[kdonline]

As the Kappa Delta reference contact for the Miami, FL area (for about 15 years), I am always contacted for recommendations on girls who I have no clue about. And since I left the school system 5 years ago, my contacts have dwindled.

Often, it's a small out-of-state chapter who contacts me. I figure this girl is probably the only Miami girl going through rush & they want a rec on her ahead of time. So, rather than writing an 'unknown rec' (the chapter usually sends me a copy of her Rush app), I write a note back & say something like, "If this girl makes it to Prefs, I will happily write a rec. But rather than writing a rec on a girl who might not fit in with your chapter, please meet her first, then get back to me."

Now, guess how often this happens! A girl can have an outstanding resume, but when you meet her - she just doesn't "click." As someone else mentioned, it's the same as with a job interview.

BTW, the Florida schools always send me huge lists of Miami rushees, but usually just a name & a high school. I have the same policy with them.

It's not easy to find out information about a random girl in Miami. Schools have privacy laws. The Miami Women's Panhellenic used to have tea parties where we'd invite PNMs, then get copies of their resumes, etc., but this hasn't been done for years.

As for an "unknown rec" vs. a "known rec" - oh, you can so tell the difference. The chapters can tell too.

Are some girls inadvertantly dropped because they don't 1) have a rec 2) talk themselves up or 3) have an outstanding resume? Yes, probably, esp. at larger schools. But just like in a job interview, during rush, you need to "sell yourself" - the chapter wants to know what you can do for them.