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My recruitment story
Alright, so I've been on here for awhile lurking around. Since now my recruitment is over I've decided to go ahead and post my story! If you feel the need to guess what school I go to keep it to yourself or PM me. I haven't decided if I feel comfortable releasing that information yet.
The code names are going to be bath and body works scents (since I work there) & it's something fairly neutral Alright so let’s get started! It's August of 2006, I'm arriving at my school anxious and nervous about the upcoming year! One thing I'm dead set on is going through formal recruitment. I can remember going to the sorority fair, which is where my story will begin. I walk into the sorority fair and each sorority has a table, and girls standing around each table. I had talked a few friends into coming with me and we walked together table to table. Here is what I can (vaguely) remember from the fair: Warm Vanilla Sugar- This table just has a simple poster with some pictures and only a few girls standing around. They all seemed fairly friendly. Compared to the other tables the turnout of this table and the presentation were lacking. Mango Mandarin- Lots of girls at this table, not only do they have a poster board, they have trophies, albums, shirts and other stuff decorating the table. The girls seemed really friendly & down to earth! I really liked them! Moonlit Path- There were a few girls at this table, I don't remember paying too much attention to it, and it wasn't anything spectacular. The girls seemed normal, I did notice that there was a smaller turnout at this table like at warm vanilla sugar. Coconut Lime Verbena- I really liked this tables decorations, the philanthropy sounded like something I could really get into, I spent a fair amount of time at this table. At one time I was a little put off and left with a semi- bad impression because one of the girls I talked to seemed to be very superficial & came off a little air headed. Exotic Coconut- This is one of the houses I had done some research on before getting to school. They had a nice display, a good turnout, and pretty nice girls. I feel like I kind of got the brush off at this table. Like I wasn't good enough. I left a little disappointed. Sensual Amber- The other house I had looked at before coming to school. Another awesome display, great turnouts of girls, the girls were friendly and we talked for quite some time. I left liking them. So that was the fair. Official recruitment hadn't begun- but I had an idea of what the houses were about & I was really excited for recruitment to begin!! |
coconut lime verbena is my fave:)
good luck! |
aww you don't have my 2 favorite scents on here (warm candy apple or pearberry*which i know is retired:(*)
anyways, i'm pulling for sensual amber :) |
Go Moonlit Path!!!
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I used to work at BBW when I was in college! This was when Express was still part of the Limited Brands (they sold Express like a year ago), so the cross-brand discount was extra sweet. I always liked working there around the holidays and Mothers' Day, when it's really busy. Working there, you develop a lot of favorites. I'm going to cheer for Mango Mandarin!
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So as recruitment begins we have a meeting with the recruitment counselors. Then it's philanthropy round. The way this is done, at least where I go every sorority has a room or area in one of the buildings on campus, and then we went room to room and were required to stop in every room. I can't remember the exact order I went to the rooms in but I can remember fairly well how my time was spent in all the rooms.
