anyone know anything about Indiana's informal recruitment?
 

I dropped before 8 party for a couple of reasons, the first and most important being that I felt no connection with any of the girls that rushed me. I was so upset that I dropped rush Saturday. Now, I regret my decision completely. My whole family was a part of the Greek community here and growing up I saw how devoted they were to their sorority/fraternity and I knew that I wanted to do it. But when my turn to get involved came around, it didn't end up going as well. Last night, listening to all the girls scream, watching them line up to get on the buses, was torture.

I still want to be a part of a sorority.

So my question is, how does informal recruitment work? Is there even a chance of getting a bid if the only people you know are members of the new PC? And should I rush next year if things don't work out?

You need to talk with the Greek Adviser to determine if any groups will be eligible for COR (continuous open recruitment) this spring. If not, some may be able to take upperclassmen in the fall. But only the GA can tell you that for sure. I don't know how it works at IU but you usually let the GA know you are interested in COR and she/he advises any groups participating that you are available.

My guess would be that the only chapters who might do informal would be houses that you *cough* "felt no connection with."

Out of 8 houses you only felt a connection at 1? Sounds like a personal problem.

Isn't "didn't feel a connection" code for "They weren't popular enough"?

With the situation laid out by the OP, yes, it has pretty much been shown to be that. There have been some people who believably said they didn't feel a connection with a popular house, but they are usually people who got bids to another group.

do we know the totals for each house? id love to hear!

Please put me in my place.... because I know I'm out of line... but I have to say something....

But I find it childish and a waste of time that people come and ask about COB after they dropped rush...

I am NOT in a sorority, but I stumbled upon this site and use it for its useful information, i.e. STICKIES! I have yet to go through formal recruitment, but I have used all the information this great website provides about Rec's, contacting Alumnae Association, What to ask, what to talk about, and what not to do. I have learned from the simple Recruiment stories I hear.

That being said, I find it very hard to believe that a PNM going through recruitment at a school like Indiana, didn't just stumble upon this site after she dropped recruitment. I'd put money on it that she may have been like me, lurking with out creating a user name, or making a user name, but researching before posting. (something I learned eventually). So WHY would you do something, DROP OUT OF RECRUITMENT, that almost every thread about recruitment advises against? Especially when its a school with a tough recruitment like Indiana. So why? After having such good, basic information available to you, why would some one drop out? And the do the whole, "I regret it" , "I shouldn't have listened to tent talk" thing.
Its a waste of time. If a person goes through recruitment, and thinks they know everything, or at least enough to know that the last EIGHT houses she had, didn't provide a "connection", then she should be smart enough to find out about the slim chance of Informal all by herself. If it meant enough to her, she would have stuck with it.

Alright... I'll go back into hiding until I go through recruitment...

LOL love this!

sisterhood1- Ok so you made a mistake and didnt give the chapters you had left the fair chance they deserved..COB will be damn near impossible right now but definitely go for it if spots open up. Keep an open mind and go to all events..if this is truly something you want, you will follow our advice.

when does informal usually start?

In general, COB or informal can start as soon as right after recruitment ends, though I can't speak for the general situation at IU. However, I do recall a few GCer's receiving informal bids last year. I believe one was Hoosierxgirl, and she's been known to give informed advice.

That said, I simply cannot understand why a woman who wanted to be in her sorority her entire life would drop out of IU recruitment (despite the fact that I think everyone pretty much unanimously advises against that). Recruitment is a few weeks, sisterhood is a lifetime. Instant "connections" (I too call bullshit on that) can occur, but often times they are something that must be cultivated outside recruitment. You had nothing to lose by continuing the process...what if that chapter you felt no "connection" to surprised you at their preference or on bid day? I don't need to give examples because it happens all the time...read the recruitment stories subforum.

That said, informal recruitment is great for many girls who don't thrive in the world of formal rush where personality is key and shyer girls can get overlooked. At IU, however, informal is not the most viable option.

I dont want to beat a dead horse but you knew that there were no obligations before Preference round. why would you drop before that?

If you had 8 houses to choose from, then you were better off than a lot of girls. IU doesnt have 8 struggling chapters, so that means you rejected houses a lot of women would have wanted to be a part of.


If you were hoping to get into a "top" house, the bad news is that you probably dropped from rush too early to get a snap bid, and thats even if the so-called "elite" chapters were short of quota.

a few houses might be participating in informal, but like someone said earlier, they're most likely the houses that you didnt want to be a part of.

This year, the house that historically struggled to get members pulled one of the largest pledge classes on campus (they should share their secret), so that should give you a hint about how good rush went for most chapters this years.

Your best bet is to talk to your Rho Gamma and register on the Panhel website ASAP. You may get lucky with informal if you're able to keep an open mind this time.

And there is always the option of rushing as a sophomore if things dont work out.

do the chapters who might have a few open spots hold informal recruitment in the fall for upperclassmen?

So if you get into a house via informal recruitment, are you like looked down upon or anything?? Do you still do everything the same as you would if you were to get in through formal recruitment?