Phi Retro Recruitment
 

Okay Im new to greek chat. I went though rush at Oregon State in 1997 and loved every minite of my time in the sorority.

I grew up in Southern California and now live back in California :). I was ready to move back. I followed my best friend to school out of state. At the time we had recruitment before school started. I had been on swim teams for as many years as I could and was walking onto Oregon State's swim team. I had another friend from a rival high school that went on to swim there.

At the time in 1997 these were the sororities

Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Phi
Alpha Gamma Delta
Chi Omega
Delta Gamma
Delta Delta Delta
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Pi Beta Phi
Sigma Kappa

There were 12 sororities and 4 rounds of recruitment over four days.

Here are the code names

Beaver
Panda
Kangaroo
Monkey
Lion
White Tiger
Wild Cat
Horse
Cheetah
Squireel
Dolphin
Bear

I hope you all enjoy my story as I tell it.

Although I enjoy reading all the recruitment threads, I especially like the ones that have Alpha Gam chapters involved.

(Even better when I know that the poster actually went Alpha Gam ;) )

What? No penguin? snap, alright monkey and beaver it is. ;)

oh u want a happy feet penguin. sorry. I did not think about them when i was randomlly naming them.

We meet with our Rho Chi’s and we were assigned groups based on our last names and we meet our rho chi’s . I feel that I am out by saying rho chi's when they were recruitment counslor. They were so nice they gave us each a candy necklace My mom and my two older sisters were both greek but I thought I wouldn’t fit in with a house I defeinitly would not off at there aluma matter. I had references at most of the houses by the time I left for college.

The first house Iwent to was Bear This house was off sorority row. I was introduced to this women Rory who was totally this gourgous brunette and we had this amazing conversation with her and felt like I connected. I thought before I went into rush this was the blonde house but my preconceptions were wrong. Then I talked to two other girls who were cool but not as cool as her but I managed to have good conversations with them. Then I talked to some girl whom was from that area and also played sports and we ended up talking about all the interrmural championships that this house had one. I was surprised by the signing as we left this house.

Then I went to White tiger.. I had wanted to go see this house because my best friend whom was a year older then me Jordan was a member of this house. Then I talked to this girl Jessica whom I totally loved and played on their softball team. We then talked about both being from out of state and the love we have for the outdoors and my experience. They were also signing it was so cute. Then Jordan came up to me on the way out and said she was excited to see me. I was super impressed by this.

Then I went to Horse.I talked to this girl Katie whom I had meet a couple days ago when I was talking to the girl whom was on the swim team. I thought this was someone whom I could be friends with. We ended up just talking about our competions and state. We had a totally amazing coverstation and we found out we went to rival high schools and grew up one town apart from each other. They showed me how much they loved their house. I was also intrroduced to two other girls.

Then I went to Kangaroo. I really wanted to like this house because this my mom’s house when she went to school at a different university. I meet this girl Kaylene whom seemed to be this nerd from Idaho. I thought anyone from there was bad but slowly as we talked we started talking about something everyone was surprised I liked. I thought I would be lost without the surfing and she had done that. She wanted me to teach her which I though was cool. Later on I had a class with her that semester and we became friends.

Then I went to dolphin.My best friend had told me that they were stuck up before rush. I went in with ideas that were not true and luckily they changed as soon as i got itno the house. I talked to this girl Elle totally loved her she was hyper just like me. I just found her intriguing and this was the best converstation of the day. She told me of all the activities that she was in and I just was like wow someone has time for all of that. She had my major which I ended up changing. We ended up talking about kids. I felt so connected to her. I did not want to leave this house when the 15 minites were up.

Then I went to beaver.I had heard this was the top house. I talked with Jennie. She was mellow and I wanted someone that was excited. I could tell that she loved her sisters but she was a senior and wanted me to get the right impression. But then I meet Claire and we hit it off when we were talking concert and movies that we had gone too. It just felt more natural. All the girls were so skinny in this house. I wondered if I would fit in but I was going to give it a chance.

Then I went to Panda I talked with Ness there.I was getting tired. But she threw a pillow at me and that made me laugh. The girls were rowdy and full of energy it was so much fun. I loved Ness she seemed like a girl that I could see myself. I thought she was full of energy which I loved. I totally loved this house. She was from the big city and I thought that I connected with her.

Then I went to Cheetah. I talked to Crystal. She seemed disinterested but this was my sister house at her school and she told me to go with my heart. I felt disinterested because other houses were so much better then this. This was definitely a house I didn’t think I belonged at. I was glad to leave.