Warm Vanilla Sugar- The girls in here seemed nice; I had heard some negative things about this house around campus. I remember the girl who was showing me around really seemed excited, maybe a little too excited; it came off to me like they were trying really hard. I spent a fair amount of time in this room, because the girl who was talking to me wouldn't let me go. Each time I would try and make a statement to indicate I was leaving she would have something else to tell me, or someone new to introduce me to. I didn't want to be rude, but I didn’t completely love my time in this room & it got worse as I was prohibited from leaving. I think I finally said that I really had to go and left. Moonlit Path- At this house I was seated with a girl whom I liked very much, she was very pretty and we had a lot in common, however looking around I could see that she was the exception. I remember noticing that there were very few girls in this house, one moonlit path girl had two or three PNM's to talk to. I was just talking with the one girl. I remember we were doing a craft and my paint pen thing spit out a lot of ink, and I tried to hide it, luckily moonlit path didn't notice, I was embarrassed by that! I didn't spend much time here, and I wasn't so sure I liked these girls as much as some of the others. Coconut Lime Verbena- Going into this room I had mixed feelings. The girls were pretty and very nice, but I had been a little turned of by the one girl who I talked to at the fair. I wanted to give them a fair chance though because in a house of say 100 girls, there is always that 1 girl who maybe you don't click with. The girls I talked to (and there were several) seemed to have a lot in common with me. I got the impression that these girls were very athletic. I had a fun time here but didn't spend a long time. Overall I left not completely sold on this house, but not disappointed either. Mango Mandarin- I spent a lot of time in this room. I loved the girls I was introduced to, I felt really comfortable with each girl, I enjoyed every minute here. It seemed like I fit in, I didn't have to "be someone else". I'll never forget the girl who I spent most of my time talking to reminded me so much of my cousin. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I liked this house so much. I enjoyed talking with them and left really really liking this sorority! Sensual Amber- I had a nice time here, they were till one of my top choices, but I don't remember anything really standing out. I left liking them just as much as I did when I came in. Exotic Coconut- This was the final room I visited on this day, I had a good time, and we played this game that was pretty easy. The girl showing me around made me feel comfortable. We had a lot in common, I was enjoying my time here, I remember thinking I wouldn't mind being an Exotic Coconut. Since this was the last house I wanted to have some more time with them, so I came back the second day of philanthropy round to take a little more time to get an idea of the girls. My second visit was not as nice as the first. I remember wishing the girl who had been showing me around the first time was showing me around again. I got the vibe like this second girl didn't think I was exotic coconut material. I left disappointed! |
when will you find out about your invitations? no matter when, i hope that you are invited back to your favorite ones.
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Okay, so it's the first day of house tours. I will be visiting two houses Exotic Coconut, Warm Vanilla Sugar & Sensual Amber. We were told house tours would be from 12-3 or whenever the times were, my roommate and I assumed that the house tours were like the philanthropy round where you came and went when you pleased. So we decided to take some extra time getting ready. Needless to say, at 12:05 when we were both still getting ready we got a call from the recruitment counselors & we had to be there 5 minutes ago... What a great way to start the day... not! So needless to say I was flustered & not looking my greatest because I was 1/2 ready.
We get there and we are standing around outside, I guess they were waiting on one more girl. As we boarded the busses I was nervous & excited! The first house I visited was Exotic Coconut- This house is very pretty from the outside I had high expectations for the inside! It was decorated very nice on the first floor. It was museum-ish; I didn't think I would feel comfortable sitting in the sitting room. I remember the upstairs & bedrooms not being as nice, I remember seeing cracks in the walls that had been covered with paint instead of filled & covered. & I remember seeing paint drips that had dried. I don't know why I noticed these things-- I suppose because my family had just gotten done remodeling our house & I had to help paint. But anyways aside from the physical house the girl that was showing me around was very nice. We sat down to talk and immediately another girl came and they switched. This second girl, honestly I don’t remember much of what she and I talked about, mainly because it was pointless. I remember her asking about my purse, talking about where we were from (towns very near each other), and basically her talking about shopping. (Which I love, but during recruitment when she's supposed to be getting to know me? I don't love it so much then) I remember being mystified by her She had just about the most orange skin I had ever seen, the most platinum blonde hair and the pinkest lipstick I had ever seen. When I looked around, she was the minority; most of the other girls were a more natural skin color, with more natural hair and makeup. I left disappointed, and pretty sure that I wouldn't want to be a member of this sorority. I was okay with it too; I didn't think it was a good match. Next was Sensual Amber- After my disappointing time at Exotic Coconut I was feeling kind of iffy when I got to Sensual Amber. I fell in love with the house, it was just the right mix of comfortable but cute. The girl showing me around was great, she answered all my questions and we really seemed to hit it off. I was very excited about this house I really liked the girls, we seemed to have a lot in common, the house itself was gorgeous. Sensual Amber I was confident would be high on my list. The final house I visited for the day was Warm Vanilla Sugar- I was surprised at the house. It looked just like a normal house. Nothing like the previous two I had visited. I wondered how they would have the girl stay in this house. The girl that gave me the tour, I will NEVER forget her. She was super sweet, and very enthusiastic. I liked the house it was pretty nice, the one downside was the majority of bedrooms were in the basement, with no windows. I knew that was something my mom wouldn't like. (For some reason she has this thing about basements as bedrooms) The girl took me to her room to talk; I remember we sat on her bed. Surprisingly we had a nice conversation & quite a bit in common. I could tell that she really liked me. I remember thinking she was nice, and when I left I thought that this was a nice house, but just not for me. So at the close of house day one, I had learned many things. Most importantly that the house rounds were not come and go as you please I was excited for day two because one of my favorite houses was that day!! |
not sure if anyone is even interested-- I just wanted to say I will post an update tomorrow evening, things have been busy & I haven't had time to type out the second round of house visits yet but I am planning on it!
