Confused about Recs...

Thetagirl218 · #1 06-04-2007, 04:53 PM

I am a little confused about letters of recomendation. I have read many threads recently about PMNs being encouraged to get a rec for every sorority at their school prior to RUSH. Is this really a nesscary step? Or is it just so at big schools?

When I went through recruitment, I was never asked anything about having letters of rec, just if I had other family members in GLOs. Mind you, my own recruitment was a little different because I was a founding sister of my chapter, but as I read all these threads, I am kinda surpised we weren't asked to have letters.

I know this doesn't apply to me since I am already a member of a sorority. I personally never had to think about this because my two aunts that NPC alum were in two different sororites, both of which are not at my school. However, I am new to the formal recruitment process, and I am trying to learn as much as possible, so any infomation would help. Thanks

#2 06-04-2007, 05:03 PM

From adpiucf's great General Advice thread:

Quote:

A recommendation is not required to be given a sorority bid, nor is it a guarantee that because you had a recommendation you will receive a bid. It's a little "extra" to help you stand out at recruitment. If you are attending college in the south or the midwest, you should especially consider getting recommendations. The west coast and northeast are a bit less concerned with recommendations (notable exceptions include University of Southern California), but it still is beneficial to do all you can pre-recruitment to make your application stand out in a postitive way.

Why recommendations? There are many women who go through recruitment. They all fill out recruitment applications. The recruitment apps go to the sororities before recruitment begins so they have an idea of who is coming through. A letter of recommendation serves as a good way for the sorority to ear mark your application with special interest. The recommendation helps you to positively stand out from the other applicants as someone the sorority should really make an extra special effort to meet and consider-- alumnae are respected members and if they take the time to make a suggestion or recommendation, chapter members are going to take this into consideration.

33girl · #3 06-04-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

I am a little confused about letters of recomendation. I have read many threads recently about PMNs being encouraged to get a rec for every sorority at their school prior to RUSH. Is this really a nesscary step? Or is it just so at big schools?

When I went through recruitment, I was never asked anything about having letters of rec, just if I had other family members in GLOs. Mind you, my own recruitment was a little different because I was a founding sister of my chapter, but as I read all these threads, I am kinda surpised we weren't asked to have letters.

I know this doesn't apply to me since I am already a member of a sorority. I personally never had to think about this because my two aunts that NPC alum were in two different sororites, both of which are not at my school. However, I am new to the formal recruitment process, and I am trying to learn as much as possible, so any infomation would help. Thanks

If you were a founding sister, that's a bit different as (I'm guessing) you were interviewed by national personnel and would have their direct recommendation to become a member.

Thetagirl218 · #4 06-04-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

If you were a founding sister, that's a bit different as (I'm guessing) you were interviewed by national personnel and would have their direct recommendation to become a member.

Yes, thats what happened in my case, I was trying to understand how it normally is..

KSUViolet06 · #5 06-04-2007, 06:31 PM

At schools with more competitive recruitments (i.e. Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU, etc) recs are essential. At some schools, you won't make it past first round without them. At others, you don't need them at all.

My school was like yours. I'd never even heard of recs until after I joined my sorority and heard alumnae talk about them. We didn't need them at all. The only girls coming through recruitment who had recs were legacies whose relatives had written them.

I'd venture to say that at most schools, you don't really need recs. It's just a small percentage of really competitive recruitments with lots of PNMs that require them.

dgdramadawg · #6 06-04-2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

When I went through recruitment, I was never asked anything about having letters of rec, just if I had other family members in GLOs.

It's not really something people ask about in competitive recruitments, more just a check mark in a box on a checklist. It's not discussed during recruitment functions. If they have one, they have one; if they don't, they don't.

