An Army Wives Recruitment
 

Hey everyone!
I've been waiting to have the opportunity to write a story for someone going through recruitment and now I have my chance!!! The school is not going to a secret for most of you on here and because of that, I don't want to reveal anything related to my Rec Girl.
There are 17 sororities that Tanya (name changed) will be visiting:
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Xi Delta
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Delta Zeta
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Phi Mu
Pi Beta Phi
Sigma Kappa
Zeta Tau Alpha

Since I love Army Wives, this story will be with names of characters from the series. In no particular order the chapters will be known as:

Denise
Claudia Joy
Roxy
Pamela
Roland
Col Joan
Col Frank
Gen Michael
LT Trevor
MSgt Chase
Gloria
Hector
Jackie
Holly
Jeremy
Emmalin
Amanda


Stay tuned for the first day!:D

Whoop whoop!

Love recruitment stories with Alpha Xi. :D

Yes!!!!

Round 1 - Day 1
 

Going in to recruitment, Tanya was beyond excited! All she wanted to do was find her home; regardless of letters, colors, looks, mascot, etc.
I really think she was going in with an open mind and trying not to listen to any 'tent talk' that may have been going on.


On this first day, Tanya went to 10 houses.

Gen. Michael: Really pretty and really nice girls. Talked to three girls total and it just felt, "ok." It was somewhat awkward with the first and third girl. The conversation with the second girl was a lot easier. Tanya got the impression it was their first time on that side of recruitment so she wasn't too concerned with the awkwardness.

Col Joan: LOVED. Very nice girls, very easy to talk to, and really outgoing. They all seemed so personable with an amazing sisterhood. Tanya felt like she could bond with them.

Pamela: Tanya didn't have too much to say about this group. She felt that they were really nice but the entire visit felt awkward because of a lot of lull's in the conversations. She said it was also hard to understand what they were talking about when the conversation was on-going because it was so loud.

Jeremy: Really hard to hear in this house too, so the conversation was "ok." Again, she felt the conversation was somewhat awkward.

LT Trevor: Conversations seemed to run a bit dry but she felt a lot better about this house than a few others. All girls she talked to were really nice.

Claudia Joy: Super sweet girls, lots of energy and super easy to talk to. One of the favorites of the day!

Emmalin: Kind of liked this house but is unsure. Tanya only talked to one girl the entire visit, and after a while they ran out of things to talk about. She felt like the rusher forgot things they had already talked about which made it a little awkward for her (Tanya).

Roland: LOVED! The conversations flowed easily and everyone she met was incredibly nice. She talked to two girls most of the time, and also had the President stop by who complimented her on her dress and said she looked beautiful. Tanya felt they were really sweet and she felt like she was talking to a friend. Favorite of the day "by far" (her words).

Col Frank: These girls were really fun and easy to talk to. Tanya felt that they were genuine in that, they seemed legitimately interested in what she had to say. Super cute group of girls.

Denise: Last house of the day so even though it was easy to talk to the girls, the conversations got a little light. Tanya said she felt like it was easy to bond with the girls and that they seemed to have a really great sisterhood.


Overall, Tanya wouldn't mind being invited back to any of these houses. She has a few that she was madly in love with but knows that not everyone gets full lists for round two. She really does want to find the best home for herself, and not want anyone else wants.
She is excited to see what that second day of Round 1 has in store, and to see who invites her back!

I can't wait to hear about her second day of Round 1 and to post it for you all along with her rankings!

Carnation, do you have any more daughters that will be going through recruitment? I want you to get that Pi Phi and hope you don't have to wait for grand-daughters! =)

Round 1 - Day 2!
 

Tanya just got back to me after finishing the second day of Round 1!
She is tired but in high spirits!! We were talking about how crazy it must be to try and keep all the houses straight & she confirmed that if it wasn't for taking notes she would have no idea which house was which.
I can't imagine what that would be like!:confused:

On to the houses!

Due to being so tired, Tanya forgot to include one of the houses she visited yesterday... Amanda! Energy was high at this house. The conversations were good and the house was overall a "super sweet bunch of girls."


