The fallacy of Sorority Recs?

[James]

Ok I was talking to some NPC members about sorority recs.

This is my understanding of the situation:

At some scholols recs are vital. The lack of a recomendataion is a barrier to entry into a sorority and will likely get a PNM cut by the second round.

In the interest of fairness NPC generall has a policy that its the responsbility of the Chapter to get girls recomendations that don't already have them.

I have been told that the above very rarely happens. So that a girl that doesn't have a rec to start is mostly SOL.

Here are some talk points:

1. If eveyone you are cosidering has a recomendation, doesn't that diminish the value of them unless they come from someone with status in the sorority?

2. If NPC is acknowledging that the rec system is unfair and maybe even inane by asking each chapter to go get Recs for girls without them, why not just pass a rule that recs are unnecessary?

3. Shouldn't local NPCs enforce the Chapter-Go-Get-A-Rec Rule by making it a Rush infraction for a chapter to NOT get a rec for a girl that wants to RUSH that chapter?

And this one is way out there . . . but . . .

4. Isn't it possible that the writing of recs by a sorority member for a specific chapter in a specific system is actually a violation of the spirit of RUSH guidelines . . . that she is in fact pre-rushing that girl for that chapter? I mean she is writing a recomendation that assumes they are talking about her placement.

5. Am I totally getting the system wrong lol?

[carnation]

It's complicated. At some schools, they're necessary and others they aren't. However, I can't imagine rush at Auburn and Arkansas, with the numbers involved, without them.

It has been my experience with several different NPC sororities that if a sorority wants a girl badly enough, they will find her a rec. No way, though, could they go off and find recs for hundreds of girls.

[James]

The only problem with this is that assumes that the chapter has some experience with the girl beforehand . . with the fast pace of Formal Rush I can't see many girls that would be wanted "that" badly because on the surface a lot will look alike . . . good resume, good looking and well presented.

This must especially be a dealbreaker for people coming from say the north or just places where sorority wasn't emphasized.

Originally posted by carnation


It has been my experience with several different NPC sororities that if a sorority wants a girl badly enough, they will find her a rec. No way, though, could they go off and find recs for hundreds of girls.

[33girl]

Originally posted by James
This must especially be a dealbreaker for people coming from say the north or just places where sorority wasn't emphasized.

I totally agree. I wish they would just say the girls need to get the recs on their own and be done with it.

It's not fair to tell people they're "not necessary" per the rules when in practice, they are. That's like the one school that said in their rush booklet that jeans were OK and people from that school came on here and said jeans were NOT OK.

[exlurker]

Originally posted by James

1. If eveyone you are cosidering has a recomendation, doesn't that diminish the value of them unless they come from someone with status in the sorority?
. . .

4. Isn't it possible that the writing of recs by a sorority member for a specific chapter in a specific system is actually a violation of the spirit of RUSH guidelines . . . that she is in fact pre-rushing that girl for that chapter . . . .

Good questions, James --
#1. Not necesssarily; there can be "strong" recs and "weak" recs, and it usually doesn't take a genius to distingusih between them. I believe JAM once posted an edited excerpt from a rec she wrote that was an example of a very strong rec. In contrast, a rec that is simply a filled-out official sorority form with few personal comments might be seen as saying, essentially, "take a look, as far as I know she's okay." Sororities also are aware that there are areas of a state or even of the country where there aren't many prominent alumnae, so they may be delighted to get a rec on a great PNM who happens to live in Nowhere Junction instead of suburban Chicago / Atlanta / Denver / Dallas, etc., even if the alumna doesn't have a particularly high profile in the org.

#4. Again, not necessarily. A rec need not be "pre-rushing." It is often (usually) just a way to alert a chapter to someone who may be a good member. It's quite possible for a young woman to have a rec and not even know about it -- although usually the PNM or her mother will quietly get the word from an alumna that a rec has been sent in. Especially in areas where recs are all but essential, alumnae know that a rec doesn't promise a bid or even much in the way of special consideration -- it's more like a partial substitute for the first-semester or first-year scrutiny that women get at schools with
deferred recruitment.

Finally, there's the dreaded written No Rec -- very sparingly used, but this can alert a chapter that a PNM's behavior makes her unsuitable for the chapter. A No Rec can be useful in those rare cases where a mebers of a chapter are not aware of serious problems.

[exlurker]

33Girl, well said! That's exactly why many GCers have repeatedly advised in rush threads that PNMs should ask for recs, get the word out that they are interested in Greek Life and recruitment, and if need be contact a local / regional NPC Alumnae Panhellenic. Even for campuses where "no one" has recs, I've never read a GC post saying that a sorority cut someone BECAUSE she had a rec -- I figure a rec can't hurt!

Originally posted by 33girl
I totally agree. I wish they would just say the girls need to get the recs on their own and be done with it.

It's not fair to tell people they're "not necessary" per the rules when in practice, they are. That's like the one school that said in their rush booklet that jeans were OK and people from that school came on here and said jeans were NOT OK.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by exlurker
Even for campuses where "no one" has recs, I've never read a GC post saying that a sorority cut someone BECAUSE she had a rec -- I figure a rec can't hurt!

Exactly! This needs to be stressed a million times. I don't that my chapter would know what to DO with a rec, but it sure wouldn't hurt your chances - we'd know you really cared.