Look at it this way (this is how the importance of recs was explained to me): If you were interviewing for a job with 1200-1400 other people, there would be certain things that it would be easy to narrow down the group with; for example, if you cut out everyone who didn't have a bachelor's degree or master's degree, that would narrow the field and make it easier to make choices from a smaller group of candidates. Recs help narrow the field. It doesn't necessarily mean that people without recs never have chances, because a rec can always be found for a girl if she's really awesome and don't have one... but at the big schools (Bama, Ole Miss, etc.) going in without recs usually means early cuts.

NUBlue&Blue · #7 06-04-2007, 07:40 PM

The 2007 UGA recruitment info is up on the greeklife site. In the general stuff it says that recs aren't necessary, but in "The Pointer" it says you should get them.

The registration form is also up, and the only way you can register this year is online.

AnatraAmore · #8 06-04-2007, 07:49 PM

I always hate how that makes it sound... I know there's been posts before about how misleading that can be because no, technically you don't need recs to register for and participate in recruitment. BUT, having them makes your chances of having a successful recruitment much more likely. I like that explaination dramadawg - makes sense that in large recruitments, that would be one possible way to narrow the field...

Thetagirl218 · #9 06-04-2007, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NUBlue&Blue

The registration form is also up, and the only way you can register this year is online.

I think most schools are switching to online registration; I know mine has...

dgdramadawg · #10 06-04-2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NUBlue&Blue

The 2007 UGA recruitment info is up on the greeklife site. In the general stuff it says that recs aren't necessary, but in "The Pointer" it says you should get them.

The registration form is also up, and the only way you can register this year is online.

Well, they aren't NECESSARY. You've got a one in a million shot without one.

Seriously, I wish UGA would just fess up and say "While sororities are supposed to assume responsibility for getting recs, that doesn't mean they will. If you can, get recs." I know girls who have pledged at Georgia who didn't have recs for the houses they pledged, but they typically pledged houses where they had multiple friends from high school. A house full of friends is much more likely to spend time securing recs for a friend rather than for a random rushee they've never met.

NUBlue&Blue · #11 06-04-2007, 08:20 PM

Most people prefer to register online anyway. Even our baseball park does it that way. But there was always the old download for people who just like to write on a piece of paper....but now, I guess not!

My daughter registered yesterday for recruitment online at her school, which may or may not be named later.

FSUZeta · #12 06-04-2007, 08:24 PM

thetagirl,

i can affirm that recs. are not needed when women are selected to found a colony. at least for my sorority, and undoubtedly yours too!

i would hazard a guess that recs. can be an asset to a pnm going thru recruitment on your campus-i think i know where you attend(ed) college. i know that they can be a tremendous help at florida state and florida.

KSUViolet06 · #13 06-04-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgdramadawg

Well, they aren't NECESSARY. You've got a one in a million shot without one.

"While sororities are supposed to assume responsibility for getting recs, that doesn't mean they will. If you can, get recs."

I'm quoting this just because I think it's important for PNMs to know this.

At most schools like LSU, UGA, Bama & Ole Miss, there are HUNDREDS of girls rushing.

It is impossible for every sorority to get a rec for EVERY SINGLE girl.

So don't depend on the sorority to get them for you, even if the website, recruitment book, greek life office, etc says they will.

If you get recs for yourself, you can guarantee that you'll have them when recruitment starts.

meangreen317 · #14 08-05-2007, 01:07 AM

i won't be able to go through formal recruitment this semester but i have already put my name on a list of people interested in cob at my school. should i try to get recs even though i don't know when they will be needed? can i get them sent to me instead of straight to the school?

AChiOhSnap · #15 08-05-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meangreen317

i won't be able to go through formal recruitment this semester but i have already put my name on a list of people interested in cob at my school. should i try to get recs even though i don't know when they will be needed? can i get them sent to me instead of straight to the school?

Definitely try to secure recommendations. We kept recs on file for one school year so you should be good in starting to procure them now. Besides, COB is likely to start soon after formal recruitment and you may not have time to get recs sent in between FR and COB.

You cannot get recommendation letters sent directly to you. Recs are considered membership selection materials and may be only sent between initiated members of the sorority.

Hope that helps!