Sorry for the delay! |
I'm interested!
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Me too!! I love your descriptions!
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Round two of house visits!
So today I was on time & ready!! Feeling much much better & excited! First house of the day was Coconut Lime Verbena the house was surprising to me; the interior was much nicer than I thought looking at the exterior. I enjoyed seeing the house and I had a great time talking with the girls after the tour. We were talking about sports, what I had played in HS and I found out these girls were very athletic, involved in intramurals and stuff! My impression of Coconut Lime Verbena changed completely after the house visit. I went from being "iffy" about this house to liking it! I left liking them, but I kept in mind the prior experiences I had had at this house. Second house of the day was Mango Mandarin I was very excited to see this house, as I really had enjoyed myself with them during the prior rounds. During the tour I loved the house; I noticed the chairs in the kitchen were the same as the chairs from home! I felt comfortable and at ease with the girls I talked to. When we were chatting I had a moment where I felt like I could be here, I remember thinking "this is it!" But I didn't say anything to the girl who I was talking with. At one point a new girl came in and I was introduced to her, she said to me "oh there is another blueink from the same town as you" I was like are you serious? Then I realized they were talking about another girl we'll call her "greenpen (our names are very different)" from my hometown that I had met, but we didn't go to school together. I kind of just shrugged it off and we continued to talk & I was excited & really liked this house. I left hoping they had liked me as much as I liked them. Last house of the day & of the round Moonlit Path we all waited outside while the girls called us one by one inside. I was met by a girl who obviously knew me, but I didn't recognize. We got to talking and I realized that she was someone I had facebooked when I knew I was going to be attending University. I had facebooked the room I was going to live in and she happened to be living there that year (the year before I started attending) we had briefly talked on facebook and I remembered then that she had said she was a moonlit path. She showed me around the house which from the exterior was a lot like warm vanilla sugar's it just looked like a normal house. I remember there were two big bedrooms in the basement that were for sleeping 4 or 5 girls and thinking that was weird compared to the other houses that had only 2 or 3 to a room. I had a nice time, but it wasn't my favorite. |
Ranking
Ranking was a tough process for me, I decided I didn't feel at home in Warm Vanilla Sugar or in Moonlit Path so I put them at the end. The order didn't matter I was completely ruling them out. The toughest decision for me was to put Coconut Lime Verbena 3rd, or 4th. I ended up putting them third, I was almost positive I wouldn't be going back to Exotic Coconut so why put them 3rd right? I ended up ranking them like: How I ranked them: Mango Mandrin Sensual Amber Coconut Lime Verbena Exotic Coconut Moonlit Path Warm Vanilla Sugar |
Yay Blueink! Hope everything's going well.
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I understand your mother's concern about basement bedrooms. Most of the time they do not pass code because they are usually unsafe. (Do they have windows? Is there easy escape access?). Just a question that you might need to ask.
But, good luck and enjoy the rest of your rush! |
So it's Pref. rounds. I get to the building where we are getting our assignments for where to go. I wore this really pretty black dress, and I was really excited. My recruitment counselor was calling each person aside and talking with them about what houses they were invited back to. I was nervous, but more excited. I was confident I was getting asked back to some of my favorites! Every girl could only attend two parties today.
