StarGazer08's Spring '08 Recruitment thread

[StarGazer08]

Hi! I am so excited to be finally able to start my own recruitment thread. I am currently a sophmore (transfer) at a school which has recruitment in the upcoming week. I transferred here from a school that didn't have a greek system and am so eager to get started! Since this is my first semester on campus I don't know any of the "reputations" of the sororities and am SO glad for that. I think that it's best for me to make my own decision. My mom and aunt are both members of an NPC sorority which is on this campus. However, neither really pushed or talked about greek life. Essentially, I've done my own research and decided that it would be a great opportunity to have. I'm not the best or most creative writer so you'll have to bear with me. Both my aunt and mom wrote me a rec for the legacy chapter. However, it doesn't seem like recs are so important here according to my talk with the greek life office.

Last week there was a "pre-rush" event where all the greek organizations on campus have tables. Rush apparently isn't that competitive here but still I want to look my best so I put on a nice pair of fitted (think like jeans) courderoys and a button down blouse with ballet flats. There are four NPC sororities on campus and since I work at Cold Stone I'll name them after my favorite creations:
Cookie Mintster
Birthday cake remix
Founder's favorite
Cheesecake fantasy

Cookie Mintster was the first organization I visited. The girls were all really warm and welcoming which put me at ease; I was so nervous. The table was really nicely decorated and they all seemed so genuine. All my questions were answered and they asked all the traditional (major, interests, etc) about me. I couldn't tell if they were interested in me or not but I definitely wanted to see more. A major plus for Cookie mintster is that I volunteered with an organization that falls in line with their philanthrophy.

Birthday cake remix, the first thing I noticed was how gorgeous the girls were. Like seriously model types with all Tiffany's jewelry and matching high heel shoes. I was intimidated by this but determined to get to know them before I make any judgments. They seemed nice and welcoming too. They all seem to have a lot of Birthday cake remix pride which is cool. I like the activities they do to celebrate their sisterhood. I love the fact that they're all so proud but I'm afraid I won't fit in well here.

Founder's favorite. The first thing I notice is this chapter is wearing tee shirts (all the other chapters were wearing jersey type things). The girl I first talk to is really nervous and seems a bit shy. She says it's her first semester as a sister though so I can understand. Another sister comes over soon after and joins us; she seems more confident. I like this group because all the girls seem different. Some mentioned that they were teaching majors, other spanish majors, and that all seem to have different interests. It seems like I'd fit in well here.

Cheesecake fantasy. This is my legacy chapter so I'm really excited to go here. Even though it doesn't seem like my mom and aunt care if I go here- I do, I think it'd be cool to fit in with the family tradition. I know the basics about this soroity (color, philanthropy, etc) because I did the research but not much else. All the girls are really sweet to me and said they got the recs. They mention that they were suprised to get two as people don't usually have any. I explain that I figured two is better than one and hope they mean surprised in a good way. I really like everything I hear and hope the sisters like me as well. I'm very eager to go back here.

I officially sign up for recruitment, and go home excited for recruitment!

There is another informal "meet and greet" on Wednesday. I don't know if going to this would be overkill. What do you all think? Then, Round Robin starts on Thursday. Round 1 on Friday, Round 2 on Saturday, Prefs are on Sunday, and Bid day is on Monday.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by StarGazer08

There is another informal "meet and greet" on Wednesday. I don't know if going to this would be overkill. What do you all think?

If you've already attended a "meet and greet" event, I don't think you'd need to attend another unless you REALLY want to.

It's nice that your mom and aunt wrote you recs. Even though recs aren't a big deal at your school, they can never hurt.

It's great that you don't have any preconceived notions about the sororities at this point. Be advised that once you start meeting other girls who are rushing, they'll want to talk all about their opinions about who is "the best" and which sorority they want to be in, especially since most of them have been at this school since fall semester and have had time to hear all the gossip, rumors, etc.

Try your best to pay them no mind and make the best decision for you.

