CherrySonata Fall Recruitment 2010

[CherrySonata]

Hello, everybody!

I've posted only in the 'introductions' forum and this forum so far, and didn't want to post my story yet because I still had a few weeks to go before recruitment. I've been so busy preparing. It has actually been really exciting. I have to thank a number of GreekChat women for giving me good advice and helping me answer my questions. They really have done a lot for me, and I feel very lucky that I'm prepared before the week even starts! Now rush is starting very soon, so I was really excited to post this.

Mainly all I have left are outfits. (I know, as if there aren't enough of those threads yet?-- But don't worry, I'm not turning this into an outfit thread.) Basically, I keep questioning myself as to whether or not my choices are 'actually' acceptable. I have heard from some friends at my college that the guidelines in our handbook are pretty typical of what is actually worn, but I also have heard on here that erring on the slightly-too-nice side rather than the slightly-more-casual side is preferable. So I've been running around trying to make sure all of my outfits are similar to the guide but maybe at the dressier end of the listed bracket of 'acceptable outfits.' My mom helped me pick out my dress for pref night and I liked it when I first bought it and then the more I looked at it over the subsequent weeks, the more I thought I might need to go get a different dress instead. It isn't all that clubby, but it seemed that somehow I felt it might be too casual or something. So one night when my parents wanted to take me and my siblings out to dinner I decided I'd wear it, for grins & giggles (and to make sure it fit OK). Well, when we were walking around the mall after dinner, a total stranger came up to me and complimented me on it! So I am interpreting this woman's opinion as a Sign that it is a good dress, and hopefully what I know of my campus culture will work in my favor too, and the dress won't stand out in a bad way.

Per some of the good advice I've received on this forum, I am not going to be posting my story 100% live, but I WILL be posting it in a mostly candid manner. I'll be waiting a few days after things happen to post them, just in case any curious people do try to figure out where I am. I think that by keeping myself anonymous as much as I can, I will only help myself and it will also be more tactful. Anyway, I won't be listing my school, except for at the very end. And it is possible that people will figure out where I am, but if you are curious can you please just PM it to me instead of posting here? I would appreciate it very much I have disclosed that I am going to school in the Southwest, but that is all. I'll say at the end where I am at.

I will also probably refrain from telling you EXACTLY how I rank each house. I'm not sure yet if it will be vital to my story, but I will definitely try to strike a balance between informative and prudent. If it isn't a big deal, I will tell my rankings (if I can remember them). But, I might not. Just a heads up. Also, if I mention specific peoples' names, they will definitely be pseudonyms!

So, I will see you all over the next few days, and hopefully it will be a great experience. I'm keeping an open mind and waiting to see what comes my way, and I'm really excited to possibly find a new family!

Oh, and a warning-- I may vary between recruitment/rush and PNM/rushee. You have been warned!

I know that this thread is going to be really good, so I am very excited to post. It seems like recruitment is going to be an amazing experience (and I'm looking forward to it so much!), and I think by doing my daily recaps I will be able to think my choices through a lot more rationally. (Also away from any potential tent talk...) I can't promise that this thread will be carnation-bump-worthy in future years, but I do know that it will be great!

[perfectinpurple]

Good Luck! I can't wait to read your story!

[CherrySonata]

Thank you!

This thread has a lot of views, so I will assume that someone here can answer my question. I'm just going to ask here and abandon my Introductions thread.

I've got a grasp on the concept of 'quota' and 'total,' but what is a quota addition?

Thank you

[AZ-AlphaXi]

quota addition is the method by which women are given bids who otherwise would be bid less because all the chapters which she visited for preference met quota before reaching her name on any of the bid lists .. thus in order to be given a bid she is an addition to the quota number. Being a quota addition is restricted to women who maximize their choices .. ie attend all parties for which they have room on their schedule and rank all chapters where they attended preference. Quota additions are usually placed by the NPC recruitment specialist and usually go to the smaller of the chapters listed on the PNMs preference card.

Basically its a way of placing women who played by the rules but missed getting a bid thru no fault of their own. And there is a good chance that someone would never know that they were a quota addition and most chapter members won't know
which of the new members are quota additions.

