For where to get recs?

Carpe Aeternum · #1 11-13-2009, 12:35 PM

I'm a sophomore transfer to a southern school with deferred recruitment. It's not SEC-style competitive: the general thought is that most freshman can get a bid to a sorority, but there are some that are extremely competitive to get into. Sophomores can get bids, but not as often. I am very realistic about the situation: a sophomore, with no legacy, no close friends in the Greek system, average GPA. I would be honored to be invited to join any one of my campus's great sororities. I am determined, above all, to keep an open mind and not listen to tent talk.

I have been working for quite some time (since the beginning of the summer) to secure recs for each house. My local panhellenic has graciously agreed to secure me recs for about 1/3 of my school's sororities, any ones I should choose. The concern: I have found out everything I can about each house here, realistically. Although not close to any Greek women here, I have seen the girls- mostly in academic settings- interact with each other and with others. I know the general reputation of each group- although I am determined not to let that sway my decisions. There are a couple that, going in, I feel will likely not be strong matches for me. I have eliminated those from the ones I will choose for panhel-secured recs.

My question is this: Given recs to 1/3 of the houses, what criteria would you recommend to choose them? I have conflicting thoughts: if I secure them for competitive houses, where they are more needed, they would give me a boost... but then again, as a sophomore, with no connections, they might essentially be a waste. Then again, if I secure them for less competitive groups, they might not have been needed to begin with. Again, I have no groups in mind that I specifically want very much to join. Should I just ignore these factors, find out what I can about each chapter on a national and campus level, and choose the ones I like regardless of the likelihood of a sophomore being given a bid?

After choosing for which houses to ask my local panhel for recs, I will continue to try to secure recs for the other houses. These are just a group of houses where I can be guaranteed a rec. Recs are not at all common at my school, and are by no means considered necessary.

ree-Xi · #2 11-13-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpe Aeternum

I'm a sophomore transfer to a southern school with deferred recruitment. It's not SEC-style competitive: the general thought is that most freshman can get a bid to a sorority, but there are some that are extremely competitive to get into. Sophomores can get bids, but not as often. I am very realistic about the situation: a sophomore, with no legacy, no close friends in the Greek system, average GPA. I would be honored to be invited to join any one of my campus's great sororities. I am determined, above all, to keep an open mind and not listen to tent talk.

I have been working for quite some time (since the beginning of the summer) to secure recs for each house. My local panhellenic has graciously agreed to secure me recs for about 1/3 of my school's sororities, any ones I should choose. The concern: I have found out everything I can about each house here, realistically. Although not close to any Greek women here, I have seen the girls- mostly in academic settings- interact with each other and with others. I know the general reputation of each group- although I am determined not to let that sway my decisions. There are a couple that, going in, I feel will likely not be strong matches for me. I have eliminated those from the ones I will choose for panhel-secured recs.

My question is this: Given recs to 1/3 of the houses, what criteria would you recommend to choose them? I have conflicting thoughts: if I secure them for competitive houses, where they are more needed, they would give me a boost... but then again, as a sophomore, with no connections, they might essentially be a waste. Then again, if I secure them for less competitive groups, they might not have been needed to begin with. Again, I have no groups in mind that I specifically want very much to join. Should I just ignore these factors, find out what I can about each chapter on a national and campus level, and choose the ones I like regardless of the likelihood of a sophomore being given a bid?

After choosing for which houses to ask my local panhel for recs, I will continue to try to secure recs for the other houses. These are just a group of houses where I can be guaranteed a rec. Recs are not at all common at my school, and are by no means considered necessary.

I had written a long reply but I lost it.

Basically all I wanted to say is that you have contradicted yourself - saying that you don't listen to tent talk, yet you already know that you are not a match for X number of groups. (Which usually translates into "I'm too good for those lower chapters).

How do you know that? You said yourself you don't know a lot of the Greek women. I think you are making a big mistake by not treating every chapter the same. Surely, going into recruitment with this approach will work against you. Read the plethora of recruitment threads - there are a lot of great suggestions.

33girl · #3 11-13-2009, 01:06 PM

If you are trying to get a rec for one sorority, try to get recs for them ALL. I'm not sure about your comment about how the alum panhel agreed to secure you 1/3 of the recs - it's almost like you're saying that they said they could only give you that many. I've never heard of such a thing.

If you've presented yourself as someone whose connections are zip (i.e. this is your only way to find recs) and then tell APH "I only need recs for [name chapters here]" that WILL get back to the unnamed chapters somehow - and you won't be looked on favorably AT ALL.

ETA: I just saw where you're going. You'd better free your mind right quick, sweetie.

Carpe Aeternum · #4 11-13-2009, 01:27 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, and "reality-checks"... both much needed. I will take them to heart- especially about the contradiction ree-Xi pointed out. And 33girl, I had never thought of it in that light. You are absolutely right... I will use any connections I have first, and then ask Panhel for help on the ones I wasn't able to secure through other means.

FSUZeta · #5 11-13-2009, 01:49 PM

i don't understand why the alum. panhellenic will only give your recommendations to 1/3 of the sororities on your campus. do they only have alum. members in 1/3 of the chapters on your campus? if so, that makes sense, because they cannot write letters to sororities they are not members of. could that be the case? if not, please explain.

MaggieXi · #6 11-13-2009, 02:25 PM

First off, are you sure you need Recs?

The chapter I help out with - Southern, moderately competitive, and deffered accepts recs, but most PNMs don't have recs. To find this information out, I would check with your Greek Life office but also ask your friends who are already in sororities.

If you find out that recs are uber important, then get all that you can from your local Panhellenic and then start reaching out to friends, parent's friends, former teachers, etc to secure the ones you need. Its best to have recs to all the chapters that you can get your hands on.

Carpe Aeternum · #7 11-13-2009, 03:12 PM

FSU- I am not sure if that is the case. I went through the paperwork process involved, and was contacted by an officer asking me to please specify a few specific chapters I had the most interest in. I just thought, Hey, they'll help me with a few recs! and went on thinking about how to do what they asked. It could be a limited number of people... maybe they have an unusually high number of girls asking, and are trying to limit the workload? That is just speculation: they gave no indication.

33girl · #8 11-13-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpe Aeternum

FSU- I am not sure if that is the case. I went through the paperwork process involved, and was contacted by an officer asking me to please specify a few specific chapters I had the most interest in.

This is really weird, and completely contrary to the mission of Panhellenic. You aren't supposed to be picking and choosing chapters you have interest in before even beginning rush!!!

Something is hella sketchy here.

baci · #9 11-13-2009, 03:53 PM

I can actually see this happening and it is not so strange to me.

Not every area has a strong alum. panhellenic that will get you all the recs you need.

violetpretty · #10 11-16-2009, 08:37 AM

Get recs through your own networking first. Then go to APH to fill in the holes, and when you request recs for the ones you are missing, make sure you emphasize that these are not necessarily your top choices, just the ones you don't have a rec for.

That is really weird about saying, "Ok, pick X number for us to write recs". They must have more than that number represented if they're asking the OP to make a choice.