Then I went to Lion. I had heard this house took a lot of girls during informal recruitnment and my roommate in t he dorms joined this house that way. I loved this house from the minite I went into it. The girl Kelsie seemed to be just like me and really ausome girl. We had this fantastic conversation. I felt like I could be myself here> I wanted to go back

Then I went to squirrel. I was so excited to see this house. Then I got paird with Asheligh. Gosh I loved here I ended up seeing here a lot later on. We could talk about anything and everything and some of the hardest questions I got in round one. These girls just reminded me of me so much. I felt so ausome it didn’t matter to much that I wasn’t from Oregon anymore intill me and Ashleigh began talking about beaches my favorite place is the water and when I swam with a dolphin the summer before at Sea World.

Then I went to Monkey.I then talked to Cassie and just felt like I never really connected with her. It was like the end of the day but I don’t think that mattered as much.I felt as I had to push the conversation. I tried to give it a chance but I finally realized that it was not me. I didn’t feel like I could fit in there.

Finally I went to the last house of the day wildcat. This house ended up leaving campus I believe my sophomore year and I talked to Anne whom was nice. The girls were all super nice. The conversation felt good.

I ranked the house as

Squirrel
Bear
White Tiger
Dolphin
Lion
Beavers
Horse
Cheetah
Kangaroo
Wild Cat
Panda
Monkey

I was definitly ready for the day to be over...seeing all 12 houses was quite amazing and tons of information to take in and definitly some I felt better with.

i think that it is neat that you clicked with so many of the chapters. i can't wait to hear more!

Okay Im not sure anybody is reading this or even enjoying it but I guess I will contine. The cuts didnt make me mad this round as they did in the next two rounds.

I was elimanted from ALpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Chi Omega and Pi Beta Phi. I was excited to have 8 or 9 possible invites back. This made me feel really good like I was on cloud 9. This was house tour day so I was excited because we were required to live in the house as a sophomore and junior.

The first house that I went to was dolphin. I meet with this women Sarah. She showed me a six person room called the zoo because it could have the most women live in it. Then they made their theme a mountain and they did a country dance and singing to it later. Sarah was a pre pharmacy major and I wasnt sure that I would fit in being an education major but then the girl Elle I talked to came up and said hi and oh we talked again and I found out she was a psychology major. I was thinking that this house had diversity. It was something that I wanted from a house and not to have everyone be the same.

Then I went to squireel. I thought this would be my house after round 1. Then I was paired with Allie and them signing to Grease was totally ausome especially with all the seniors in this skit. It was so cute. But insted of grease it was Squireel. I found this so adorable. All the houses were set up to have themes of grease and pieces of candies and water in the rooms. And When I was going on the tour with Sarah I ran into Ashleigh from round 1 and she said She was glad to see me back and Allie seemed just as ausome as her. She was down to earth and this is a house I could totally see myself in.

Then I went to Panda This was a house that I was not excited to be going back to. I had decided to give it a chance. I talked with Leila whom I had a better feeling about then the girl that I did in the first round. The house was so cute and done in a boutique like a place that we would want to buy. They did some cute shopping skit and it was id rather be shopping with Panda's. Oh it made me laugh. I had such a great time. I walked away totally amazed by this hosue. It had changed my opinon on the house. It made it move up.

Then I went t horse. I meet a girl Noelle whom was in the band and the total opposite of me. AN engineering major. But I kept reminding myself that Katie, whom later became a good friend of mine, was lots of diversity. I just felt like their was no connection here and I wanted to love this house. Was I trying to hard for the girl that i thought was amazing? They did a fashion show of how the horses dress it was cute. I just could not quite picture myself in this house. Was I doing something wrong?

Then i went to white tiger. I was rushed by my best friend from home Jordan. I was kinda disappointed that I did not get to meet anyone else but someone whom I was friends with. I knew she had this beach them that i felt connected to. I knew she wanted me to join white tiger. She talked about how great it was especially all the work over the summer. The theme reminded me I was back home but hey i was in Oregon now.

Then I went to Bear. I was paird with Courtney here. So was so excited to show me the house where all the rooms were about different places to visit. It was fun. I thought that was cool! Then we went to see a skit in Oregon and Black showing their spirit for OSU. I was excited to see this house

Then I went to beavers I was excited to go back and I got there the presidents wife had come by dinner a few nights before and found out a lot of girls were education majros like what I had planned to be when I first went to college. They did a Saturday Night live mock. It was so funny. I liked Elisabeth and I felt connected to her but as much as some others. We had an okay conversation but not totally great.

Then I went to Kangaroo I was excited to go back to this house. They had a cute Tiffany's theme house all blue tiffany. It was so adorable. I meet this girl Brynn whom was a cheerleader with lots of energy. I was totally exhausted by the time I got to Kangaroo. But I loved the excitment all t he girls had for Kangaroo.

At the end of the day I reanked them

Panda
Kangaroo
Squireel
Bears
Dolphin
Beavers
White Tiger
Horse

I am reading, and I am intersted. Keep posting!:)

Thanks for the update - I'm enjoying reading your thread! It's interesting how Panda moved to the top of your list.