My R.C called me over and flipped open her book, looked at the names and looked at me, then she opened her book and I saw that I had been invited back to . . . Warm Vanilla Sugar & Moonlit path I was SHOCKED. My R.C kept asking if I was okay, I managed to keep a straight face and say yeah it was fine, while secretly inside I was devastated these were the two I ruled out yesterday, my last two. All the other four didn't want me or didn't like me. I somehow managed to say that I would make the best of it and maybe something special would happen during pref. rounds. I think my R.C was glad I didn't start crying or anything. So I put my best foot forward and got in line for the bus to Moonlit path. Many girls on the bus were disappointed to be going back to moonlit path; some complained that they had gotten asked back to mango mandarin and moonlit path, I wanted to tell them I would gladly trade! So I got to Moonlit path Once again we waited outside and were called in one by one, this time the girl who took me around I didn't know, later she introduced herself as the vice president. Which was neat, we talked for awhile, they gave us cookies and a mocktail, then there was a ceremony. I just kept thinking how this wasn't right for me; I felt out of place, I didn't think that it was it for me. Then we went to Warm Vanilla Sugar the same girl from the house party talked to me again today, and then she introduced me to her "kid" who was really nice. Honestly to this day I still feel really bad about this party. The girls talking to me were all so nice, but I was really uncomfortable, I was sitting on this chair, and the girl was like kneeling at my feet, which was just awkward. I remember getting these strawberries with Hershey chocolate sauce drizzled over them. and this girl was talking to me, I just couldn't concentrate on what she was saying, I kept asking myself what was wrong with me, why didn't the houses I like not like me? What did I do wrong? Over and over in my head that’s all I could think about. During the ceremony/singing thing they did I started crying, not even like I was touched crying, the emotions were overwhelming and I was just feeling terrible. I think I managed to hide it pretty well and hopefully no one noticed. I left knowing this was not the house for me. My next update will probably throw everyone for a loop, and trust me you will probably be surprised! It’s not over yet! I'll update again a little later tonight. |
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WHAT A TEASE! ;) I am going to have to check my computer every 5 minutes now to see what develops. :D |
please do it tonight. I'm bored and want my fix.
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alright alright I'm going to give an update, but don't get too excited it's not quite over yet.
Everyone walks into the union to rank the 1 and 2 choices. My RC and I talk for awhile... well really I guess I more cried. This is never how I (or really I think how anyone) dreams rush will turn out. She called over some other girl who was like in charge of rush, and I guess on hand for girls like me who clearly were having a tough time. They encouraged me that it wasn't about what house I was in, it was about being Greek. So eventually after about an hour I went to the room where we were going to list the 1 and 2 choices. I'm standing in line waiting and waiting, and I can't do it. I can't wait in line to rank my number one choice and number two choice when I wasn't in love with them. So I left. No first choice, no second choice, I guess this would be dropping out? I'm not sure but I just walked out. If I thought today was hard, man tomorrow (bid day) was even worse. I woke up feeling okay, got dressed and went downstairs to go to my classes and get on with my life. There are suddenly girls everywhere wearing the bid day shirt for the sorority they were in. Those rushing find out where they got a bid in the afternoon, so these were just actives. Everywhere I turned someone was wearing a shirt, they were EVERYWHERE. No escaping it. My day was going terrible, not only was I still beating myself up about why I didn't get any of my top 4 choices, but it was just like rubbing salt in my wound seeing the girls everywhere. I saw my RC on the bus and just avoided her like she was the plague. So I got back to my room and was feeling really shitty. Then my phone rings and it's the director of Greek Life. I'm freaking out, like oh no I'm in trouble for not ranking 1 and 2, thinking of all the things that I could be in trouble for, why was this guy calling me! So he explains how he knows I didn't rank but Moonlit path wants to offer me a bid still, and if I want to accept to come to bid day like any other student and I could have it. So I sit down and think about what to do - - - |
You're killin' me smalls!:D
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OMG, please don't let us wait any longer. I'm dying over here.
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You are not playing fair, BlueInk
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Well I mean I really did have to think about it!!!
