HELP- rec letters and purple hair?!
 

Hi y'all!

So, I'm new on this website, but I plan on attending UF in the fall as a freshman and want to rush, however I'm a first generation college student and really know nothing about the process. After doing some research, I've discovered that letters of recommendation seem to be fairly important, especially here in the south. My problem is that I don't know ANYONE who has been in a sorority, and therefore won't have even one. So basically, do you think that this will completely kill my chances during recruitment?

Also, I had planned on dying my hair lavender in about a month (I've had this kind of hair before, but it's completely faded and I'm back to blonde), should I refrain from doing this? Will the sororities look down on me for it?

Thank you guys so much!!

There are suggestions threads in the recruitment forum about getting recs -- you probably know members you didn't even realize, like teachers!

I would avoid the purple hair, until after recruitment. :) One of my alumnae sisters -- who is in her 60's, always has her hair dyed pink, purple, or magenta. And a few of my daughter's sorority sisters like to do this, too. I just wouldn't do it during recruitment at an SEC school, where people will probably be more conservative during recruitment.

Well,you'll have to get the recs for Florida or you might as well not bother going thru. Unless you live in a tiny town 100 miles from nearest city and no one in your town has ever gone to college, I doubt seriously that you don't know anyone in a sorority. So, the first thing you need to do is make a list of all the sororities at Florida (get that from the web site). Next make a list of every woman you know (no matter her age) who may have gone to college. Include teachers, coaches, employers,neighbors, parents' friends, parents'employers, etc. Then start asking if they were in a sorority. When you find one, ask if she knows anyone in any of the other groups. Greek women know other Greek women. And just keep on networking. You might also check to see if there is an alumnae Panhellenic in your city or alumnae groups of the chapters at UF.

Next, don't dye your hair.

Thanks guys!
Okay so I definitely won't be dying my hair lavender, but for the letters of recommendation situation, I've only moved to my small town in Florida recently, and the like one adult female that I have met here (my history teacher last semester) wasn't in a sorority. So, I don't know how, but I'll have to just try and figure something out.

Could you elaborate on this? If I manage to find one, what exactly am I supposed to do, because obviously these would be women I don't know and who don't know me?
I'm sorry if this seems dumb, but as much as I'm trying to educate myself on everything recruitment related, its all very overwhelming.

Google the Alumnae Panhellenic in your town or the nearest town. they will have information on recruitment and getting recs in your area.

ETA: Sometimes the information will be clear on their website. Or you can email them and ask them.

Most alumnae PHs have a session for girls going to college and have away for you to register for recommendations. And check with your previous hometown folks! You are thinking way too narrow....

And they don't have to be alumnae of UF. They only need to be alumnae of the sorority
in question, no matter where they went to school.

Prepare a "rec packet" to give to any alumna who agrees to write a recommendation for you. Include a social resume with your contact information, GPA and SAT/ACT score, extracurricular activities, special honors or accomplishments, hobbies, volunteering, work experience, etc. One page should do it. Include a nice head shot and full length photo, and a copy of your transcript. Be sure to thank the member in writing after you've delivered the packet. It helps to include a large envelope with stamps, so the alumna doesn't have to foot the bill for your rec. Some PNMs address these, but I prefer it if they don't because sometimes the address that is listed on the university's website is the "cattle call" dropbox; I have access to the particular alumna's address who is the rec collector, and I can be assured of personalized attention when I use that sister's address.

Some groups are going electronic, so they may want electronic copies of your materials.

Glad you decided not to dye your hair lavender. That would not go over big at UF. It is a very traditional Greek system. I was from a small town in North Florida, but with the help of local ladies I was able to get recs to most of the sororities at FSU- and there were 18 at the time. You will need recs at UF- you have to find them somehow.


what about women from your former town? Any girls from your former town who joined sororities? Any sisters of classmates in your present town? Neighbors past or present? Former teachers? Co- workers of your parents?

As others have said, don't hesitate to ask a sorority woman you find if she knows members of other sororities. The vast majority of us are happy to help PNMs find recs to all the sororities on their campuses.

You can ask women from where you last lived if they were in sororities too. They don't have to be UF alums specifically.

Thanks for all the replies-super helpful! I've definitely been thinking too small- time to broaden my horizons a bit!