I'm enjoying your thread very much! Please Continue.....................:)

I'm pretty sure I know who Squirrel is just from some things you said, but the rest...I'm clueless! Keep going! Great job!

You said Kangaroo is your legacy chapter, but you said you were cut by your legacy chapter. What gives?

If I read this right, Cheetah is also a legacy chapter, but it doesn't sound like she was superinterested.

It still doesn't make sense because:
1. Kangaroo=mom's sorority, which she likes
2. Cheetah=sister's sorority, which she did not like
3. She said she was cut from Pi Beta Phi
4. She says Pi Beta Phi was a legacy chapter that she was interested in

But:
1. Pi Beta Phi can not be kangaroo because she returns for round 2
2. Pi Beta Phi can not be cheetah because her description in round 1 doesn't match the "I wanted to be a part of it" description of Pi Phi.

I am still confused unless there is another legacy chapter that I missed.

Okay its was round 3 also known as p hiltharonphy round ( i hoped I spelled it right) I had a full schedule of 6. I was shocked Delta Delta Delta had dropped me, I really liked them in the previous round but looking back I totally understand why. I was also dropped by ALpha CHi Omega which I was happy about but I was not happy to get invited back to white tiger. The others I was willing to give a chance. Oh I got 6 out of 6 invites back.

First I went to visit dolphin. I talked with Jessie whom was also from California and we were able to talk about living in the small town coming from orange county. It was totally unbelievable. They showed a slide show of sisterhood activities and it made me realize what a diverse chapter this was and it was something that I wanted to be a part of. Then Elle the girl I had talked to in round one came up to me and she was super sweet and the 3 of us worked on the project in the basemeant. It was fun. I was glad I went there. They are definitly one of my favorites. I started seeing myself in this house.

Then I went to white tiger. I talked to Corie and Lindsey whom I kept having to steatch the conversation and seem intrested not to hurt Jordan's feelings. I hadnt told her this was not one of the houses I felt a connection with. They had a easy fun philathrophy project. But this house seemed as the anit athlete house and one that did not want one in. It was more a geeky smart house and I was not into that at all. I just do not see myself in this house. But I later found out Jordan pushed hard for me to keep getting invites back. They had a slide show of the hous eand all kinds of fun stuff that happened during the previous year which was good.

Then I went to bear I was rushed by Caroline whom asked me about my family finances? I thought it was none of her business this was a turn off because I didnt want to be judged by my parents did. It offended me that someone would want based on what my parents do. It made me feel uncomftorable at a 2nd straight party. Then Courtney said she was happy to see me.

Then I went to Panda. I was excited to be here. Jenn rushed me here she reminded me of my older sister whom was a squirrel at her school. It made me feel a connection here. I saw a slide s how of them being silly and everything. I could see myself in this house. I did not have the best time in round 1 but I totally keep falling in love with this house more and more. WE had an ausome conversation about theatere consideing we both enjoyed going to it in high school and i was able to laugh. She was the first one whom complemented me and said that she would be seeing me in the next round whihc I later learned that you can not do.

Then i went to beavers I was paird with girl Amy whom was sweet and sincere and down to earth. I loved talking with her while we helped out their philtharophy which was something i cared about. it was a lot of fun. Then we had fun sipping lemondae and talking as the slide show went by. i was falling in love with this house but not as much as others.

Then i went to squirrel I was stocked to be invited back to this house. We had fun watching the slideshoe with Jana whom was a cheerleader and a girl whom I did not click with as much as others in the past at this house. I was thinking she thought that she was better then me. I had fun watching all the fun things they did as a chapter. I still felt like this could be my home

After the 3rd round my rankings were

Dolphin
Squireel
Beaver
Panda
Bear
White Tiger

Did you mix up kangaroo and cheetah? That sucks to be cut from a legacy chapter after round 1.

Yea I did. Oops...

I'm surprised - I thought most sororities kept legacies through the first invitational round as a courtesy.

I thought so too.

I agree, but wonder if the legacy doesn't meet the minimum g.p.a. requirement for the group -- can/should they go ahead and release her immediately (certainly with a call to mama or sis) since Panhellenic strictly limits their invite-back numbers and to give the PNM an accurate look at chapters she can realistically join?

Sorry for the giant run-on sentence!

That's a scenario I didn't think of but would make sense under the circumstances.

Side note about which I should probably start a new thread. Our Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Coordinator informed me that we were violating campus rules by notifying a member that their legacy had been released.:eek: So, now we have to wait until after bids are revealed to call alumnae. Needless to say it has caused problems.

is that considered a violation of the privacy law?

Actually, she said it violated a rule prohibiting contact between the chapter and the family of a PNM. However, my question is "may we still accept calls from alumnae who have found out from their legacy that she was released?" I feel it is extremely rude to not answer any phone calls until recruitment is over, but it also seems to be what the rules require.