[StarGazer08]

Thanks for the advice! Even though I have two family members who are greek I still feel like I'm kind of clueless about this so any advice helps . In my day to day life I try not to pay attention to rumors of any sort and plan on paying no mind to those I hear during recruitment.

[texas*princess]

best of luck!!!

[twinkle555]

Sounds like youre off to a good start! Remember to be yourself, keep an open mind, and have fun!! lots of luck!!

[ErinBee]

I worked at Coldstone for almost 2 years, so I love your code names!! Cheesecake Fantasy is definitely my favorite.

[Zeta13Girl]

I definently have to go with cheesecake fantasy as well it just sounds so enticing can't wait to hear more. And Good Luck with Recruitment!

[AXiD]

Cheesecake Fantasy all the Way!!!

[lindz0722]

I'm cheering for Cookie Mintster, although Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip is my ideal Coldstone creation!!

[StarGazer08]

So yesterday was Round Roubin- the first official event of recruitment. I don't know how other schools do recruitment but this event was essentially the same as the informal open house I went to for all greek-letter organizations a couple of weeks ago. We were split into four groups with about 20 girls in each group. I think I'm the only sophmore and it makes me really nervous. The sororities don't have houses so we meet in different rooms with our in the student center. For such a non-competive rush (at least I thought it was) the rumors seem to be flying high. XYZ hazes their members while ABC will take everyone. It's driving me crazy! I'm not going to judge any sorority based on it but it's tough to not listen. A good thing about the night was that the fact that I'm a sophmore and transfer didn't seem to make eyes bat at any chapter. I put the chapters in the order I visited them. Also, today the campus is cancelled because we got a lot of snow. Round 1 is also cancelled and has been moved to tomorrow. I just got an e-mail that says Round 1 and Round 2 will both be tomorrow with a break in between.

Founder's favorite- I really wanted to like this chapter but I did not this time. Out of all their rooms there's was the least decorated but more importantly they had not that many sisters there. According to my rho gam all the chapters are about the same size so I was wondering where there all are. Most importantly though the conversations were really awkward. It seemed like I was leading the conversation- asking them about their chapter and how they liked to be Founder's favorites and they didn't seem so enthusiastic. Also, some sisters were looking around a lot- I don't know what it meant but it struck me in a weird way. I want to give them another chance but do not think I fit in well here.

Cookie Mintster was the third organization I visited of the night. I loved, loved, loved them again. The room was impeccably decorated with balloons (in Cookie Mintster colors), and a giant mascot.They just like Birthday Cake Remix had a table with books, photos and stuff. I got to talk to a lot of different girls and really connected with a bunch of them. We seem to have a bunch of the same interests and I this time I think I got the impression that they liked me too. A bunch of girls even remembered me from the open house! The only downside is that dues are a little high for me but I think I'd be able to manage. I hope to be invited back here for the next round.

Cheesecake fantasy- Finally! The last house of the night and I cannot wait to see the Cheesecake fantasies again. They impress me again- everything flows to my conversations with the sisters to the fact that I feel at home. It turns out that I know one of the sister's best friend- we studied abroad together! This made for a great conversation and I'm really glad I didn't do anything inappropriate on that trip. The girls also seem excited that I'm a legacy and just hope that they'll invite me back because they like me. Dues and time comittment all fit in track for what I want. Also, they tell me there are many oppertunities to get involved as an officer, something I would be interested in. According to my mom they have to invite me back for the next round so I anticipate this being on my list but don't know if this is actually true. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

Birthday cake remix- Wow, going into this room was intense! It seems like everything Birthday cake remix was used to decorate it. From flowers to balloons to signs to letters to streamers were on the walls. Also, they had a table set up with even more paraphenalia. They obviously took a lot of effort in perfecting everything. I noticed though that everything seemed very on point. If I would have had a watch I think I could have timed it by the way different girls came to talk to me. I don't know if this is how they do things, if I was boring them, or something else. Conversations centered around shopping, tanning, going out, and nails. I like all these things but worry that I won't have time for much else if I join here. If I get invited back I will go but am not that interested.