This was awesome, thank you! So recs are sent by the recommender?
Also, I managed to get in touch with a woman who used to work with my dad, and she says she's willing to write me one, but hasn't been involved with her sorority at all since she left college (which was in the 70s). Would she still be able to write me a recommendation?

The rec writer sends it in.

If she is in good standing with her sorority, she can write you one. Doesn't matter if she has been active as an alumna.

1) Include information as to whether or not your parents are members of a Greek organization. Some sororities would like to have that information. 2) You may meet the person for coffee or someplace to talk if you don't know each other. 3) Remember to send a thank you note to the person who is taking their time to write the recommendation for you. 4) Please let the writer know if you joined a sorority, which one or if you did not join. They took the time to help you, you can take the time to let them know if their efforts were worth while. Members from my local alumnae chapter resist writing recommendations for women they don't know as their time is treated as if it is unimportant to the PNM and no one drops a note as to the results.

DaffyKD

FYI--try not to give out any other identifying information about yourself on here. Even at a big school, people can figure out who you are. You'd be surprised. :(

Do you have any friends who plan to go through recruitment either at UF or at other schools? I realize that you are in a unique situation yourself being a first generation college student, but maybe talking to other classmates/friends who will be going through the process will be helpful. They might be able to connect you with people who can help. And I also recommend getting in touch with your local alumnae panhellenic. Mine is always happy to try to help local girls with recommendations. The sorority alumnae will know the process for submitting the recommendation on your behalf. Don't send anything to the sororities yourself. You give the alumnae whatever information they need, and they will submit the recommendations.

Good luck!

Use social media, especially Facebook, to your advantage.

"I am thrilled to be attending UF this fall and have decided to participate in Sorority Recruitment. I understand that I need to have a letter of recommendation to each of the 17 sororities on campus. If anyone has any leads on sorority alumnae* who would be willing to write for me please let me know."

Include a recent photo of you in perhaps some Gator gear where you look polished and happy. Facebook has an algorithm in determining what shows up on feeds and photos seem to help posts get to more people. Plus more people "like" and comment on photos, which also registers with the algorithm. FB interprets those as "important" posts and makes sure that more people see what you have posted.

Set your privacy setting to friends of friends so that your parents can share the post to their walls if they are on Facebook. They know more adults after all! That helps cast a much wider net.

If you need help figuring out how to do a sorority resume for your rec packet use google to help you. There are some good examples on the net. They will be slightly different than a business resume.

Good luck! You are starting at the right time.


*note proper spelling of alumnae. You haven't misspelled it here, but just a heads up since many girls do misspell it.

Thank you to everyone who has replied on this thread, you've all been insanely helpful!!

and connecting through Facebook seems to be a big key, so I'll definitely be doing that- much thanks!!

The teachers at your old school, mothers of friends from your previous town, etc. You might be surprised how many alumnae you might find if you put it out there that you are considering recruitment.

Yes, good idea. Also, now is a good time to scrub your social media profiles clean. If you have any photos of you doing anything foolish or inappropriate, you won't want to have that up there the same day you ask for recs.

Chiming in to mention that ComradesTrue's very well written statement is also useful IF YOU HAVE THE OPTION of putting it in the church bulletin. Yes, I'm assuming you have a church affiliation (synagogue, temple, sangha, what have you). No need to say if you do or don't. Just getting you to think broadly, cast a very wide net.

Good decision on forgoing any hair changes.

Excited for you and hope you have a positive recruitment experience.

Ask the men you know too. Teachers, coaches, church people, friends of your father. Men frequently marry sorority women, lol. Once you start reaching out, you will find a) people are typically glad to help and b) you know more people than you think you do.

I secured recs for my Ohio God daughter for South Carolina and although her mother and I are both Greek, it was surprising where some of them were found...one led to another, to another. Also, purchase a box of thank you cards. Send them out lavishly when people help.

Super-Secret Pro tip: Facebook will show it to more people if you post it to IG and share it to FB, rather than posting it directly to FB.

Hold off on the lavender hair until after recruitment/initiation. If you still want to do it after that, you can. It's only a few months. Recruitment is a little like a job interview. You don't want to do anything with your hair or your clothes that might strike someone as too different.

Interesting to know. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Admin to 2 chapter related FB pages who refuses to pay to have my posts "boosted."