University of South Carolina Recruitment 2013
 

My daughter has two friends going through Recruitment at USC. I'm curious if anyone has experience with their Recruitment process. It sounds much more laid back than most SEC schools.

My daughter is currently going through the process at USC. Today is the 2nd half of Round 1. While it is a little more laid back than most other SEC schools, it is still a very competitive process. This year there were 1583 girls registered----the most ever---for recruitment at USC. There are 11 houses; Alpha Gamma Delta is the newest chapter and is participating in formal recruitment for the first time. Phi Mu has a newer chapter as well (est. in 2009 I believe) as well as Gamma Phi Beta. (I am mentioning real names of the groups only for information!!!)

The recruitment period is longer than most schools, which I'm thinking so far, is a good thing. They'll break for the weekend while the other on-campus students move in on Saturday, then have Convocation on Sunday. Second round is Monday & Tuesday, third round on Wednesday. Classes begin on Thursday. Prefs are on Saturday and Bid Day Sunday. USC also promotes a big welcome week schedule from this Saturday until classes begin. I like this because the girls are not just consumed with recruitment as at some schools and there is a halt to activities for, of all things, classes!!!

Pledge classes for last year were around 111. Pretty big groups.

They have strict requirements for the girls as well....specifically no running around partying in the evening and in particular at frat houses. An infraction will result in being removed from recruitment. Now, I'm not that naive to believe that all 1500 will follow that rule, but in theory love the thought behind it.

I too would like to hear from any others out there who have had experience with the process at USC.

I saw some of your posts on the UGA thread....my oldest daughter is now a senior there and, while she would have LOVED the opportunity to have been a part of greek life, unfortunately she was released after 3rd round. She did go through her sophmore year and once again, was released. So despite being Dean's list first term, President's List second, all the other accolades, etc., met/hung out with sorority girls, etc. to make additional friends and have advocates on the other side, it just wasn't meant to be. I say this because UGA, despite having 17 sororities, has one of the most competitive recruitments systems out there....no idea the number that came through this year but know their pledge groups have been in the 70's since I was there from 76-80.

Hi,
My daughter called earlier today during lunch. She said it has been POURING down rain all day and she felt so bad for the PNM's. They were sitting on the porch eating their lunch rather than on the grass. Some of the houses don't have big porches so I really feel sorry for them! It is also rather chilly in Columbia today which is very unusual in August! Hopefully by Sunday the weather will clear.

I do believe that USC does have a more laid back rush, and luckily they started this year a week earlier than usual, before classes start. Other than the terrible weather, my daughter said that it is going great so far. As BeachMom mentioned, close to 1600 girls registered this year!!

I have a Gamecock, who is a senior. For the second year she is on her recruitment team. Trust me when I tell you, they having been putting in long hours processing Recs. I agree this years schedule is better. Last year there was a week between 3rd round and Pref. When my daughter went through, they did all 10 ( at that time) houses in one day. Columbia's nickname is Famously Hot, so some rain and cooler temperature would be a bonus. Any Gamecock PNMs out there? Good luck to you!

My out of state God daughter is a senior and pledged her freshman year. She was well prepared, had recs for each house and was told by me and her greek mother that nothing was a given. She had a great recruitment with a couple of (very typical) ouchies, and happily pledged her mother's legacy org. She has had a great time. Her recruitment story is posted somewhere. I would say it is a competitive situation and a great greek system.

Good luck to your daughter BeachMom and to PearlGirl13 friends!! I finished Carolina in a previous life (ha) and am familiar with the campus/recruitment. It is a competitive recruitment and grades are very important, but if they keep that open mind and put their best foot forward they should be able to find their place. Carolina has a very strong greek system and something to offer everyone. Let us know how things turn out and hope they are having fun!!

Yes
 

Yes, they have put in countless hours and such hard work! The recruitment teams are incredible, and hats off to them for working so tirelessly to make recruitment such a great experience for all of the girls coming through! As far as my laid back comment, I meant that to mean that it is more spread out over time, which makes it a little easier on the girls. It is competitive, and I agree that grades are extremely important and an open mind is a must! I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes for everyone!

My cousin is a junior at USC and says that the PNM pool this year is absolutely amazing... and yes, 1,600-ish. Quota is going to be insane!!! It's so great to see another thriving Greek system.

Our next door neighbor girl is a PNM at USC right now. I offered to write a rec for her and unfortunately like many girls around here, she did not take me up on my offer. She is a great girl and I'm really hoping for a positive outcome for her. I am a bit worried, however, since I don't believe she had any recs sent in. It's so hard to get it through some of these girls heads how important they are.

regarding the whole laid back thing....
So far, as a mom of a PNM at USC, I am thrilled to see a SEC school (because we are so over the top...I mean look at Alabama with 2000+ PNM's [still rushees in my book and we called it rush becaused we all rushed through it!!!]), spread the process out. Having one DD go through the process at UGA and numerous friends with their DD's at most of the other big SEC schools, this is a welcomed process. Of course, check with me next week and I may feel differently.......

Though I really do believe that the USC slower Recruitment schedule is healthier for the girls, I am sure that dragging it out for ten days would have been awful for me as a Mom! That said, I think the USC schedule makes much more sense as they allow the girls to settle in with classes in the midst of all the recruitment hoopla.

In my UGA daughter's flurry of texts last Sunday after Prefs and the day before Bid Day AND the first day of classes she told me that she felt like she was the only person on her floor who remembered that they were all starting college the next day. STRESS...!

I had two rec girls at South Carolina last year, both OSS -- one from the south and one from the north. Both had successful recruitments, love their houses and are on the other side of rush this year, as well as living in their houses. I have one rec girl there this year and can't wait to hear her results! One of my girls from last year told me that the thing she loves so much about USC Greek Life is how supportive they all are of each other's philanthropy events. She feels like there is good unity among Greeks.

All the best to your rec girls!

Gamecocks begin the first day of round 2 today! Currently it is pouring down rain again, but hopefully will clear up by 2 pm when parties start. In response to the discussion about the benefits of a spread out recruitment, I think it's wonderful for the PNMs but beyond draining for the actives. Many chapters have practices on the days without parties. At least from my perspective, this makes it really hard for us to do the things we need to do to prepare for classes and settle in. When I went through I definitely appreciated the break, though the week in between round 3 and preference was pretty nerve wracking! I much prefer the way we're doing it this year. Recruitment began a few days before the official move in. Wish us all luck today!

DD has been invited back to 7 houses. She sounds wonderful despite not receiving an invite from her top 3....the 4th one she liked a lot and the girls were very nice and she felt welcomed, but did feel it wasn't the best fit. Laughed over her comment on that house: "It was the most beautiful home I saw; I'd feel like I'd need to take my shoes off to go in!" Also loved how she said she quoted me to another girl when receiving their list today..."Don't think about what you don't have; think about the opportunities with what you've got!" So...on to Leadership Day today and tomorrow. Hoping that they've escaped the rain!!

I have a rec girl (and dear friend's daughter) going through at USC and am anxious to know how she's doing. I'll be keeping up this week - like I did for my own DD at Alabama last week - and hope all the girls have as much fun and as happy an outcome as she did.