We are told to rank the chapters in the order that we like them. Apparently, we can be invited up to all four groups so I don't understand why we have to rank. I have lots of difficultly deciding but decide that I have to go with my heart.

Anyway, here are my rankings

1) Cheesecake fantasy
2) Cookie Mintster
3) Birthday cake remix
4) Founder's favorite

[33girl]

Originally Posted by StarGazer08

Birthday cake remix pride

This just made me chuckle.

Even at a "noncompetitive" rush there will be rumors flying - it might be noncompetitive for you the rushee, but it NEVER is for the sororities! It seems like you're doing a good job of ignoring the rumors though, so keep it up!

[FSUZeta]

re: chapter having to invite a legacy back. this is true if there is more than one invitational party before the pref. party, but if there is only one invitational round before prefs, the situation becomes more gray-it will depend on the sorority and the campus. however, it sounds like everything went well at your legacy chapter, so it doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about.

as to the chapter where everything seemed "on point", it may sound ridiculous, but they may have been working with a watch and a schedule to maximize the number of sisters who would be able to meet the pnms. they may have been filtering sisters in and out of the room, so that it does not become too crowded, and so it does not seem that the sisters are lurking around the perimeter of the room staring(and talking about) at pnms-which they usually aren't, but can seem that way to nervous pnms!

tomorrow sounds very tiring for both the pnms and the sisters. good luck to you-hope you get all the invitations you are hoping for.

[Benzgirl]

Don't worry about the high dues of Cookie Monster. If it's meant to be, the higher dues means nothing. And, in the end, sometimes higher dues cover more than lower dues.

[texas*princess]

a couple of things:

* Dues -- Dues may be more at one chapter than at another because it may include things like t-shirts/party favors/etc that a chapter with lower dues does not. Also, it might just be that the one-time fees for initiation are higher and the semesterly dues are the same or close to it.

* Timing -- You mentioned at Birthday Cake Remix that everything seemed on "point" and that you could probably find a pattern if you had a watch. I wouldn't be worried if I were you. My chapter used to time everything, and everyone knew who they were "bumping" so you could get to know another sister and so on. I don't think it has absolutely anything to do with you, so I would not take it as a bad sign... it's just how that chapter practiced recruitment and the rotations for each round. Some chapters are more coordinated than others when it comes to that. (And that's not to say other chapters are less organized or anything, so please don't take it that way either! Maybe that chapter you spoke with just had a system in place so they could get to know as many pnms as possible and the pnms could meet many sisters )

* Founder's Favorite -- it is definitely understandable ifyou didn't feel a connection there. Believe it or not, the "Rushers" are just as nervous as you (which might have explained the nervous wandering eyes or lack of conversation)! The ones you spoke with may have been really nervous... maybe it was their first time on the "sister" side of recuitment? Maybe they just really can't carry on small talk? Who knows. If you end up having to go back again, keep that in mind

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Don't worry about the high dues of Cookie Minster. If it's meant to be, the higher dues means nothing.

If she can't pay the dues, then she shouldn't join the chapter! I'm sure every chapter of every NPC has had members who had to withdraw for financial reasons. With that said, you should ask questions and explore all of your options before ruling out a chapter for the dues.

1. Does the chapter offer a payment plan?
2. Are there chapter or campus Panhellenic scholarships to help with dues for members with financial need?
3. What do the dues include? What costs extra?
4. Are you paying for all of your sorority financial obligations or are your parents helping you out?
5. Are you working? If not, an on-campus job might be a good way to be able to pay your dues.

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

And, in the end, sometimes higher dues cover more than lower dues.

Sometimes the opposite can be true if a chapter is good at managing its money or is in debt. My chapter had among the lowest dues and was very inclusive, and I know of other chapters who had higher dues that were much less inclusive and had fewer socials.