some questions =)

greekcheek · #1 02-02-2009, 01:22 AM

first of all i want to apologize for asking so many questions on this board! im just so interested in greek life, yet at the same time so confused. thank you all for being so patient and understanding!

anyways, there are a couple of things about rushing/recruitment that I don't really get. if anyone could answer them I would greatly appreciate it!

1. How do sororities rank girls during recruitment? I know a sister gets assigned to a PNM during the parties...but is that sister solely responsible for the decision of whether or not the PNM gets invited back to the house?

2. How do sororities keep track of everyone rushing? Like in the final ranking before bid day...how does everyone in the sorority get to rank the girls...I'd assume it'd be a mutual decision among the sisters, but what if only a few girls met those particular PNMs...how would it be possible to make a consensus decision on the rankings?...and are these rankings really an ordered list of each girl they liked in order of preference?

3. I've heard that a software is in charge of matching girls up, and we see the results form the PNM's point of views...but what happens in the sorority itself? are they delivered a paper with a list of their new bids on bid day? Are sororities ever disappointed in some of the results (like someone they ranked very low got a bid from them, or has this never happened)?

thanks so much guys! =)

KSUViolet06 · #2 02-02-2009, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greekcheek

first of all i want to apologize for asking so many questions on this board! im just so interested in greek life, yet at the same time so confused. thank you all for being so patient and understanding!

anyways, there are a couple of things about rushing/recruitment that I don't really get. if anyone could answer them I would greatly appreciate it!

1. How do sororities rank girls during recruitment? I know a sister gets assigned to a PNM during the parties...but is that sister solely responsible for the decision of whether or not the PNM gets invited back to the house?

2. How do sororities keep track of everyone rushing? Like in the final ranking before bid day...how does everyone in the sorority get to rank the girls...I'd assume it'd be a mutual decision among the sisters, but what if only a few girls met those particular PNMs...how would it be possible to make a consensus decision on the rankings?...and are these rankings really an ordered list of each girl they liked in order of preference?

3. I've heard that a software is in charge of matching girls up, and we see the results form the PNM's point of views...but what happens in the sorority itself? are they delivered a paper with a list of their new bids on bid day? Are sororities ever disappointed in some of the results (like someone they ranked very low got a bid from them, or has this never happened)?

thanks so much guys! =)

*Every sorority has it's own process for determining who gets an invite back. That's considered private. I will say that typically, the decision is not up to one person.

*Every sorority has a list of the girls who are rushing, which is how they keep track of who is who. How the chapters go about rankings and such is private, but there is a definite process to it. How they come to the decisions on invites is considered private (whether they rank, don't rank, use paper airplanes or something etc).

*The sorority gets a list of the girls who have received bids to their chapter. Generally any preference round attendee has a chance to get a bid and members know that, so there's no room for disappointment over geting certain girls because they are girls the chapter placed on their final list. There is sometimes some disappointment when a PNM who prefs your chapter ends up getting a bid elsewhere, but we get over it.

FYI: Generally most questions about how a sorority determines who gets an invite or a bid is considered to be a part of the Membership Selection process and is private.

My advice, relax and just enjoy recruitment because these are things that you can't totally figure out so it's best not to concern yourself with it.

#3 02-02-2009, 02:17 AM

GreekChat is great because it can help PNMs prepare for rush.

On the other hand, GreekChat has its down side in that it might create unnecessary worrying on the PNM's (and sometimes parents') part. Just because things might seem cutthroat and serious on some campuses, doesn't mean it's like that on yours.

To the PNMs, focus on the things that you CAN control -- your grades, activities, personality even. Don't sweat the things that you CANNOT -- rankings, software, membership selection. You can ask all the questions you want, but even if you get answers, you won't fully understand them anyway. It's not worth it to clutter your mind with things that boggle even the members on the other side.

greekcheek · #4 02-02-2009, 08:40 AM

thanks for the answers and advice...I do have to admit, I worry myself too much stressing over all the little details!

Zillini · #5 02-02-2009, 09:21 AM

Sororities have been around for over 150 years. Each org has developed its own system of determining how to select new members. These systems are unique to each org and confidential. PNM's simply have to have faith that those systems work. Put it this way, if they didn't work then sororities wouldn't be so strong. Heck, they probably wouldn't even still be around.

If/when a PNM joins a sorority she will have the opportunity to learn her org's system, then it will make sense. In the meantime, as has already been said, don't worry about things you cannot control.

As to the computer programs used, let me say this. Several years ago when the campus I advise on switched to ICS there were a lot of us "old timers" who were skeptical. In hindsight the main reason was simply because it was so new. In reality it has improved the process for both PNMs and the chapters immeasurably. Sure I've seen "screw ups", but I can honestly say 99% of those have been due to human error and not the software. Far and away the most common cause of a problem is nearly identical PNM names and that could occur no matter what system was used.

Kansas City · #6 02-02-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greekcheek

thanks for the answers and advice...I do have to admit, I worry myself too much stressing over all the little details!

Selection varies from organization to organization, chapter to chapter and campus to campus. It is something that you as a PNM cannot control so instead focus your positive stress on things that you do have control over (academics, recs, conversation, dress, etc.) and if you receive a bid, you can then worry about the selection side the following year. Don't worry about it now as a PNM.

AOII Angel · #7 02-02-2009, 10:54 AM

Keep in mind that sororities have standardized their practices to make things as fair as possible. Our selection criteria are set up (Inter)Nationally to assure that each organization is able to make sure their chapters choose members who fit their standards. What we use should not concern PNMs! It's a lot better than randomly choosing people based solely on each chapter member's whims.

loveandAOE · #8 02-02-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

On the other hand, GreekChat has its down side in that it might create unnecessary worrying on the PNM's (and sometimes parents') part. Just because things might seem cutthroat and serious on some campuses, doesn't mean it's like that on yours.

I agree. When i went through recruitment I had never heard of GreekChat so I really didn't know what to expect at all, other than basic things my mom told me. I think it was good that way because while I was nervous, my worries were minimal. I think sometimes it's better when PNM's don't know EVERYTHING that goes on during recruitment. I think it's better when they only really think about things they can control themselves.