My Wild West Recruitment

[msudawg]

This is my recruitment story….but I don’t want to say from when, because that will give my age away!

SEC conference school with seven sororities….(I guess that probably gives it away more than anything..

We’ll name them after westerns…

Cowboys
Indians
Sherriffs
Deputies
Bandits
Purdy Ladies
Barkeeps

I started college not knowing much at all about Greek Life, however I was a legacy to the Bandits. I did find out from other girls at the school that I needed recommendations from as many houses as possible, and was able to find recs for 5 of 7 houses (not the Barkeeps or the Purdy Ladies).

Recruitment at my school followed this schedule:

Orientation---Water Parties (7 houses)---Philanthropy (5 houses)---Theme (Three houses)----Preference (2 houses)----BID DAY!!!

[msudawg]

So the night after I moved into my new dorm, we had sorority recruitment orientation. I headed over with several girls from my dorm. Would any of them be my new sisters?

Orientation was overwhelming! Each chapter had a table set up with their President and Recruitment Chair, and had memorabilia out and pictures on display. I was so nervous that I didn’t even want to go up and introduce myself to the girls! There were around 600 people going through recruitment my year, so the hall was a madhouse.

The Rho Chi’s gave their skits explaining the do’s and don’ts of recruitment. So funny! Then we got to meet with our PX groups. My PX was named Melissa, and she was one of the nicest people I have ever met. Really genuine, and wanted all of us to feel free to talk to her about anything.

I left orientation with a smile, and a lot of excitement about starting the next day!

[ShadeTree]

I hear cowbells!

[FSUZeta]

fun!

[sceniczip]

COWBOYS!

[msudawg]

Whoops, I guess my user name totally gives the school away! Ha, Ha!

[msudawg]

Monday morning we reported to the Row super early to start going to parties. My PX group did not have a party in the first slot, so we were able to sit in the shade for a little bit.

Listening to the parties start up around us had us all excited. We couldn’t wait to start!

Finally we got going in this order:

Indians: We lined up and we could hear them singing and clapping in their house. Suddenly the doors burst open and the sound surrounded us! “Indians…Indians…”
They were out on their balcony singing down on us and lined up the stairs in their foyer! Wow! The party was fun, but over so fast! I met several girls, everyone was nice, but I was so overwhelmed. Their house was gorgeous, and during the tour, I got to talk to really nice actives that seemed generally interested in getting to know me.

Deputies: Our next house was so much fun, too! Singing, clapping, cheering! A girl from my hometown had also just graduated from this house, and she had told them to look out for me. I was introduced to SO many people. I really felt like this house wanted me to like them as much as I wanted them to like me.

Purdy Ladies: This house was wonderful. Everyone I met seemed very down-to-earth. They have a really cool house, and all three girls that I talked to for long periods of time seemed like they could be my best friends. Very relaxed feeling at this house.

Bandits: I was a little nervous for this house….but once they started singing as we entered, I relaxed. The girl that greeted me at the door was beautiful…and very easy to talk to. She introduced me to the recruitment chair and president, and (it seemed like) a million of her friends. Their house tour was fun, too. Every girl at this house seemed to LOVE their chapter.

Barkeeps: The girls at this house were sweet-as-can-be. They are smaller, so each member had to take two PNMs, but the girl I talked to was so kind. Their house is really cool, too. Kinda modern, and with big rooms upstairs. They were very nice, but I didn’t feel a real connection to them.

Sheriffs: This house was really cool. As we walked in, they were all around their upstairs balcony singing down to us. The girls I talked to actually had real conversations with me, and wanted to get to know me. I got to meet a lot of people at this house, too.

Cowboys: This was the last house of the day, and you could tell that everyone (Members and PNMs) was exhausted. The poor girl I talked to was so quiet, and kind of difficult to get anything out of. This is a really well-thought-of house on campus, but I felt totally disconnected to all three girls I met.

[CougarGrad]

I'm a John Wayne fan, so I love the Western names!

[FSUZeta]

yee haw!! can't wait to hear more.

[LoggerTheta]

I love the names. I live in Wyoming, so I'm gonna HAVE to root for the Cowboys. (Even though your first experience there was luke warm.)

[msudawg]

The next morning, we went to meet with our PXs and get our invites back. We get to return to 5 houses.

My card showed….

All seven houses invited me back!

I felt so lucky….most girls at my school wind up with a home, but it’s still nerve-wracking!

I picked to return to….

Indians - so upbeat and energetic
Sheriffs - warm, and really got to know me
Deputies - seemed to really like me, and I had a lot of fun there
Bandits - upbeat, love their chapter
Purdy Ladies - real, genuine, easy to talk to

I just didn’t feel the same connection to the Cowboys or Barkeeps…even though I had to call a favorite aunt and tell her I wasn’t going back to her Cowboy chapter!

[msudawg]

Round two is Philanthropy Parties….these are longer, and you sit down a lot more, so there is more conversation (as an active these always made me nervous J ), and you make “crafts” for the chapter’s philanthropy.

Sherrifs: Their craft was fun, and I got to talk to some more interesting people. They do A LOT with their charity, too. I talked to two of the girls I had met on the first day as well, and they actually remembered me! Wow! They are really an awesome group of girls and I was definitely getting attached.

Indians: The second day at the Indians was not quite as good. The girl I was partnered with seemed distracted, and actually left me alone for a little bit to go talk to a friend. Awkward! Their craft was fine, but it was a little concerning that my assigned member and I did so little talking that I actually finished two of the projects! Ooops! Maybe they’ll just think of me as the industrious girl!

Bandits: Again, sooooo much energy! They all seem so happy to be in their house! The craft was a little tricky, and I actually ended up with a very funny looking end-result. The members giggled with me about it, and then we spent the rest of the time chatting. I even got to know some of the other PNMs at my table, and their members, too. All in all, a really fun house.

Purdy Ladies: What a good time! They were all once again very easy to talk to, and several of the girls from the day before talked to me again. I got to meet the President and recruitment chair, and a lot of other members. Their craft was easy and quick, which left a lot of time to talk and have fun. And they are nationally recognized for the work they have done with their Charity! Wow!

Deputies: Their craft was fun, and actually kind of relaxing. I didn’t have much time to do it, because I spent almost the whole time meeting new people. I met the Pres, Recruitment chair, and just about everyone that had known the girl from my hometown. This party flew by, and I felt like every girl in the house was nice and proud of what they do.

This is going to be such a hard decision!!!

[MerryGPhiB]

This is great, I love your writing! Great descriptions!! More, please..... I look forward to hearing more!

[msudawg]

The morning of day 3 dawned, and I went to meet my PX to get my invite list.

We talked for awhile before I got my list, and I told her how hard of a time I was having, because I pretty much loved every house! Melissa was so great, she just reassured me that it would all work out, and we both agreed that I had the best case scenario…I was getting to pick where I would go!

I was invited back to :
Sherriff
Deputies
Bandits
Purdy Ladies

I was not surprised to be dropped from the Indians, because the one girl I talked to seemed to totally wish she was anywhere else.

This was a TOUGH decision. I finally decided to return to Sheriffs, Deputies, and Bandits. I knew I didn’t have a recommendation for Purdy Ladies, and that this could mean they would have to release me later anyway.

Like I said, I had the best case scenario, being able to decline an invitation to a house I loved.

[MerryGPhiB]

Sounds like you are having/had a wonderful time! it's so nice to hear how you find something great about each chapter.... more more!