Rec. Question?
 

I'll be going through recrutment in Jan. Several people have offered to write rec. for me and I've supplied them with photos, resumes etc. How do I know they've followed through and that the sororities have received my information?

I suppose you wouldn't unless you knew a member of the chapter who might be able to check. At least in Georgia, it would be frowned at if you called the chapter.

I agree w/ Carnation, you really have no way to know that they have followed through but I doubt that anyone would agree to write you a rec and get all your info and then not do it. Usually, in my experience, people will tell you upfront if they don't want to write a rec. I guess it's trust on both sides though, because if they don't know you well they are trusting all the info you gave them and you are trusting that that will do what they told you they would.

Thanks, I'm pretty new to all of this. If I were going to school here in the south, it wouldn't be a problem to ask a friend to double check for me. In fact I've known pnm who have been called by college friends to remind them to get recs in.

However, I'm going to the midwest and don't really know anyone. In fact, I was told that recs weren't really necessary which would be unheard of at UGA, Auburn etc.

What you could do, since you've supplied them with info, is call them or send a thank you card that says "Dear so and so, thank you so much for writing me a rec for your sorority, I really appreciate it and am looking forward to meeting your sisters at State U during rush this year!" It's a nice thank you if they did it and a little prod if they haven't yet.

Maybe you call the people who are writing the recs, and say something like "I just wanted to make sure you had everything you needed to write my recommendation/reference." or something similar.

My guess is that would serve as an opportunity for those who have finished and mailed them to tell you so, and as a gentle reminder for those who haven't yet.

It probably depends on how well you know each person. . .

good luck!

Re: Rec. Question?
 

If I was writing a rec. for January Recruitment -- I wouldn't send it in July.

I'm with GP on this one. Neither would hurt your chances or your pride!

I never followed up my recs. In fact, I never even asked anyone for recommendations. They asked me. Different alumnae that I knew through my parents and from church and school knew that I would be rushing and they began asking for my resume, transcript, and pictures in April of my senior year in high school. (I wasn't worried about having a rec for every group, but now looking back on my positive rush experience, I know that I had recs secure for all of the chapters on my campus). So considering my experience, I thought it was very strange that on GC there were PNMs asking for recommendations.

Like TCUdg, friends and friends of friends have offered to write recs. for me. Although I wouldn't have a problem asking someone who might not be aware I was interested in rush.

As for writing recs. now for delayed rush, I was told by several alum., that they still needed to go ahead and write them to meet national deadlines. Our local panhellenic alum group also required all info. submitted by the end of June for both early and delayed recruitment.

Thanks for the advice!

I went to a midwestern school with deferred recruitment (January Recruitment Period). I guarantee you that the majority of our recs for girls came in November. If you are going to a midwestern school with deferred recruitment (ala U of Indiana or Northwestern) where sororities have houses it may be okay to send things early since the recs will go to individual houses and people are there to pick up the mail.
If you are going to a smaller midwestern school without houses DO NOT send recs now. Sororities without houses usually have mailboxes in a Greek Life Office or Student Affairs Office. Since it's summer, people don't check those boxes often and there is a chance that something could get lost--even if someone is picking up the mail. You are much better off sending things when school has started.
On that same note, it gets a chapter a few weeks to get back in the swing of things--especially if that chapter does Fall COB (informal rush)--they'll be crazy enough getting ready for that. The best time to start sending things is mid-October/early November when a chapter is running smoothly, COB is most likely over, and girls are in full swing thinking about Formal Rush. Do not wait too long however--remember that most of December will be spent preparing and studying for finals and it's harder for girls to concentrate on 'all things Rush' at that time. If you send it too late, it may not get a proper reading.
Hope this all helps. I know a lot about a fair number of midwestern schools (as I'm originally from Chicago and went to school in the Midwest)...if you have a school specific question, feel free to PM me--I'll be happy to help if I can.

ETA: It's okay to send things into a local Panhellenic now so they can get you recs--just make sure that they don't send their recs to your school too early.