[ThetaPrincess24]

I think another thing too is that, not always with the school's Panhellenic or because of the number of PNM's that come through, but some chapters at a national level require recommendations before they can either bid a woman or before the pledge/new member pinning ceremony.

A recommendation requirement and value varies between the different NPC chapters (and we know who we are! )

[honeychile]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't a big part of the start of the Rec system due to many mothers sending a chapter hundreds or thousands of dollars of gifties prior to Daughter Dear going through Rush?

I agree with all that has been stated so far, and as a Rec Chair, I could certainly tell a good rec from an "eh" one!

[aurora_borealis]

I don't think my school is that competetive per se, but we do have an old system with even some single letter or very early (national) chapters. In my experience here the recs helped me out in differing ways depending on the chapter. For various reasons I did not go through formal, so keep that in mind.

1) For chapters that took quota during formal, are at total, or just aren't doing COB, the rec has worked like getting a foot in the door. They can't take me now, but they are aware I exist and when they want new sisters, they have someone to invite. In my opinion a chapter that is always looking for potential sisters, even if they can't take any, is one that has good recruitment skills. Can't hurt to have a pool of potentials when it is time for new members.

2) For groups that did COB having a rec helped. For some groups I had alums contacting the chapter for me and saying I was interest in COB, and them working as a go between. Others it was that they knew I didn't go through formal, and looked me up in the student directory.

3) Sadly two groups I have a rec for won't take women until next fall. Having the rec would have been great in formal, and now knowing some of the members wouldn't hurt either. However, there are LOTS of girls with recs that come through those chapters, so it doesn't make the same impact as with others.

Recs for me were a matter of introductions for me, and a networking tool (and a really nice thing for alums to do, I cannot say enough how flattering it is when people think you're good enough to maybe be their sister one day). I know once I meet the chapter I am on my own with my own merits and social skills. I do think they are great for some women who can have their achievements, skills, activities, and so on highlighted to make the sisters aware of it. I am rather gregarious and social, but for a shy person or one not versed int he greek system, it may have made a real difference.

P.S. You GCers that helped me procure recs, thanks yet again!

Depends on where you are and the chapter. Some sororities will cut a pnm if she has no recs. No one knows her, no one is recommending her for membership, they have nothing to go on. It's one of those cut off points like grades are. Ex. All girls with no recs will be cut automatically after first day. All girls with GPAs below 3.0 will be cut before pref, etc. In chapters where it's no absolutely vital to have one, it doesn't make THAT much of a difference. Does that make sense? Like it's either REALLY important or not that important at all.
Besides, not all recs are GOOD.

[ISUKappa]

At my school, most Recs were seen as "take a little closer look at this girl, she has some outstanding qualities and could be a very valuable member of your chapter." Of course, some were stronger than others: photo, resume, completed HQ rec form with personal letter--and some were weaker: barely completed HQ rec form. We even had certain times during work week where we would go through the recs to try and get to know the girls' names an faces so we would recognize them during recruitment and find out if they were really good matches for our chapter. Because they were written by alumnae or fellow actives at different schools, some former sisters from my chapter, they were taken very seriously. We would usually only get 1 or 2 recs per girl being recommended, every once in a while we would get 3 or maybe 4 (and you bet your sweet bippy we paid attention to those girls). Also, our Reference chair during Recruitment was also obligated to send a card out to every person who had submitted a Rec informing them which house the girl they recommended received a bid from.

And, in order to extend a bid to a PNM, she did have to have a rec. If she did not, a majority chapter vote would serve as one, and then we had to fill out some paperwork for HQ.

I was completely clueless about Recruitment and didn't even know I had a rec from my sister until my sophomore year.

[justamom]

SOMEtimes, it's not JUST the rec, but WHO wrote the rec...

I agree, it's more like, "Please take a closer look."

[aephi alum]

From what I've seen in real life and on GC, there is a continuum regarding letters of reference/recommendation (whatever they're calling them now) - ranging from "Anyone without at least 2 recs gets cut after round 1" to "WTF is a rec?" (My school falls near the "WTF is a rec?" end of the spectrum.)

At schools with highly competitive rushes, whether or not you have a rec can be the determining factor as to whether you're invited back after round 1. Sororities have to make quick decisions based on very little information, and a rec or two can tip the balance.

At schools with more laid-back rushes, where most women don't come in with a sheaf of recs, a rec still sends the message that "hey, she has some great qualities, don't overlook her" as well as the message that the PNM proactively went out and sought recommendations and information about the sororities at the school she'll be attending.

Bottom line: It's never wrong to get a rec.

[WCUgirl]

Okay, so please forgive me for being naive, and I have searched on this topic and haven't quite found the answers I'm looking for. I guess I just need someone to go a little more in-depth on the topic for me.

I had never heard of having to have a recommendation for a sorority before coming here to GC. This obviously isn't a national requirement, because it's not required at all schools (or I wouldn't be asking such a silly question! ). What I want to know is, how exactly do recommendations work? How popular are they? Does your school require the PNMs to have recs? Is it a Southern/Northern/Eastern/Western thing? Is it mainly some GLOs and not others? Is it larger schools? Smaller schools? What? I need more details!

Thanks!