[FSUZeta]

i would take a random stranger going out of her way to compliment your dress as a good sign too! good luck to you.

[CherrySonata]

So then, a quota addition would put that chapter above quota, right? Is this the 'exception' to letting chapters go above quota, or do chapters sometimes just go above quota depending on how many bids they give out? (I thought that quota was the max number of bids a chapter could give out-- so how would that work?) Sorry for the clueless questions, I know it isn't that important for my experience but I am fascinated with how it works...

Thanks FSUZeta! I certainly hope a few other people like my dress as much as that lady, LOL.

[ErinBee]

Originally Posted by CherrySonata

So then, a quota addition would put that chapter above quota, right? Is this the 'exception' to letting chapters go above quota, or do chapters sometimes just go above quota depending on how many bids they give out? (I thought that quota was the max number of bids a chapter could give out-- so how would that work?) Sorry for the clueless questions, I know it isn't that important for my experience but I am fascinated with how it works...

Thanks FSUZeta! I certainly hope a few other people like my dress as much as that lady, LOL.

To go into a little more detail. A chapter can only get quota additions if they follow the numbers the RFM specialist tells them to cut/invite back after each party. The number is based on how well that chapter has done such as return rate, if the chapter met quota, how girls ranked them after each party. All these variables turn into a formula and a magic number comes out! When a chapter follows this, it helps (but does not insure) that the chapter meets quota while still looking selective.

[perfectinpurple]

From what I understand, a quota addition is the only thing that can put a chapter over quota. But I will defer to someone who knows for sure.

[MerryGPhiB]

Originally Posted by perfectinpurple

From what I understand, a quota addition is the only thing that can put a chapter over quota. But I will defer to someone who knows for sure.

As far as quota additions go, yes, that is the only thing I can think of off hand that would give a chapter more #s. However ,if a chapter is under TOTAL, they may COR/COB until they reach house total. However, that is separate from quota.

I'm hopeful that makes sense.

M :-)

[Lady Pi]

Going dressier is a smart move, at my school the guide said jeans and blouses for the first round and almost every single girl wore a sundress or at least a skirt! Good Luck!

[perfectinpurple]

Makes total sense! I know I already referred to this in another thread recently, but this thread: http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=107727 is very helpful to understand all the different terminology

[CherrySonata]

Thank you everybody for your explanations, input, and advice! I feel better about it I'm going to start posting the 'delayed' parts pretty soon

[CherrySonata]

Another stupid question (and hopefully my last one)--

When I got some recs, the women always asked for a picture. I need a picture for all my round 1 parties. Would it be better to use the same picture, a different picture, or does it matter?

I am sure this has been asked somewhere before so I beg your pardon and patience... Thank you so much for all your help

[perfectinpurple]

I would try to use the same picture. Chances are your rec writers will send the picture in with their recs to the chapters. It might get confusing to have multiple pictures of the same girl (at least speaking from an active viewpoint). Also try to send in as up to date of a picture as you can. I've seen pictures with recs of girls with long hair, and when they show up it's all been cut off!! It's just easier to keep everyone straight that way.

But again, I'll defer to someone here who would know better.

[CherrySonata]

An update

Warning: I will be exchanging the terms Recruitment Counselor and RC throughout my posts. I hope this doesn't bother anybody.



We got a schedule e-mailed to us yesterday, and I couldn't be more pumped even though we'll have some 'pretty' early mornings. (This is nothing compared to my high school schedule, but it is going to be hard to get up early on some of the days anyway...) Today I got a call from Panhellenic and the woman on the phone said that she was an RC. (!!!) (Although she didn't say she was 'my' RC, so I was interested in finding out if I ended up with an RC named 'Jennifer' or if it will even be the same woman.) She double-checked that I'd be checking into my housing at the approved time, and if I'd be at Recruitment check-in and orientation at the approved time. Double-checked to make sure I had no scheduling conflicts and no other questions. Overall very nice, and it was a short conversation because I had GC to help prepare me. ( thankfully.)

It's almost heeeeere and I can practically taste it! With all these Auburn, UGA, and etc threads going on I am so "...OMGOMGOMG"
(lol)