GreekChat.com Forums - Introduction of a Lurker and Questions for Texas Recruitment

Hey all!

So i've been a lurker for some time now, i stumbled upon this website while doing research on Greek Life last semester. I've read through many, many threads and posts trying to get a grasp of Greek Life and the process of it all. I have to say i have thoroughly enjoyed reading all the advice and stories. I can only hope that I'll find a place within the Greek community because the users here make me so jealous of how much fun, dedication and love they have for their organizations!!!!

Okay so onto my questions. Well i suppose i should give a bit of background just in case... i am a sophomore and will still be one come Fall 2008 Recruitment (i transferred to my current university in Texas this spring semester). I wont say which university because i've seen a few graduates and current students that are regular posters. I have many friends in many different sororities around the nation, however, i am the first in my family to go to college as well as try and become greek. I have very, very few Greek contacts other than my friends but the ones i know have offered to write recs and such. So i was nervous about that when informal recruitment came around because i didn't have time to get recs and such. I went to a informal recruitment for one sorority and thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not recieve a bid, which is okay by me, my transfer GPA was a bit low and they only had a few bids to hand out so i found it very reasonable and understandable. Plus they were so nice and charming but i knew being a transfer with a low gpa and not knowing anyone was going to hinder my chances. So i came out of the informal recruitment unscathed and still excited about sorority life in general. My first move is grades, grades, grades. Since i am a transfer, i will be "setting" my school gpa this semester so my main focus is school. I also am joining the Rotaract unit at my school because I've done work with Rotary since my junior year of high school.

Okay so after all that fluff, i was wondering about Recommendation letters. Since i have to wait to prove my GPA worth, is it acceptable to wait till May to send out my information about recs because of my grades? Should i wait till closer to April to send out all of my social information and pictures, then update them in May with my completed transcript? Also, is it okay to have a some of my friends write letters of support along with the rec and is it best to keep everything to a total of three or so? If there are events that different panhellenic alumnae chapters offer in my area, should i attend them? I mean, many have said that they are directed for high school students which i am not....Also am i jumping the gun for trying to get things together so early on when registration has not even started yet? Personally i'm just really excited about going through formal recruitment to get to meet the other sororities on campus because my first experience was amazing! And lastly, ive read several different threads about defered (sp?) recruitment and how to be on good behavior and such.

If anyone has more insight, i'd love to hear it! I currently have many girls from the sorority i visited in my classes, actually almost all of them! I took it as a sign to try recruitment out again and get to check everyone else out ;) but i just don't want to do anything that the girls would find inappropriate.

Thank ya'll so much for all the entertaining stories and great advice! I'm so happy i stumbled upon this forum!