Deferred Rush at a Small School

[LbrlArtsRushee]

I go to a small liberal arts school that has around 1000 people in the freshmen class. We have 4 NPC chapters AND deferred rush, which is completely different from the experiences my friends (who go to larger Midwestern universities) have had. I have a few questions:

1. What are the chances that I will get into my top choice? Our selection process works 4-4-3-2 with the PNM cutting the sororities they do not like and ranking their top two on pref night. Note that my school guarantees bids to every girl

2. I am a legacy, my sister belongs to a chapter of one of the organizations on campus in a different state. My question here is, if I end up not really clicking with this org am I "screwed" because of my legacy status?

3. My last question is this: with deferred rush I've already gotten to meet, mingle, and in some cases attend parties with greek women. I already have ideas about where I would like to be. Is this a bad mentality to have??

[angels&angles]

1. We can't really tell you this. Also, it is a MUTUAL SELECTION process, which means the sororities rank you just as you rank (not cut) them. Go in with an open mind. Be pleasant to all groups (even if they're not your favorites). Your favorites may change over the week anyway. You may not click with your original favorite.

2. Some campuses this really matters, some it doesn't. I do think they will know that you are a legacy. If you like a group, be sure to tell them, this will help.

3. It is an understandable mentality. It is both a pro and con of deferred rush. You know the girls outside of superficial rush and stereotypes, but you already have definite opinions. I would say, just try to keep an open mind. Even if you really THINK you may not fit with a group, if you get invited back there, give them a shot. They may surprise you. It's hard not to have opinions, but try to be open to changing them, and roll with the punches.

Good luck!

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by LbrlArtsRushee

I go to a small liberal arts school that has around 1000 people in the freshmen class. We have 4 NPC chapters AND deferred rush, which is completely different from the experiences my friends (who go to larger Midwestern universities) have had. I have a few questions:

1. What are the chances that I will get into my top choice? Our selection process works 4-4-3-2 with the PNM cutting the sororities they do not like and ranking their top two on pref night. Note that my school guarantees bids to every girl

2. I am a legacy, my sister belongs to a chapter of one of the organizations on campus in a different state. My question here is, if I end up not really clicking with this org am I "screwed" because of my legacy status?

3. My last question is this: with deferred rush I've already gotten to meet, mingle, and in some cases attend parties with greek women. I already have ideas about where I would like to be. Is this a bad mentality to have??

#1 - Nobody here can tell you.
#2 - Why would you be "screwed"?
#3 - Yes.

[carnation]

By #2, I think she's asking if all her non-legacy sororities will cut her because they think she only wants her legacy group. I don't know your school or its traditions so I have no idea, OP, but it's getting to be a huge problem in the South.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by LbrlArtsRushee

I go to a small liberal arts school that has around 1000 people in the freshmen class. We have 4 NPC chapters AND deferred rush, which is completely different from the experiences my friends (who go to larger Midwestern universities) have had. I have a few questions:

1. What are the chances that I will get into my top choice? Our selection process works 4-4-3-2 with the PNM cutting the sororities they do not like and ranking their top two on pref night. Note that my school guarantees bids to every girl

2. I am a legacy, my sister belongs to a chapter of one of the organizations on campus in a different state. My question here is, if I end up not really clicking with this org am I "screwed" because of my legacy status?

3. My last question is this: with deferred rush I've already gotten to meet, mingle, and in some cases attend parties with greek women. I already have ideas about where I would like to be. Is this a bad mentality to have??

1. First, you might know this but I'm just making sure...it is a mutual selection process. Each day you will have invites to the sororities that wish to invite you to the next party. If you get all four you narrow it down to three. But you might get two, for instance. Just know that they are "cutting" you, too. Second, that depends on the school. But keep in mind that your top choice now might change, and that there are many, many sorority women at your school, around the world, and right here on GreekChat that did NOT get their "top" choice and now couldn't see themselves anywhere else but at their original second or third choice.

2. That completely depends on your campus. At my campus legacies usually only negatively effect a PNM's chances when the legacy is their sister who is currently in a chapter on campus or JUST graduated. Otherwise, they don't seem to play a huge factor. But that is a question for your recruitment counselors who can better tell you how it will be on YOUR campus, and how to handle it.