So I decide to just go for it, and I go to bid day and partake in all of the activities with Moonlit Path I meet my pledge class, we go back to the house and hang out outside have some munchies, etc. Basically just get to know the girls better. Fast forward about 3 weeks. I've been going along doing my thing with Moonlit Path and things just aren't clicking like I was hoping, and like the R.C's said they were. I had nothing in common with my pledge class mates, nothing in common with the girls. It was just awkward and it just obviously wasn't the right house for me. I made the decision to de-pledge which wasn't easy, I felt bad these were nice girls, but it just wasn't the house for me. So after depledging and doing all of that glorious stuff, I go on with life. . . . . ( it almost seems unfair to give such a HUGE decision such a short post, but I don't know what else to say. Moonlit path isn't a bad house, and the girls are nice girls, but I don't know how to explain my feelings exactly, it's just one of those things I think you know. ) |
no more for tonight but I promise I'll try and give at least one more update by Monday morning... =)
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Blueink...I'm glad you gave it a chance. Recruitment can be really difficult on PNMs to really get an idea of what a chapter is about. You gave it a shot, I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. I guess it just proves that your first impressions were correct for you.
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So this was all a year and a half ago during fall recruitment 2006??? don't leave us hanging!
sorry though that Moonlit Path didn't work out for you.... |
Okay so yes I depledged Moonlit path. Like I said it was a hard choice, but not one that I've regretted. Sure it was weird to watch my other friends get initiated into moonlit path, and other sororities they were in, but like I said I just moved on, there is plenty enough to do here without being Greek.
I continued to talk up going Greek to my girl friends from my floor. When spring rolled around I had been invited to a couple of "interest parties" and I went with my friends. (don't worry I knew I couldn't get a bid because I was bound to moonlit path) so we just went to check things out, really more I was going for them to show them what it was all about! And also for me to see if my feelings were the same for the houses I had liked. Really my friends and I only made it to two of the parties, Sensual Amber and Mango Mandarin. (Informal recruitment at my school is just when the houses have parties and see who's interested so it's completely different than formal.) So we go to Sensual Amber they show us around the house again, it looks like one room has been redecorated, and that is actually the room we ended up talking. The girl that was talking to me was really nice and down to earth, but I made it really clear about Moonlit path, and that I was there for my friends. We were just kind of hanging out having a nice time. My friends both had a really nice time at the house. The next day they both got calls asking them if they wanted bids. They asked for some time to think about it, as they had some other houses they wanted to see. To my surprise I also got a call, which was weird- I explained about Moonlit path, and boy it sucked to have to explain that when this had been one of my top two choices!! I asked them to keep me in mind for fall though! We also went to Mango MandarinI had an excellent time here too, my friends seemed to enjoy themselves, I actually had two different friends with me at this house, one was a legacy to Mango Mandarin, and the other was just interested. Once again I made it really clear about not being able to accept a bid, and the next day I got another call. (Which once again sucked to turn down a bid to one of my top two choices!) So that was sad/weird to have to turn down both bids when they were my top two! I was just like why couldn't they have offered me bids in the FALL!!! Ahhh! (In hindsight I think it was because of my H.S. grades) but I doubt I'll ever really know! As for my friends: the two that went with me to Sensual Amber ended up going Coconut Lime Verbena, the two that went with me to Mango Mandarin, neither of them joined a sorority. Slight sidetrack: I ended up applying for an RA position which was something I had really wanted to do and Moonlit path had told me I had no chances of doing, so I applied, and got an Alternate Position for the 2007-2008 year. My mom was bummed about it, but I was happy in my mind it was perfect. I would be an alternate, not get the RA job for fall 07, rush again, be successful, and then magically for the spring semester 08 I would get the RA job and everything would fall into place... This is what I did know though, the experiences from the Interest parties really helped to boost my confidence & get me SOO excited for fall 2007. . . |
AHH!! Then what happened? I am so hooked to this story. It has to win some award for most cliff hangers.
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could it be that because the opportunity to join a sorority had to be tabled until the fall, that you were more relaxed and yourself when you took your friends to the informal events? you know, the pressures off, kind of thing?
no matter what, i can't wait to learn more! |
Okay so you have heard all about my 2006-2007 experience. All summer I was anticipating fall rush. I couldn't wait to get started! But I'm sure no one will be surprised when I say that I have another bump in my path towards rushing.
