Registering with Alumnae Panhellenics

[violetpretty]

My friend's little sister is going to school that has recruitment in the spring and plans to go through. I won't mention the state, but I am pretty sure that recs will be vital and the school is very far from our little town in Maryland. I am helping her to find recs, but I have a few questions.

Would she meet with alumnae for coffee/lunch to let them interview her or do you just send in your information? Since her college grades are going to be what matters, should she plan on meeting alumnae over winter break at home or should she get a head start by meeting alumnae in her school's city? And similarly, should she register with the AP in Washington DC or the one nearest the city where she goes to school? Or both?

[33girl]

I don't want to be nebby, but when you say "very far" do you mean like several states away?

[AnchorAlumna]

Hometown recs are best. Register with the AP closest to your home. But still start asking around parents' friends, teachers, etc. Recs should be sent at least a couple of months before recruitment starts. If the school does a spring recruitment, "recruiting" probably actually starts in the fall.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I don't want to be nebby, but when you say "very far" do you mean like several states away?

By "very far" I mean too far to come home several times to meet sorority women from the DC Alumnae Panhellenic, which is why I was wondering if she should register with the one near her school. If I name the state, it outs the school since there are very few schools in the South that do a deferred recruitment.

[Zillini]

*My personal experience with Alumnae Panhellenic organizations is pretty limited, aside from receiving Recs from them. So keep in mind I'm uneducated in this area.*

I can't imagine that it would hurt anything registering with multiple groups. You never know who you might click with. As for meeting with any or all, when or where, I'd also suggest your daughter arrange her schedule to meet with as many as possible, whenever possible, especially if they plan some sort of formal function. Now that doesn't mean I'd spend $1000 on a plane ticket just to attend a tea. Phone calls can be almost as good.

[violetpretty]

My friend's little sister (Let's call her FLS for now) knows women from some sororities personally who will write her recs. However, as part of her "asking around" I will be able to connect her with some alumnae from chapters of certain sororities for which she will still need recs. For the alumnae of these sororities, what is the etiquette of this process?

I am thinking (and PLEASE correct any part of this as I do not know much about recs):

1. I ask my contacts if I may give FLS their e-mail.
2. If yes, give FLS their emails.
3. FLS contacts sorority alumna asking for a rec.
4. FLS emails alumna picture/transcript/activity resume along with a stamped addressed envelope in which to send the rec? Anything else? I am wondering how useful her HS transcript would be since recruitment is deferred and the grades that count are from this semester (she has a great HS GPA though).
5. FLS and alumna arrange for a phone interview or to meet to get coffee or lunch if the interview is to take place during winter break (or should she not wait that long?).
6. Alumna writes rec and acknowledges it has been sent.
7. FLS writes thank-you note to alumna.
8. FLS maybe lets alumna know where she ended up at the end of recruitment.

[Fleur de Lis]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

5. FLS and alumna arrange for a phone interview or to meet to get coffee or lunch if the interview is to take place during winter break (or should she not wait that long?).

Definitely don't wait that long! I just went to an alumnae meeting, and our reference chair said the benefit of deferred recruitment is that sisters have all first semester to find out who FLS is and get to know her. If they don't receive the rec until right before recruitment, it diminishes the point of having one!

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

My friend's little sister (Let's call her FLS for now) knows women from some sororities personally who will write her recs. However, as part of her "asking around" I will be able to connect her with some alumnae from chapters of certain sororities for which she will still need recs. For the alumnae of these sororities, what is the etiquette of this process?

I am thinking (and PLEASE correct any part of this as I do not know much about recs):

1. I ask my contacts if I may give FLS their e-mail.
2. If yes, give FLS their emails.
3. FLS contacts sorority alumna asking for a rec.
4. FLS emails alumna picture/transcript/activity resume along with a stamped addressed envelope in which to send the rec? Anything else? I am wondering how useful her HS transcript would be since recruitment is deferred and the grades that count are from this semester (she has a great HS GPA though).
5. FLS and alumna arrange for a phone interview or to meet to get coffee or lunch if the interview is to take place during winter break (or should she not wait that long?).
6. Alumna writes rec and acknowledges it has been sent.
7. FLS writes thank-you note to alumna.
8. FLS maybe lets alumna know where she ended up at the end of recruitment.

On the whole I think you have a good plan laid out. However I'd make a few additional suggestions:

- Have your contacts/friends make the initial call to their alum friends. It gives the potential Rec writer a head's up that PNM may be contacting her. It also would give her the option to decline if she is so chooses with little embarrassment. (Some people won't write Recs for people they don't know.)

- If given a choice, call instead of email at least for that initial contact. It's much more personal. If the alum wishes to use email afterwards, then fine. But keep in mind that even in today's day and age not everyone lives by email.

- Volunteer to meet with the alum (if possible location wise) at her convenience for when and where. Afterall you are the one asking for the favor.

- Definitely share her HS transcript as it can be an indicator of how well she'll do in college. Depending on when contact is made, offer a report of how well her current classes are going. Some Universities offer midterm grade reports, that would be helpful.