[TxGirl]

When I went through recruitment in 1989 (yes, the stone age) we DID rank each group after each round AND they got to see it. This created MAJOR cross-cutting.

Forget the other rounds and think about pref invtes. We went from 15 to 8 to 4 to 2 (you could go to 3 if you wanted). If you liked 1 group "best" and 3 groups the same and (using prior examples) put those three in alpha order - maybe you only get 2 invites. Even if you get 4 and you go to 3 to maximize your options - those chapters are still remembering where you put them on your last ranking. What if you change your mind? This was a huge thing that caused cross-cuts and my school and is the main reason (that and NPC recommendation) that they stopped doing it.

The best change to the system would be to require everyone to follow their release figures. I have heard that NPC is piloting a new release figure system this year that will make for more releases earlier. If you don't know, release figures have to do with your return rates for the last three years. The theory is that those chapters with higher return rates get to invite fewer women than those with lower return rates. Many campuses use this system, but may not strictly enforce it.

Since it is just a recommendation, unless it is in the Panhellenic Recruitment Rules for your school, they are just a suggested number to be invited. I have found that for the most part, using the release figure cuts down on "padding", because you can't invite anymore than you number.

I am very interested to see how the new system they are piloting works and compares with the current system.

As to "E" being able to invite as many as they want. If they are using release figures and they have the poorest return rates - they will be able to invite as many as they want - in some cases more than are even registered for recruitment.