One week before school starts I'm baking some sugar cookies & my cell phone rings. I didn't recognize the number; the area code is from by my school though. I hesitate to answer, but eventually I do. Then I was offered an RA position for the 07-08 year. This was shocking news and unexpected to say the least. I was excited though, packed up my stuff and headed down to school to be an RA. The year starts off well & I see the signs go up for fall recruitment. I go talk to my boss to make sure that it's okay if I rush. This is when he tells me that I can't do it. I was mad/angry/sad/disappointed. I had been waiting for what felt like forever. There was no way to convince him otherwise so I was unable to go through formal recruitment. He said that since I was a first year RA I was going to be very busy and stressed out, especially around homecoming and basically that was his reasoning for why I couldn't do it. As the semester neared an end I talked to him about spring informal, he started giving me the runaround, not saying yes or no. Over break I got to thinking what was important to me and whatnot. I decided that rushing was something that I really wanted to try again & I knew I would regret it if I didn't. When we got back from break I went to the supervisor of my building (and my supervisors supervisor) she didn't say yes, but she didn't say no. She told me to go to the interest parties that interested me and then we would talk about it. I had made up my mind that I liked Sensual Amber & Mango Mandarin I planned to attend both parties, and also maybe Warm Vanilla Sugar. After the past year I had more time to get a look at the girls in each of these houses, what they were about, where I felt comfortable etc. Going into the interest parties, it kind of worked out perfectly Sensual Amber who was my first choice had the first interest party, and then later in the week Mango Mandarin & Warm Vanilla Sugar had parties. And now I've got class - I will update within 24 hours I promise!! |
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I've heard other stories about Resident Life forbidding RAs from going through recruitment and I've always wondered if they can actually do that. In theory, aren't RAs picked based on their maturity and such--basically, why would it matter if you're going through Recruitment so long as your work as an RA isn't suffering? Sorry, I'm having a hard time expressing myself here. That Res Life could do this always seemed ridiculous to me. PS, great story! hurry back & update! |
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can't wait to hear what happens next! |
I think more than being anti-Greek, it's the same concept as sports team coaches not allowing their athletes to rush - that they won't have time for the job at hand (the sport or being an RA) if they go Greek and particularly if they're pledging. It sounds kind of stupid, but if they apply it to everyone, there's really nothing you can do about it.
However, if someone told me I couldn't, I would double and triple check the contract I had signed as an RA to make sure it was actually written down. |
My brother was an RA and we had an RA in our chapter. No one discouraged it. At our school it was not anti-Greek. They did stress that you had to balance your commitments.
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We had a whole bunch of chapter sisters serve as RAs while I was in school and we helped out at many dorm move-in days. It was a great way to meet the freshmen/sophomores (fresh meat!) and actively promote Alpha Gam. My sisters' Resident Directors still didn't like us for some reason. The RDs always gave the girls a hard time whenever they requested time off/switching schedules so that they could attend mandatory sorority events. And this is all despite giving fair advanced notice. :mad: I still don't understand why anyone would even want to be an RA to begin with. :rolleyes: |
We also had an RA in our chapter. And I don't believe there was ever an issue with it. I think they would be happy that you would want to be even more involved in campus life and take that experience and apply it to helping other students in your building.
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We currently have 6 RA's in our chapter, including our President. We also have two more girls in the spring RA class trying to be hired. It has never been a problem for us and our school allows it.
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There wasn't a specific rule against it at my school either, but it wasn't exactly celebrated either. My sorority accepted RA's or potential RA's with the understanding that both sides would work together to accommodate one another. From what I gathered of the other chapters, they "frowned" upon RA's... take what you will from that statement...
The RA's that were lucky enough to have an RHD that was cool with being greek, there weren't problems, but like other's reported, if the RHD wasn't ok with being greek, there were considerable problems, and I had a few girls, one being my one of my littles, resign from their position due to this major conflict. |
In my chapter we have 2 or 3 maybe even more that are RA's!!!!!!!! :) So I say if she can handle both do both!!!!
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