't find ANYONE! So I decided to email the alumnae chapters in Tallahassee and almost all of them responded that they would love to write me a recommendation! I've put a lot of minutes in my phone and lots of Skype dates but it has been so worth it. Not only for rec's but just to have met such incredible women and learn how much their sororities impacted and shaped their lives.

I don't know if any of you are Christians, but I am and I feel that this has been such a blessing from the Lord. I have been praying so much about this and was really, really crushed when I thought that I couldn't be a sorority woman. I feel like my prayers have been answered and I'm so overwhelmed with joy.

I've also been applying at a ton of places to work this summer and have already begun applying for on campus jobs so hopefully I will get something and be able to save up this summer.

Thank you again for all your insight and advice. Though some things are still up in the air, I know for sure that I have some recs (and hopefully more to come!), am able to pay my dues, and already registered for recruitment. I'm so excited! August 18th can't seem to come fast enough! I'll keep everyone posted on my recruitment experience and where I find my home :)

I'm so glad to hear things are coming together. I'm a Christian and a firm believer in the power of prayer. I know many PNMs who have prayed about, and been prayed for, regarding their recruitments and finding the right sorority. May He continue to lead, bless and open doors for you.

Knowing you can handle the financials and that recs are in the works are two biggies -- I know it's a relief having just those two things reined in. Enjoy getting ready for recruitment and keep us posted on how it goes! :)

I love hearing good news!!! I admire your fortitude, faith, and dedication in working to find solutions. I am so glad that the Tallahassee alumnae chapters are helping you out. Please keep us updated, and if you have any questions/concerns remember, we are here to help.

This is a quote from the FSU 2013 recruitment guide:

Is a Recommendation Necessary for my Student to Get a Bid?
No! Recommendation letters are not required to receive a bid, and you will not in any way be penalized if a letter or form is not submitted on your behalf.

That is so unbelievably misleading.

^^It truly is deceiving. FSU PNMs please read:

You do not need recommendation letters to enroll in FSU recruitment, HOWEVER, you really, truly need recs. to have a successful recruitment(i.e., get invited back to parties and ultimately receive a bid) at Florida State.

In fact, "you will not in any way be penalized" is membership selection, and is outright wrong. Panhellenic should be called on the carpet for that. That goes way beyond the technicality that recs are not required in order to participate.

It seems like that would be the best way to phrase it, too: "You do not need recs to participate in recruitment, but the individual policies of each sorority are private" or something.

I'm glad to hear AOPi will be returning to FSU. They've been gone for almost 35 years. Now we just need AXiD and SK to come back and we'll have all the chapters we had back in the late 60's before we went full on hippie days and lost those three along with Alpha Phi.

That said, FSU is just not the kind of campus where the parents (Mothers, actually) group by the hundreds to see if their daughters get the house they "should" join. We're far more southern than some realize, but we're not THAT obsessed. It would be uncool. And we're all about cool. :)

If your daughter is attending a school that is popular with out of state students, I can assure you that if she shows up without a rec, it's far easier for chapters to go with the easy way out during a late night membership selection and take a PNM who went to the same high school in Orlando that some of the members did, rather than a high school in South Carolina. It's called a safe pick, regardless of what Panhellenic may say.

I say this as a former VP of Membership (aka Rush Chairman), a chapter advisor, and a Chairman of a MAJOR city's Panhellenic Rush Council.

Yes and yes. It would also be great to have Tri Sigma back. FSU lost Tri Sigma in the late 70's-Sigma Delta Tau is in their house. I hope FSU will continue to expand and all three can return.

Posted by the Panhellenic Association at Florida State University on Facebook

72 days until recruitment! Keep up with our recruitment hashtags this summer and join the conversation: #FSURect2013 and #WhyFSUPH!

What exactly does this mean? Do you mean find someone for each sorority to write you a recommendation? How seriously do they take you if you don't have one for their sorority? Thanks!

Recommendations are personal references from a sorority alumna. Each organization has an official rec form containing information about a PNM's activities, academics, etc. The alumna will want to include a photo of the PNM as well. Some may choose to write a letter personally recommending the PNM for membership.

As a PNM, you should be asking around - teachers, co-workers, etc. - to see if any of them are or know any sorority alumnae. Then contact the alumna and politely ask if she would consider writing a rec for you. You will need to provide her with a resume, transcript and photo. This should be done for every sorority with a chapter on your campus. A nice touch is to provide envelopes with postage so that the alumna does not need to fork out her own funds to pay for this favor to you. Also, it is appreciated to send each alumna who wrote a rec for you a thank you note after recruitment letting her know whether or not you pledged. They won't be upset if you didn't pledge or if you pledged a different sorority.

Membership selection is private, but not having a rec may eliminate you from consideration at some chapters and some schools. At FSU it is HIGHLY recommended that each PNM have a rec for each chapter.

Gaby, It is important to have recommendations at FSU.

Registration Update
 

Panhellenic Association at Florida State University

Today is the last day of early recruitment registration! Sign up by 11:59 tonight for $100! After today, the price will increase, but you can continue to sign up until August 11th! Live your values, discover your potential, GO GREEK!

Come meet the Sororities at Summerfest
 

(from Facebook)

Come out to the Union Ballrooms to meet members of our Panhellenic community at Summerfest 2013! We look forward to seeing you there!

FSU Summerfest 2013
July 17 at 1:30pm
Oglesby Union Ballrooms
Join · 73 people are going

Yes, what my sister said. Recs are very important here at FSU.

From FSU Panhellenic:

ONE WEEK UNTIL SUMMERFEST! This is great opportunity to get more information about our amazing organizations and meet women from every chapter! See you there!

FSU Summerfest 2013
July 17 at 1:30pm
Oglesby Union Ballrooms

My daughter will be at Summerfest and was wondering what would be appropriate to wear? Would a dress be too much? Right now she's thinking about nice shorts, top, and sandals.

Also, are alumnae members there or just the actives? Thank you for your help!

I would think that what she plans to wear would be fine. It is during a weekday, between classes, so i think nice short, top, and sandals would be fine.

I would be surprised if alumnae are there.

PNMs, make sure your shorts cover your bum, and your top goes down to (at least) the top of your shorts. Look put together.

thank you FSUZeta!

We joked that the uniform of Nike running shorts and t-shirts would not be her outfit of the day!

When I was moving her in last month I had some time to drive around and look at all the houses. Many were sprucing up their fronts and the new Alpha Phi house is really going up fast! They are probably under roof by now as they looked ready for that a few weeks ago. It's so exciting to be on a college campus that has an active Greek system with their own houses. Brings back great memories!

I was in Tally over the weekend and wanted to see where the Alpha Phi house was going up. For those somewhat familiar with the FSU campus, it is on Copeland, (south of)right next to the Delta Gamma house. It is exciting that Alpha Phi is getting a house-I know that it will be gorgeous, as are all the sorority houses at FSU. And with AOII recolonizing following formal recruitment, it just gets better and better!