Holly: A great house to start the day, with really easy conversations. There was a lot of energy from all the sisters. However, it wasn't one of her favorite houses because she didn't click with them as well as with some of the other houses, but she wouldn't mind being invited back.

Roxy: Good conversations; it felt easy to talk to them. Everyone seemed very welcoming, and the last girl Tanya spoke with carried a lot of the conversation which was great. They seemed genuine.

MSgt Chase: Just like the other houses, the girls were nice but there was nothing really special about this house. Didn't connect to anyone in particular.

Hector: Talked to two girls the entire visit and loved them! Very easy going and appears to have a strong sisterhood.

Gloria: Talked to 5 girls! The last girl Tanya spoke to was kind of hard to hear which made things awkward; you know, the whole "wait, what?" kind of moments! LoL Overall, really easy to talk to and carry conversations, and sweet girls.

Jackie: Nothing really stood out about this house. The conversations didn't have too much luster. This house was better than some and worse than others.


At the end of the day, this is how Tanya ranked all 17 houses.

1. Gen. Michael
1. Col Joan
1. Jeremy
1. Claudia Joy
1. Roland
1. Col Frank
1. Denise
1. Amanda
1. Roxy
1. MSgt Chase
1. Hector
1. Gloria
2. Jackie
3. Holly
4. Emmalin
5. LT Trevor
6. Pamela

When do they get their invitations?

Tomorrow morning I believe =)

Thanks for the story! Best of luck to Tanya!

I love Army Wives, too! (I just started watching it on Netflix.) Good luck to Tanya!

I don't know the chapters yet, but Tanya was invited back to only three houses.

She is bummed of course but I keep reminding her that it only takes one!
There are so many women going through recruitment and each house can only take so many, but as you all know ... PNM's can't truly comprehend that in the moment. It's all feelings of "what is wrong with me?"

I'm sending positive thoughts through the Greek Gods and hoping she pulls out with a new home at the end of this week!

I've known girls to whom that happened and they kept all 3 houses through prefs; they were never cut after that. It worked out for them because they ended up getting their first choice of the 3!

Thanks, Carnation.
I sent you a PM =)

I sent one back! :)

I hope "Tonya" is strong enough to realize that three invitations is no indication of her character. I know it's hard to get back just a few when others around you are getting back full schedules, so my heart goes out to her.

Round 2 - Day 1
 

As mentioned earlier, Tanya received three houses back for Philanthropy Round.
Going in to it, she knew was going to have less houses than the 12 max because her Pi Chi texted her to let her know that her parties wouldn't start until 10:30am.

Once she received her list, she was sad and confused of course.
Out of the three, only one had been in her top list; yes, she was interested in going back to all the houses but the number that she received was what hurt the most.

Tanya would be visiting Gen Michael, Holly, and LT Trevor.

I did my best to console Tanya while reminding her that it only takes one. Anyone who ends up with a bid only gets one house, one sisterhood, one set of letters. While she knew all this, she expressed that the hardest part was having all the girls in her Pi Chi group being so excited for their full schedules (or, almost full) while she had to explain that she only had three.
Trying to convince a PNM not to listen to all of that is not easy, but I'm hoping I had somewhat of a positive impact.


Gen Michael was up first. Going in to this round, this had been her favorite house. She did her best to put on her happy face despite having received her list probably 20min beforehand. She had one sister "rush" her and Tanya felt that she didn't have much interest. This is because the sister asked her the same question and showed her the same picture (related to the question) twice. I think this may have made her feel worse about the whole situation :confused:


The second house immediately after was Holly. Tanya enjoyed this house and became very emotional. When first describing the party to me, she wasn't sure if it was because she was still upset from her small invite list or because of the philanthropy; after her story, I'm pretty sure it was the latter. The philanthropy "hit home" as Tanya put it because it is one that she has personal experience with related to her family. After hearing one of the Holly's share her own experience, Tanya began to cry. In fact, she used the word "bawling." Tanya said she really felt like she bonded with her rusher who comforted her & took her to the bathroom so she could freshen up. I definitely think she left this house feeling better about it than she did in Round 1.


