Especially at schools with a competitive rush (like lots of places in the south) a lot of chapters may already have picked out girls that they want to rush very hard. Becuase of their applications and recommendations and such, the chapters DO know quite a lot about the girls before they actually set foot in the door on day one. They will already have figured out who they will have to cut because of grades and other things like that.
In this part, I can only speak for sure about my campus, but I am almost certain that it is the same in other places:
As for parties in the summer.... I don't know how it used to be, but now it is a BIG no-no. It is considered "dirty rushing" and it a major rush infraction. Chapters can get into a lot of trouble for doing it. I think it is mainly because it creates an uneven playing field for the chapters during rush week. If ABC has already taken out 100 PNMs during the summer, it gives them an unfair advantage because that many girls already know their name, and who they are. And that word will spread. It does amaze me though, that some chapters on my campus were still able to get away with it.
Anyway, I hope that little bit of information helps you a little bit!
