[aephi alum]

We used to do recruitment a little over a week before classes started. About the only thing to do during those few days was rush, which I think increased turnout. No need to worry about classes, either. Plus, you got a full 4 years with your collegiate chapter, rather than just, say, 3-1/2. Rho Chis also only had to deaffiliate for the summer, so they didn't have to spend an entire regular semester avoiding their sisters.

A disadvantage is that (as sbhill2 pointed out) if you got cut heavily or dropped out of recruitment, you had nothing to do except watch happy PNMs going off to parties. Another one is that the PNMs are already under a great deal of stress because they just got off the plane yesterday, it's often their first time away from home, they're starting to miss mom, dad, little brother, and the cat, and they're being thrown straight into another very stressful situation.