A few hours passed and Tanya was on to LT Trevor. Their philanthropy is one that Tanya feels she could really support and be interested in. She had a lot of fun with the girls whom she talked with, especially the first LT Trevor to rush her. The second was a little more awkward for lack of a better term, but she enjoyed all of them and had fun.



While Round 2 goes through today, Tanya was able to proceed with ranking due to completing her house visits on the first day.
With only three houses, she did not have to list anyone "at the bottom." She kept them in the order she visited, as her three #1's.
Gen Michael
Holly
LT Trevor


Tomorrow morning we'll find out if Tanya was invited back to all or some of these houses for Skit Day.

Keep your fingers crossed that Tanya doesn't receive a call tonight or tomorrow morning!!!

Keeping my fingers crossed!

EVERYONE gets cut to two or three by Pref Night. You only get to go to 2 or 3 Pref parties. Sometimes the Sorting Hat takes a long time to figure out where you go, and sometimes it knows as soon as it is placed on your head.

Released
 

Tanya was released from recruitment this morning.

I wish I could give her a hug; she was so excited going in to recruitment with no pre-conceived notions about each house... she just wanted to find a home! I'm proud of her for keeping her head up throughout the process and trying her best to get to know the women in each house she visited.

Being a sophomore transfer is not easy at a school with a recruitment like this one. She has talked to a few other upperclassmen that were also released (and heard the number was high) making her feel better on the one hand that she wasn't the only one but also making her wish upperclassmen were "looked at more," for lack of a better phrase.

I'm urging her to register for COB/COR in the event that one or more of the houses takes part. I don't want this to be the end of the road for her but I'm confident that IF it is, she will still enjoy her time here. How can you not at a big school???

Thank you for rooting for Tanya & being sources with words of encouragement, as well as advice for myself!

It's really a shame that the upperclassmen quotas aren't a little more inclusive. I understand from a fiscal perspective, they want 4 good years out of a member, but if someone is otherwise the full package, why wouldn't you appreciate the time you have with them?

Ah well. I'm sorry for Tanya, and I hope she'll find a group that serves as her family of creation for college and beyond!

Aw, poor thing. I hate that for her. I hope she'll remain open to COB.

I hope she goes through COB. :) Please update if she does.

In 11 years as an advisor at UCLA (plus many more in ATL), I don't know of a single woman who joined (my chapter) as a upperclassman then deactivated. But boy, do I know many who joined as a freshman, then quit in 1-2 years. I wish more chapters would realize that upperclass PNMs definitely want to be involved in Greek life and contribute to a sorority. They should take as many as they deem worthy of membership in the UC quota, or put a UC quota in place if their Panhellenic doesn't have one.

Totally agree.

I am sorry for Tanya.

What ChioLu said times a zillion. I'm so sorry for your PNM, alphagam808, and I will think positive that COR (or whatever it's called) will result in a bid for her.

Damn.

I think this mindset needs to come from the top down (i.e. international headquarters) and the focus needs to be on retention rather than making quota/total at recruitment.

Auburn does not have an upperclass quota.

Ditto to ChioLu said. I joined as a junior transfer and was mega involved. I knew what I was getting into and had the maturity to deal with petty crap. I hope more chapters realize this. Flaky 18 year olds are not always the best sisters.

Having been one of these, I know exactly what Jolene means. I was a much better member as an upperclassman, and as much as I love my GLO, I sometimes think I should have waited until I was more mature to go through recruitment.

My best wishes to Tanya for a wonderful college experience, and I'm really sorry she was released (crossing my fingers for her for COB/COR).

Oh, that sucks. Poor thing.

Awww.....I am so sad for her. My daughter went through recruitment as a sophomore transfer at a competitive school and was also cut heavily in the beginning. She did keep 2 through preference and got her top pick of the two for bid day, but I remember oh so well the disappointment at getting 4 invites, when many others got 11 after the first round of cuts. She has a friend on the inside at the one, and I think it truly made a difference - even though all the chapters are very large.

I hope COB will work in her favor.....and that she finds other great ways to be involved in her school.

3 of my daughters very best friends (and she moved clear across the county only knowing a few girls from sports at her school), are girls she met in the dorms who are not part of the greek system or her sport.