Rush..
 

If you're on the first bidlists of both X and Y you would receive Y. If you're on the first bidlist for X and somewhere else on the list for Y and Y does not meet quota before the list gets down to your name, you receive Y. If quota is filled for Y or you are not on their bidlist, but you are on high enough on X's list you will receive X.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

Drolefille's despriction seems about right, but let me be frank here.

In a previous thread you stated that you are interested in rushing during the next formal recruitment at your school? The whole purpose of the current NPC recruitment system is so that each girl will get fitted with her mutually selected sorority.

Please concentrate on being who you are when it comes to recruitment, and don't worry about the little things like the bid matching process.

I am in a sorority, and I still don't completely understand it all!

Thetagirl, I am a tiny bit confused by your response above. In a perfect world, one hopes they will be picked up by the sorority they select, but that isn't always the case. I do feel Drolefille is a bit more correct, if I am understanding everyone here on what is being asked and the answer to the question.

If I am incorrect, please feel free to explain.

I guess what I meant was, one should understand the bidding process (Drolefille did a great job of explaining it), but focus on the big picture of joining a sorority, and not the tiny things that are confusing.

It is a myth that a PNM would receive a bid by listing her chapters one way and go unmatched by listing them another way (assuming you don't suicide).

Say Panhellenic determines that quota is 20. Every chapter would have their top 20 women ranked as #1 on their first bid list. The rest of the women are on the second bid list are ranked in the order that the chapter prefers.

My analogy copied and pasted, might help you understand how bid matching works:

I like to think of the first bid list as a "box". If you're in the box, order doesn't matter. If you're in the box you can be matched to that chapter. You stay in the box until you are matched somewhere. If you're not in the box, you "wait in line" (aka the second bid list). You stand in line in order. If you are the next one in line to go in the box, you can only move into the box if someone already in the box matches elsewhere.

Basically, Panhellenic gives you your first choice unless your first choice fills quota before reaching your name on their list.

The way I view the situation, bid matching is complicated enough for sorority members to understand, sometimes. If a PNM really wants to figure it out, that is great, but in the end there isn't anything to be gained by it. You are not hurt in the process by the way you rank your choices as long as the order is truly your order of preference. There are so many other things to think about that I think getting obsessed about how bid matching works can often distract the PNM from what she should be focusing on: making a good impression and trying to get to know the sisters from each group.

I think I understand why the OP is worrying about the bid matching process. Like most things these days, there can often be a "science" or strategy to succeeding. For example, being told that it is really better to leave an answer blank on the SAT vs answering it wrong. That type of info can help or hurt the student's score. The OP is trying to understand the procedure so she doesn't hurt herself when it comes time to rank houses. I am also one of those people who likes to know what the strategies of life are, so I totally understand.
However, what has been stated above is true - there are sorority women who do not completely understand the process, so it would be overkill to try to worry about it. You can do this:
Find out if your panhellenic has the policy that says, "if a pnm is invited to two houses on pref night (or three, whatever the max is) AND she accepts those invitations, she is guaranteed a bid at one of the houses she returns to pref night." (that is not a verbatim quote but close) Then, rank the houses according to your preference and rest easy knowing that you will get a bid at one of them.

Excellent replies/responses. (always something to clarify or learn here)

Bid matching is so complicated!

If you get invited to Pref night by different groups then you are on their bid list and they want you. :)

However, don't get upset if you don't get offered a bid from your first pick. On my bid card I put one group down and didn't get a bid from them and got a bid from my second pick. However, I now know that Fate intervened and I fit in much more with the AOII girls then I ever did (or ever could) in my "first choice." :) So don't be upset because it could work out even better than you think!