Okay I had secured references to almost every chapter before I went - and I did not want to go back to one of my legacy chapters but I had family cousins, family friends, aunts, grandmoms that were in other chapters. The one my sister was still active in her chapter at a school in California. I was eliminated from Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Kappa.

Okay preferance day I got 3 invities out of a possible 3 invities. I was happy to get a full schedule because a lot of girls did not.

First I went to beavers. I was thrilled to be invited here. Even though I had ranked them 4. Before going into preference I was sure that I would not accept a bid if I was invited her, but all that changed after their party. I was paird with Callie and we hit it off and ended up having the same major and the same intrests such as swing dancing and theratre. Then a few of the seniors stood up and talked about what i meant to be a beavers. It made me cry - it was super emotional. Ive always been an emotional women. I remember I found out later the president gave an emotional talk. I was so excited. I could see myself there and I wanted to be a beaver

Then I went to dolphin. I was paired with Montana but ended up talking with Elle again. I felt like when their seniors were talking and most of them still living in the house that it was totally cool and saying how much they loved dolphin. I had an ausome talk with both of them and it made me feel like I was home at this chapter. I got goosebumps when the seniors got up and just raved and raved about all that squirrel had to offer. They even gave us cheesecake with the tinyiest pieces. Then I saw Jessie whom I had talked in round 3 and was just amazed about how much she remembered. I remember have the same intrests and feeling sad and happy when I left. I knoew i wanted this to be my home

Then I went to squirrel. I talked to Nicki. This was by far the worst conversation I had with a girl. The previous girls had all taken an intrest in me and wanted what was best for me. I thought it was just cool. I cried when the seniors talked I cried. I was not sure I could see myself in this house.

Then i went back with my rho chis and ranked them

dolphin
beavers
squirrell

I wasnt sure I would accept squirrel if i got that bad.

Yes, PLEASE start a thread about this, if you haven't yet!

?

I meant Kappa Kappa Gamma

That doesn't seem like the case. If she had a GPA issue, she probably would have gotten fewer than 8 out of 12 invites. Sure some chapter GPA requirements are a little different, but if it were low, she would have been cut more places; even if a PNM is right above the minimum, she could still be cut for grades. This is Pac 10 not SEC here! You'd think of all places to get invited back to for first round, she'd at least go to her legacy chapter, especially because she doesn't describe this legacy chapter as a particularly desirable one
(ie one that has to make a lot of first round cuts). She says she didn't have a full schedule for round 2 so that means she had to have been cut by Cheetah and not have cut them herself. I can't think of why though, unless she told the active "I don't want your chapter" point blank.

I went to a school where legacy did not really mean that much - its was more on connection but definitly not as competive as other friends of mine recruitment. I did not have gpa problems out of high school and i got invited back by a possible 8/9. We saw all 12 hours on greek day and now I know three chapters have left since i went through rush in 1997. chapters in round 1. And i pledged a top chapter at my school.

Legacy policies are set by the individual organizations not by the campus. Each organization has it's own policies on how many times legacies must be invited back, etc. I believe some orgs are prohibited from cutting legacies at all (barring academic issues,) others can from the get-go and most probably fall somewhere in the middle. Chapters typically must follow the policy set by their HQ with regards to legacies- these policies typically have little to do with the campus environment.

I don't know how this would be possible, as some orgs could fill quota AND MORE with just their legacies...

Maybe there are provisions for situations like that- that wasn't an issue that ever came up in my chapter- but I do remember hearing through the rumor mill on my campus that certain chapters had very tough times getting rid of legacies.

I doubt it this is the case at Oregon State.

My point was that I don't know for sure, but I doubt that there are any orgs that have rules against cutting a legacy for any other reason except grades. Some make it more difficult than others, but I don't think any make it impossible.

I agree, over the years on GC I've seen legacies to almost every organization getting cut. It seems to me if a chapter has a problem with not being able to release legacies it may be that the chapter isn't very strong in recruitment as a whole. The problem isn't that they can't release legacies, it's that the girls they DO like aren't returning, so the chapter ends up with the legacies they tried to release.

I seem to remember as a collegian 2 of the top chapters at my school getting "stuck" w/ a few legacies (not sisters of in-house actives either) and then basically saying stuff about it- like oh we got a great pledge class and then mentioning the legacy as a one-off- or something like that...

I just think it's hard to tell what goes on behind the scenes unless you're there. I sincerely doubt that if every member of a chapter was not thrilled with a legacy, that she would be extended a bid. Sometimes every active isn't in love with every new member, and that might be the situation with the chapters at your school.

I would agree except for the fact that I remember 2 cases at 2 separate but very socially strong chapters, where it was very obvious who the legacy in the pledge class was- it was like playing that game of "one of these things is not like the other, one of these things does not belong..."