Going through recruitment as a sophomore- nervous & need advice!

[texasgirl519]

Hi, everyone!

I have officially registered to go through formal sorority recruitment in the fall, and I could not be more excited! However, I am a little nervous about whether or not going in as a sophomore could hurt my chances of getting a bid. So, I'm trying to do everything I can do ensure that I get a bid from whichever chapter I end up liking.

Firstly, do you think rushing as a sophomore could hurt my chances of getting a bid? Greek life isn't a huge part of my school. In fact, only about 5% of the student body is Greek. Additionally, I was very active in several clubs around campus during my freshman year, so I'm thinking this might make up for the fact that I didn't rush my first year. What do you all think?

Secondly, how do you go about getting recommendations? My school doesn't require them, but like I said... I want to do everything I can to maximize my chances of getting a bid. Do you have to personally know someone who was in a sorority to get a recommendation? How does that all work?

Lastly, I've found a dress that I LOVE and I think would be okay for pref night, but I want some additional input. I plan to dress it up with a nice pair of heels and a few, simple bracelets. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies!

[Titchou]

Don't know where you are going but if it's in Texas, as your screen name implies, then you need recs. There are tons of threads on here about how to go about getting them. Basically, you ask anyone you know who went to college: your peers, your parents, your parents' friends, your friends' parents, your employers, your Sunday School teacher, school counselors, school teachers,your neighbors, etc, etc etc. Whenyou find someone who was a member of one of the groups on your campus, ask if she knows anyone in the other groups. Network, network, network.

[KDCat]

Alabama Panhel has a good page about it:

http://uapanhellenic.com/index.php?o...d=15&Itemid=32

If you have to contact someone directly, make sure you are contacting people through your campus, not Alabama.

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by texasgirl519

Firstly, do you think rushing as a sophomore could hurt my chances of getting a bid? Greek life isn't a huge part of my school. In fact, only about 5% of the student body is Greek. Additionally, I was very active in several clubs around campus during my freshman year, so I'm thinking this might make up for the fact that I didn't rush my first year. What do you all think?

Secondly, how do you go about getting recommendations? My school doesn't require them, but like I said... I want to do everything I can to maximize my chances of getting a bid. Do you have to personally know someone who was in a sorority to get a recommendation? How does that all work?

Lastly, I've found a dress that I LOVE and I think would be okay for pref night, but I want some additional input. I plan to dress it up with a nice pair of heels and a few, simple bracelets. Thoughts? http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses...pacific-dress#

Being a sophomore can hurt a little bit. Do you have friends that are in some of the sororities? Sometimes that can help. Being active in other groups on campus - especially if you are in a leadership position - can certainly help.
You don't have to know someone personally to get a recommendation. You might ask around, and if you have sorority alumnae that are your mom's friends or church, ask if they would be willing to meet with you for an interview. Bring a resume with all of your activities and your grades.

Finally - I love ModCloth, and that dress is pretty. It might be ok for Bid Day or initiation, but its not as dressy as most of the dresses for prefs. Not around here anyways. Think more cocktail party or evening wedding.

[thetalady]

There are at least 5498 threads dedicated to sophomores going through rush. Please read them. All of your questions have been answered here over and over and over and over...

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by KDCat

Alabama Panhel has a good page about it:

http://uapanhellenic.com/index.php?o...d=15&Itemid=32

If you have to contact someone directly, make sure you are contacting people through your campus, not Alabama.

What's Alabama got to do with it?

[Always AlphaGam]

Originally Posted by Titchou

What's Alabama got to do with it?

It was a great link that provided tons of information about recs -- what they are, why they're important, who can write them, how to go about getting them.

Geez.

[texasgirl519]

To everyone who has replied so far, THANK YOU! Your input has been very helpful- especially the Alabama link. I am working on getting recommendations now.

I would also like to apologize for not using the search feature.

Thanks again!

[homeward*bound]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Don't know where you are going but if it's in Texas, as your screen name implies, then you need recs.

This isn't correct. Greek Chat generally sees only the crazy competitive recruitments (UT, TAMU, SMU, TCU, and Baylor, with Texas State and Tech to a lesser degree) ----- but while recommendations are always nice to have, they aren't required at the majority of Texas schools. From the stories here, its easy to get the impression that all Texas recruitments are extremely competitive, but most of them are considerably kinder and gentler.

[DubaiSis]

Since you were very active in clubs last year (a very good thing) hopefully you made friends with a few sorority women. Before it gets much closer (there are rules about strict silence and communication between sorority members and rushees) I would let your friends know you are going through rush and you are very excited to find your new home. You said it's not a super huge Greek school, but still if they don't know to be looking for you, you can slip through the cracks. Especially if you have a fairly common name.

Be aware, you're not asking them to "get you in" or anything like that. The point I'm after is just letting them know you're going through. If they can provide you any good advice, all the better, but there are a LOT of rules about what they can say to you, so don't press.

[arrowlady]

Depending on where you live there might be a local Panhellenic group that can help you with recs. do a google search.

And think black dress for pref...

Good luck to you

[texasgirl519]

I found the local Panhellenic group, and I will be sending out all of the stuff to get recs today! Thanks so much for all of the help in that area, everyone.

I bought this dress a while back, and I'm thinking it might work for pref night. What do you all think?

The belt is actually a pale pink color, so I would wear heels that match that color. On the model, it looks pretty casual, but it looks pretty dressy on me. Thoughts?

I'm really having trouble finding a dress. I've looked at pictures from last year's pref night and what most of the girls wear looks (to me) like short prom dresses, and I really don't like that look, so I'm hoping to find something more simple and classic.

[Titchou]

The shoes are what make it look casual. Black evening sandals...wear some sparkly jeweltry - don't overdo it though! Though not knowing your campus, it's a little hard to say.

As for recs, it is ALWAYS better to get them from someone you know personally. Network.

[texasgirl519]

I wish I could get recs from people I know personally, but no one in my family has ever been in a sorority. I've asked around and no one else I know has been Greek either, but then again- most of the adults I know didn't go to college. In fact, I'm the first one in my family to go to college.

[Titchou]

Really. None of your teachers went to college? Interesting. No business people in your town? No Sunday School/church folks? No school counselors, coaches, etc? Folks that own the businesses where your parents work? Wow! Your family doctor didn't go to college? Dentist? Attorney?