Recruitment at LSU!
 

Hello!
I have been lurking on GreekChat for quite some time now and it has been so helpful to me so far! I will be going through recruitment at LSU in August and I am super nervous! I know that it is very competitive and I am from out of state so I don't really know anyone. I only have two confirmed recs right now and they are both for the same chapter!:( I have been in contact with women from the other sororities but none have let me know if they've sent the recs in yet. This all has me very stressed out and I haven't even begun to get my outfits together! Anyway, I would love any advice about recruitment, especially from LSU women! Thanks so much!

A friendly reminder to the women writing your recs that sorority recruitment begins in August is not out of order. Ask if there is anything else that they might need from you. It's a subtle way of saying, "Get your ass in gear, please, ma'am." Your recs are of utmost importance at LSU. Be very polite. Add a thank you at the end, as well. Do not forget to send a Thank You note to your rec writers at the end! :) Good Luck, and GEAUX Tigers!

General Follow-Up Advice
 

When you have not yet heard from a recommendation letter writer, a job application, etc.:

This is great advice for following up with most anything!

Do this today!!!! My daughter went alum this year so I can tell you 100% that without recs you will not get invited back to most chapters. There are so many girls going through rush that this is always the easiest way to cut during the first round. Added to the fact that you don't know anyone and are from out of state you won't have anyone who is fighting for you to stay.
With recs the out of state and not knowing anyone probably won't matter. There are a couple of chapters that usually go for in state girls but there are plenty of others who don't care about that as much. Keep and open mind and you will do fine.

Don't forget that Alpha Phi will be colonizing this Fall at LSU. It would be a good idea to get a recommendation for them, in case that becomes an option you choose to pursue.

Thank you all for the advice! A few days ago I actually sent out an email thanking them again and asking if they needed anything or had any questions for me but no one replied. One of them is an Alpha Phi. Would it be too pushy of me to send another thank you in a week or so?

I would try to find additional women in those groups as backups.

Unfortunately you can't FORCE people to follow through on their promise and some people are just flakes. I would go back to the drawing board and see if you can't find some more women.

Call on everyone you know....men too, as they have wives, sisters, aunties and moms who might be greek. Church, school, work, social, parents, friends, cousins' friends....everyone is grist for your greek mill at this point. Do not be shy. good practice for rush conversations. Good luck!

Like we have posted on many other threads, go on FB and post that you need recs for the specific chapters that you are missing. Trust me, if you end up with 4 recs to Pi Phi or 3 to ZTA, it won't be overkill. A sister of mine has a niece from out of town going to LSU as well and found all her recs in a matter of two days with this method. Your confirmed rec writers/mom/aunts, etc may help you with this method as well.

GREAT idea!

Good luck with your rush, love!

I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but I will not endorse a reference if I do not personally know the PNM or her family. I am always happy to pass along a PNM's information to a chapter with my name attached, but in these cases, I always leave it up to the chapter to decide if they want to invite the PNM back to the next round of parties.
So, if I get a random "Will you write me a reference" request, I answer "I will be happy to forward your information to AB chapter".

I don't know how this rains on anyone's parade. We've suggested that she search her contacts for sorority members that would write her recs. All of the methods mentioned would mean that the rec writer knows the PNM or her family personally. No one has suggested she ask random sorority members for recs.

Alumnae have different degrees of comfort when it comes to rec. writing. I have known women who felt comfortable to meet a local, but previously unknown, PNM at Starbucks for an "interview"/visit after which she felt comfortable to write a rec. for the girl. Others are happy to have skype, phone or email conversations with the PNM to get to know her better. So OP, don't give up just because you can't find a member of DEF in your neck of the woods-there are other ways to meet, and other means of communication. I think the Facebook idea might work.

Thank you all for the advice. I will definitely start looking for more alumnae right away! Does anyone know if a rec from an active at a different school would be accepted?

It depends on the Chapter in question. Each member you contact should know. By the way, I sent you a private message.

^^^ It depends on the chapter and their policy re: who can write a recommendation!

Good luck, hope you find a home!!!

MP: JINX! buy me a coke!!!!!

MaryPoppins: Have you received any of my messages yet? I obviously have no idea what I'm doing because I tried to reply three times and it is not sending.

BTW the active in question is a Theta!

Got them and responded. I would buy to a Coca-Cola anyway AzTheta!

Please come back and let us know how it all works out. LSU rush is competitive but I don't think it is as bad as some of the other SEC schools. Every chapter is great so don't listen to all the talk that you will hear. I have watched my daughter and her friends in other sororities for the past four years and I can honestly tell you that you will be happy in any of the chapters there.

LSU Bid Day question
 

Do moms ever come to LSU on Bid Day? My friend was asking as her daughter is going through this week (but she's from OOS) and I did not know but I know many moms who show up at Alabama and Ole Miss and quite a few Texas schools and are welcomed. Thanks!

Yes mothers and fathers are welcome but there are plenty of patents who don't come so she should be fine either way. And honestly not much for families other than watching them run to the houses and maybe a quick reception at the house. After that they always take the pledges simewhere else for a little party. An alums house is usually where they go. I don't think I would have gone if I was out of state.

I'm looking forward to LSU updates because I have a rec girl going through. This is my first non-UGA rec so I'm eager to keep up with her progress.

Well my friend and her hubby are LSU alums and have family nearby. Plus he has his own plane. So getting there is very doable for them. She just did not want to do anything wrong and had heard moms don't go. BUT she is eager to be there for a brief glimpse as long as I get the "go ahead" from my experts on greekchat. She is not Greek, btw. So is it a "yes"?

I would say yes, I went to my daughters bid day and helped t a few during the years. I can't speak for the others but Phi Mu always welcomed parents in the house and There were plenty walking around on the row so I am sure all the houses are the same. Let us know where she pledged. I am dying to hear anything about it this year. My daughter is an alum now and I don't know any local girls who are there.

Tootie, I have 6 rec girls going through recruitment this year...including the one you wrote me about. I'm happy to share them with you!

UhDeeGee, I asked my friend about her but she hadn't talked to her mother. She promised me she would today!!!! You might have wrote a rec for the daughter of the principal of the school she works at, sound familiar?

Could someone please post the LSU rush schedule....or is it almost over?

Today is Pref from 5-845. Tomorrow is bid day. Bids are distributed at 4.

Yes! She emailed me and I sent her through our local alumnae Panhellenic. She submitted her packets after the deadline, but I think she will still be covered with recs for all the houses.

LSU Quota?
 

Anyone know what they set it at?

My LSU rec girl went Delta Zeta!!! Super cute bid day pictures that I will post when not on my phone.

I visited LSU during recruitment. Very impressed with all of the sororities, they are excited about Alpha Phi's recolonization! Looked at the list of women withdrawing from the process, and if they sign up for interviews with Alpha Phi, Alpha Phi will be off to a great start! Such beautiful, involved young women. LSU does not have an upperclass quota, so I think that lots of these sophomores will be looking to pledge this new colony.
I have heard 99 for quota, know that Phi Mu matched 100.