Question About COBing
 

Hello!

So, I was unable to go through rush as a freshman or a sophomore and while I have enjoyed my time at college, I've really become interested in joining a sorority. Since recruitment is already over and I don't think my chances of rushing as a junior would be very... good. I was interested in COBing either in the Fall or Winter semester.

Although, after talking to a friend, she told me that while a few do register to COB, sororities usually do 'quiet bidding' where they will ask a friend of members in the sorority to join. In order to up my chances, she advised me to send out an e-mail to the recruitment chair of a few sororities I was interested in and let them know just that.

So, I guess I was wondering if this would be a good idea... I am really interested in joining a sorority but I feel like I would be only allowed to look in to a few sororities if I join the COb list. Whereas, if I send out an email, sororities that aren't in the list would take a look at me. What do you think about sending out an e-mail? And if I went through with it, what exactly should I write?

Thanks for your time and consideration,
Elle

Sororities that aren't on the COB list are most likely not there because they met quota and are at or above total and thus cannot accept new members through COB.

If you don't have friends in sororities now, the list is your best bet. If you do have friends in sororities talk to them.

Keep in mind that only those chapters with open spots are able to COB.

The chapters on the list are probably the only chapters taking women during COB.

If a chapter is full, your email won't matter much because they can't take any more girls.

I would definitely email all the sororities that are COB-ing.
My chapter always gets more girls from COBs than actual Recruitment. It's a lot more casual and laid back and easier to meet girls/ get to know them because there's less of them. We actually had about 3-4 juniors join through COBs the last two years I was there.

Just go for it! You don't want to have any regrets later :)

I will check out the COB list, soon. It hasn't been posted, yet. Rush was just two weeks ago.

Although, at my school, a lot of the sororities do 'quiet bidding' and don't do formal COBing due to certain reputations. That's why I was hoping maybe an e-mail would help them notice me, in case they are looking but are not doing formal COB.

And before you ask, yes, I have heard of a lot of people getting 'quiet bids'. So, this was my way to get my foot in the door instead of bugging my friends.

Thanks again!

Bugging your friends is actually the best way to find out though. They are your foot in the door whereas an email is just an anonymous message.

Bug your friends. It is far more effective.

In other words, you need to do two things here:

1) Send out an email to the sororities who have openly announced that they're doing COB and let them know you're interested. If you have friends in these groups, tell them PERSONALLY that you're interested in joining a sorority.

2) Talk to your friends who are in sororities who HAVEN'T announced that they have open spots, and let them know you're interested in joining a sorority. If there are open spots, they now know that you're a viable candidate and will pass that info on if they see fit. If they don't pass that info on, trust their decision and move on.

Contact through a person who actually knows you as a flesh and blood human is ALWAYS preferable to sending an email. If a rush chair who's never heard of you gets an email from you, and has one of her sisters come in and say "hey! my friend Gina wants to rush!" your email is going to end up in the trash file.

Joining the COB list through the Greek life office/Panhel does NOT limit your choices in any way.

But, hey Amy Alpha, now that we've caught up for a few minutes, I want you to know that I am really interested in joining a sorority and I'd love to get your advice on how to do that. Can you tell me about COB or quiet bidding? Any suggestions on who I should talk to? Does your house ever bid girls after rush? I think you probably get the point - show interest, ask questions, be open for suggestions.

I would talk with the Greek Adviser and get her/him to circulate your name to those groups who are able to COR. He/she will know exactly which groups those are.

Oh yeah, I keep forgetting. I should have specified that "friend" = someone you actually talk to about things that matter in your life, not someone that sits 3 people away from you in class that you never talk to or someone who you only interact with on Facebook.

Simply saying "how did rush go?" is a good way to lead into it. If for some reason your friend feels you are not ABC material, she'll change the subject really quickly.

This.

Okay! Thank you all so much! I guess I will just have to use my networking skills in another way... Hah. Oh, the joys of being a Business major.

Also, I know this is a little late, but I have talked to friends and have signed up for COB - so thank you for that advice, but I was just curious.. if I were to send an email out, what exactly would I put in it?

You do mean to the sororities on the official list that you got from the Greek Life office, right? The sororities who went to the Greek life office and said "hey, we need to COB to get up to quota/total, please let any interested girls know," right?

Because please please PLEASE don't send an email to anyone else. Sororities could either 1) be really offended that you thought they had to COB 2) look at you as desperate/clueless/stalkery/all of the above.

I wish I could tell you what to put in the email, but anything I say just sounds...odd. So maybe someone else can help you with that.