Random Invite from a Sorority
 

Hey all,

I just recieved a random message today from one of the sororities on campus inviting me over tomorrow night to watch the baseball game. Is this a Rush invitation? If so, how does this kind of thing work?

Thanks, a newb

that's my guess. do you know if this group does cob? you could ask one of the girls or call your greek life office

Yup, their website says they do continuous open recruitment. Not quite sure exactly what that means, though.

That kind of happened to me after rush, too. I was dropped by all sororities during rush, and DZ was the group I wanted more than anything. The day after Bid Day, I received an email inviting me to Movie Night with the DZs. It turned out to be a COB invitation, too. I was ecstatic, and I went to the event. Two days later, I received my bid. I would've gotten it earlier, but they hadn't been able to get in touch with me!

If you're at all interested in the group, I suggest that you just reply to the email by asking some kind of question (like where you should meet them or something) to show your interest and to let them know you'll be attending. Chances are, if they know you want to come, they'll be looking for you, or they may even send someone to pick you up so you won't feel uncomfortable showing up by yourself. Good luck. :)

why would a group cut you during rush and then invite you to their cob event?

Sometimes they just didn't get a chance to know you during first round before they had to make cuts. A lot of good women can slip through the cracks that way.

This happens all the time. Groups have to cut down to a certain point using release figures and girls who didn't get "rushed" by a good rusher (sister) didn't get spoken FOR (as opposed to against) get cut. These are often amazing PNMs who did slip through the cracks!

Good luck. We hope you enjoy the experience in a much more relaxed atmosphere.

Denise

Not to get into what goes on behind closed doors during recruitment, but I second what Denise said. At least in our organization, most people were cut because they lacked anyone speaking FOR them, not because people actually spoke AGAINST them.

Many times our small Spring class was even better than our Fall formal rush class - more substance, less flash - they were great girls who had slipped between the cracks during the 2-week, 16-sorority insanity of formal rush.

I have to agree with the last two posts as well. I think many who are released just didn't meet enough women at the parties or the rusher was the greatest. The greek system I came from was only 5 houses so it wasn't so hard on the PNM, but still hectic for the houses. I have always had the personal opinion that almost nobody should get dropped and ALMOST every woman should receive a bid. There were always so many amazing women going through! There are always a few that were a little odd, but that's for a different thread ;)

Because I was incredibly shy during rush. One of the sisters really liked me and went out on a limb to give me an invitation to COB. I was much more talkative there, and I received my bid. When chapters are under total, they are able to do things like that. I'm always the girl in our chapter who advocates second chances for the quiet girls. I wish all chapters felt the same way.

It does happen especially on my campus. Alot of times, you can only invite so many girls back during formal recruitment. Some of the girl s that get cut, aren't girls you HATE, you just couldn't invite them back.

Random note: One of my sisters is a Phi Sig!:)

cob stands for continous open bidding. it is also known as cor or continous open recruitment.what that means is that there is no formal time line in which the sorority is holding recruitment events.

the sorority may have one or two open spots or more.this can be due to many factors including members graduating, members dropping out of school, members not being to afford the dues, etc.

the sorority is not at total. total is the maximum number of members each sorority on campus is allowed to have. that number is the same for every sorority. the only time that a sorority may go over total is during formal recruitment, when pledging quota(the maximum number of new members a sorority can extend a bid to during formal recruitment-quota is set at some point during formal recruitment and is basically the number of potential new members that attended parties on a certain day divided by the number of sororities on campus.)would put them over the number that is total.

give it a chance. as others have said, cob parties are way, way more relaxed than formal recruitment, and you will really get to see the sorority on a more realistic basis. have fun!!

Just got back from the event! The girls are so nice and it seems to be a pretty cool house. I also just got another invite for an event tomorrow! I guess we'll just see what happens.

Personally LisAlly, I think COB events are the way to go in general for a low pressure environment in which to get to know a sorority. I just joined AXO through a fall COB party (we have deferred rush) and the events were a blast. A huge part of why I dropped out of formal recruitment is b/c I was so tired and stressed that I felt like I really came across as insincere when rushing the houses. Nobody would ever describe me as fake in everyday life, but I just couldn't deal with the notion that I would get picked up by a sorority and I hadn't been "myself" and end up somewhere that I didn't fit! When I went to the COB events, I was really relaxed and I had an amazing time getting to mix with everyone in a totally casual setting. My face didn't hurt from smiling like it did during formal and everyone was so real and they didn't necessarily have their "game faces" on like most houses did during formal.

I know a lot of girls thrive on the craziness of formal rush so don't get discouraged from going through it in the future, but I personally went nuts!!! I'm so glad the sisters encouraged me to go to COB events in the fall even after I dropped out of spring rush. If you're a laid back kind of girl I think you'll really appreciate the environment of a COB party. Please give it a shot!!! :)

Oh and just as an aside, hi everyone! I'm Emily and I've been lurking around the boards for awhile (they're so entertaining) and I look forward to getting to know everyone. Okay I'm done hijacking the post. :)

Lol I'm sorry LisAlly... I guess I posted just a few minutes too late for you to get my rambling advice. I'm glad you had fun and I hope you have a great time at the upcoming events! :)