Recs
 

Hello everybody, I am currently a senior in high school and I've heard that many sororities prefer rushees who have recs from alumni. My problems: I don't know many alumni, nor am I a legacy. My question is, what do I need to do in order to get these? There is no local Panhellenic office that I'm aware of, and I'd like to be well prepared to rush for the sorority that I am interested in. If anybody could help me I would be so appreciative.

The way my sorority works, we do take into consideration any recommendations that the alums may have, but the most important part is the chemistry that we have with a rushee during our rush parties. True, girls with recommendations have an edge, but that's not all that matters.

We had an instance where a girl came to us with a recommendation from an alum. Her high school record was stellar and she looked like a well rounded person. When rush time came, however, she had the "I don't really want to be here" personality. She came to one round and that's it. Needless to say she didn't receive a bid. She was basically rushing as a favor to a friend of her mother's (one of our alums). I don't know what you could do to meet alumnae prior to rush, and honestly, I really wouldn't suggest that. My only suggestion would be to go through rush and be yourself. That's what we all stress during rush period. If you be yourself, the sororities will see that, and that could be the beginning of something special! Keep us posted okay?

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*I'm an Alpha Gam...Yes I am, Yes I am!*

what college will you be rushing at?

Hi Twinstars, I'll be rushing at the University of Alabama. (I've read a couple of other threads, and it looks like I'm not the only one!) http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Where are you from?

I'm from Ozark, that's only about an hour away. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I've visited TSU and it's so pretty. What part of AL are you from? About asking around, I do feel a little wierd about it because if I asked someone, would they think I was only trying to use them for a recommendation??? I don't know, I would think that people would be funny about that type of thing.

orchid2 - http://www.npcwomen.com should have a list of the recognized alumnae Panhellenics. Check it out and see what the one is nearest to you. (Plan-ahead commendation for you for checking this out while you still have a semester to go!) Good Luck!

hey Orchid- In my chapter, recommendations are very important. I didn't know that before I went through Rush, but thankfully I was able to get a rec for each sorority. My advice is to try and get as many as possible, because they can only help you. Some sororities won't give rushees a bid without a rec from an alum, whether they love her or not. It's just their decision, and every sorority is different. So just ask around and find out if your teachers and family friends were in sororities, I bet you'll be happy to find out that some of them were and you just didn't know! Good Luck, I'm sure everything will work out for the best. Keep me posted on how everything is going! By the way are you from Alabama, if so what part? I'm from Alabama also and I attend Troy State Unniversity. Bye!

orchid2- Alot of my sorority sisters, including my little sister, are from Ozark. I'm sure you know them. E-mail me @ blondie9796@yahoo.com. About you feeling weird about asking people to write recs, I understand. I know that Dothan has an alum association, I'm not sure about Ozark. I know some people won't write a rec if they don't really know you, and some will. If you know people who have graduated from TSU, find out if they were in sororities. I wish you lots of luck! I hope you enjoy U of Alabama!!

Hi orchid!
33girl is right on the money - it's great that you are thinking about this right now. Typically you would register with the Panhellenic alumnae group in your area to begin with, which is a great way to get recs. Also, you might let your HS counselor know that you are planning to rush -- he/she could then let faculty who are Greek know.

There are also the following venues:
employers, parents' friends, relatives, older classmates from your HS...

I do not recommend ASKING anyone to write a recommendation for you. It can really put someone on the spot. The way to handle it most tactfully and gracefully is to mention that you are going to be rushing at Alabama. (and since you are approaching your senior spring you will have plenty of openings to work that info into conversation, since everyone and their dog is going to be asking you if you are excited about college!!!!)

Then they will take it from there!
Good luck - be sure to let us know how it turns out!

Hey orchid! I will be rushing at Alabama next year too! E-mail me Ü

orchid2-
Hi! I am the state rush information chairman for Connecticut and the sororities contact me and I get the recommendations for the girls. This is just for my sorority but I am sure each sorority would have a chairman that gathers the needed information for them. Our website lists the chairmen for each state -maybe the others do too and you can have reference letters sent directly to that chairman. With us- it is perfectly acceptable to do that. Good luck! Write me if you need any help!

Hi Orchid--

It can be very helpful if you have a recommendation, because the chapter can get to know who you are even before you show up for the first Rush party.

I can't blame you for wanting to ask around; it can be awkward. I do think it pays off, in the end, though.

Bama (being Southern) will look more favorably on a recommendation than a Midwestern school will. Recs are more "necessary" in the South than in any other region, for whatever reason.

Look into finding each sorority's rec chair in your area . . . you should be able to find these on each sorority's website. (Kappa Kappa Gamma can be found at www.kappa.org)

Best of luck to you! I hope you find what you're looking for. The only advice I can offer you, is this: when you're at those beautiful houses, looking all spiffy in your best outfit, try to imagine whether or not you would feel comfortable in your pajamas--with the actives, in that house--because you really want to pledge the place that feels the most comfortable.

Panhellenically,
imsohappythatiama



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Oh, Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma,
I'm so happy that I am a
Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma,
Nobody knows . . . how
happy I am!

This is totally true, although I haven't figured out exactly why. When I was a senior (I'm from North Florida, aka "Lower Alabama"), the ladies from our local Panhellenic came to talk to all interested senior girls about Panhel recs and Rush registration (I had a HUGE manila envelope full of stuff). I was slightly overprepared for Rush at my school (in New England), as I found out later on. My school doesn't even use the recommendations, if they receieve any at all. I'm glad I sent them in, however, because the sororities on campus knew about me before recruitment(our rush isn't until February).

about recs being important at southern schools... it's definitely true. i go to school in virginia. none of the houses requires a rec in order to pledge a girl, but it helps more than we let on. i'm northern, so of course i had no clue as a rushee how important they were, and panhel told all the rushees not to worry about getting them, that it is the responsibility of the chapter. but i think that's BS, since i know my chapter doesn't do anything to obtain actual rec forms for the freshmen girls... but if the girls get one sent in to us, we will use it and it is to her advantage.

i realize this doesn't help you much since you know you need recs, but don't know how to get them... but hopefully northern girls rushing in the south will see this and understand that recs are important, no matter what the school says.

Hi, just wanted to say thank you to all who offered advice. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I am trying to make a list of prospects to talk to, I just am so afraid that I'll look like a blithering idiot when I say, "Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I'm rushing at UA this fall." It would seem like I was expecting a rec or something!!!I mean I'll be more tactful than that, of course, but I will keep you guys posted! Oh, another question. Does anyone know if people who graduated from ANOTHER school, but who was in one of the same sororities that UA's campus had (different chapter) can write recs? I mean, will they count? For example, say that I knew a lady at Auburn U. who offered to write me a rec for her sorority. Would it hold any weight? Thanks so much!

[This message has been edited by orchid2 (edited December 30, 2000).]