3. Yes and no. It's PERFECTLY reasonable to form opinions since you've had a semester to meet these women. But what you need to remember is that it looks different from the outside looking in than it does the other way around. During recruitment you learn a little more about the sisterhood, national/international organization, philanthropy, etc. If you have your heart set on one chapter, your recruitment might not be successful. Instead, spend the week being as open minded as possible and in the event that you don't get your top choice, give the one you do get a chance. If they like you enough to invite you to join their chapter, they see something in you that fits their vibe.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by LbrlArtsRushee

I go to a small liberal arts school that has around 1000 people in the freshmen class. We have 4 NPC chapters AND deferred rush, which is completely different from the experiences my friends (who go to larger Midwestern universities) have had. I have a few questions:

1. What are the chances that I will get into my top choice? Our selection process works 4-4-3-2 with the PNM cutting the sororities they do not like and ranking their top two on pref night. Note that my school guarantees bids to every girl

2. I am a legacy, my sister belongs to a chapter of one of the organizations on campus in a different state. My question here is, if I end up not really clicking with this org am I "screwed" because of my legacy status?

3. My last question is this: with deferred rush I've already gotten to meet, mingle, and in some cases attend parties with greek women. I already have ideas about where I would like to be. Is this a bad mentality to have??

In response to #1:

Recruitment = mutual selection. Just as you are making choices, the chapters will also be cutting PNMs. So it is a little more complicated than just "cutting the groups you don't like."

In addition, guaranteed bidding means that IF you make it to Preference Night and IF you rank all of your available choices, you will receive a bid SOMEWHERE. It's not always your first choice chapter.

We also can't tell you what the odds of getting your first choice are, because we do not know the membership selection criteria of that chapter or what they're looking for.

In response to #3:

Having ideas about which chapter you do/don't want to join is not the best thing. Those chapters could end up cutting you. In addition, your opinions may change during recruitment. So it's best to be more open minded to all chapters on campus.

[angels&angles]

To be fair, it is really hard to do deferred rush and NOT have opinions about a chapter. The best you can do is realize that just because you and Katie Kappa are BFF, doesn't mean you will get a bid there. And that if you don't it's not that Katie Kappa isn't your friend.

I think the disappointment can be a lot greater in deferred recruitment (for the reason stated above - it feels so personal to get dropped), but I DO think it's a good way to form more well-reasoned opnions about the chapters beyond 20 minute rush conversations.

Basically, OF COURSE you will have opinions going in. Just be willing to let them change, and think about how you might fit into the sorority as a whole, and not just with the 2-3 girls you're friends with (or, conversely, that super snotty slacker in your History class).

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by angels&angles

To be fair, it is really hard to do deferred rush and NOT have opinions about a chapter. The best you can do is realize that just because you and Katie Kappa are BFF, doesn't mean you will get a bid there. And that if you don't it's not that Katie Kappa isn't your friend.

I think the disappointment can be a lot greater in deferred recruitment (for the reason stated above - it feels so personal to get dropped), but I DO think it's a good way to form more well-reasoned opnions about the chapters beyond 20 minute rush conversations.

Basically, OF COURSE you will have opinions going in. Just be willing to let them change, and think about how you might fit into the sorority as a whole, and not just with the 2-3 girls you're friends with (or, conversely, that super snotty slacker in your History class).

The bolded are extremely important things to keep in mind.

[LbrlArtsRushee]

Originally Posted by carnation

By #2, I think she's asking if all her non-legacy sororities will cut her because they think she only wants her legacy group. I don't know your school or its traditions so I have no idea, OP, but it's getting to be a huge problem in the South.

That is EXACTLY what I meant. I'm very afraid of that happening to me.

I probably should have worded my OP differently/better, I understand recruitment is a mutual selection. And as for guaranteed bidding no girl at my school (in the past 10 years) has ever been cut before pref night. Every girl who rushes gets a bid SOMEWHERE. Please keep up the helpful info! If you have any other general recruitment advice for deferred rush or rush at a small school like this please post it here. Thank you guys

[KSUViolet06]

As far as chapters cutting you because you're a legacy, it happens. It's unfortunate but there really isn't much you can do about it. Just generally interested in all the chapters on campus, don't give off the impression that you want to be in the same group as your sister and hope for the best.

As far as advice goes, we have a really great general advice thread (most advice applies to any school):

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=54403

[Blue Skies]

Originally Posted by carnation

By #2, I think she's asking if all her non-legacy sororities will cut her because they think she only wants her legacy group. I don't know your school or its traditions so I have no idea, OP, but it's getting to be a huge problem in the South.

This is why I think that the only people who need to know that you're an XYZ legacy are the sisters of XYZ. Let your sibling write the rec (or find someone in her GLO to write the rec, mentioning that you're a legacy) and leave the legacy section on your recruitment registration blank.

But if the milk is already spilled, and everyone already knows, then make a point of mentioning to each chapter, as you go through recruitment, that you are keeping an open mind to all the chapters.

[Titchou]

My experience is that the fact her sister is on another campus would not work against her. If the sister was in house on the OP's campus, that would be a different story.