UK Recruitment Advice??

[uk2011]

Hi, everyone! I will be going through Recruitment at the University of Kentucky next week. I am a little nervous, because I am actually a year older than the other Freshman (I took a year off for family reasons).

Any advice? I've been reading through all of the boards, and I feel much more confident than I did before. I was hoping to talk to someone who has gone through Recruitment at UK, though.

I am a Legacy through my mom, aunt, and grandmother (my grandmother was a chapter President), but UK doesn't have their sorority. Most of my cousins are in the same sorority, which UK DOES have, and I've had them write Rec's, but I don't really know anyone in the other sororities, so that's the only one I have.

I am very excited, and have spent most of this week planning my outfits!

Any advice at all would be wonderful.

[TSteven]

Woo Hoo! A Kentucky Wildkitten! Enjoy your time at UK.

If you go to the various chapters' websites (links to the chapters may be found at the University of Kentucky Panhellenic Council website), you will notice that many say something along the lines that recommendations are not necessary, but are *welcome*. And by *welcome* they mean good.

For what it is worth, check with your teachers, family friends, members of your church/temple/synagogue etc. as well as your Phi Mu and other family members and see if they know any sorority members that might be willing to meet with you and write you a recommendation. Often, they know someone who can. Also, there is a Louisville Alumnae Panhellenic but I can't seem to find any contact information for them. Maybe they are listed in the phone book. And some of the other UK folk here at GC might be able to provide you with contact information as well.

Remember that UK's recruitment starts on Saturday, August 16th so you do have some time to secure recommendations. But don't wait too long to do so.

Click here to view the 2008 UK Sorority Recruitment Book

Click here to view the 2008 UK Sorority Recruitment Video

Go Cats!

[irishpipes]

Or by *welcome* they mean get them.

[ztafromuk]

Yay! A Kentucky PNM! It's been a couple of years, I think!

Kentucky recruitment is structured like the other "big SEC" schools. You start with a kickoff meeting, then an open house round where you visit all the chapters over two days, then there's a series of invitational parties where things get whittled down. It's all day, every day, lots of walking, and hectic but fun. I just took a look at the schedule, and they've added all kinds of official panhellenic activities, but the party structure hasn't really changed in (cough cough) 25 years.

I wouldn't stress about "taking a gap year" between high school and college. If you can think of a way of presenting it in conversation that doesn't sound maudlin, maybe you can try that.

Good luck and let us know how you do! PM me if you have any specific questions! And - for planning what to wear - the outfits in the panhellenic brouchure look a little too casual/sloppy to me. I wouldn't take them literally. Maybe you could confirm this with someone you graduated with who went through last year?

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Or by *welcome* they mean get them.

That too!

[Lightning Bug!]

Good luck...and a word of caution...be careful not to reveal any more details about yourself on this board...it might not be too hard for actives to pinpoint the girl who is a freshman but took a "gap year," has KD cousins and is a Phi Mu legacy (even though there isn't a Phi Mu chapter there, presumably it is on your registration form or may come up in conversation when they ask what you know about Greek life).

I second what ztafromuk said...err on the side of caution and dress a *little* more nicely than what is suggested.

[uk2011]

Thank you all! I am getting so excited. I've been working on recommendations and trying to figure out what to wear...that's been the most fun for me, lol

I don't know very much at all about the individual sororities, which I think is good, because that means I can go into this with a completely open mind!

Also, I didn't list Phi Mu on my registration form since there isn't a chapter at UK...should I have? I just didn't think it mattered, but does it?

I edited the specific sorority out of my original post, Lightning Bug, so hopefully that is better!

I registered online, though, and I didn't have much room at all to fill in my extra-curricular's and honors and such, so I had to leave a lot of stuff out. Should I fax some sort of resume to the Greek office, or do you think it's too late?

[irishpipes]

If you get recs for each chapter, you shouldn't need to send a resume to the Greek Life office.

Also, it doesn't really matter whether you listed Phi Mu or not. I guess they may assume you (or your parents) understand the obligations (cha-ching) of NPC membership had you listed it, but that is so minute of a detail, I wouldn't worry about it.

[_Lisa_]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Or by *welcome* they mean get them.

Actually not really. Recommendations really aren't used at UK, even with 960 women registered for recruitment next week I'd say my chapter has only received 30 or so recs. They just aren't common.

uk2011-I'm an advisor for my chapter & will be attending recruitment so I'm excited to hear about your experience (after recruitment is over!) If you are worried about leaving something off your registration be sure to mention it during your conversation with the sisters.

[uk2011]

Originally Posted by _Lisa_

Actually not really. Recommendations really aren't used at UK, even with 960 women registered for recruitment next week I'd say my chapter has only received 30 or so recs. They just aren't common.

Thank you! That definitely makes me feel better-- I've been scrambling for more recommendations all day. I'm so excited for Saturday, and I will definitely let you know about my experience when all is said and done!!


Another question, though-- at my cousins' school, parents are encouraged to attend Bid Day. Is that common at UK, too?

I'm sorry, I am full of questions for you all. My mom and my cousins are all familiar with Recruitment, but they all went through at MUCH smaller schools where only around 100-200 girls went through it. So I'm a little lost with such a big group!! lol

[ztafromuk]

It is not traditional for parents to attend bid day at Kentucky. Most chapters have a parents weekend later in the fall, coinciding with a home football game.

Back in the day, bid day activities consisted of taking a million pictures, running the new members through the pledging ceremony (depending on the chapter, this could take HOURS), eating dinner with your new sisters, and then going out to alcohol-fueled fraternity rush parties to show off your new pledges.

I guess some of this has changed. Do chapters now rent out moon bouncers or skating rinks like they do down here in GA?

The only parents I ever saw at any bid day were legacy moms.

[_Lisa_]

Originally Posted by uk2011

Another question, though-- at my cousins' school, parents are encouraged to attend Bid Day. Is that common at UK, too?

Parents are not encouraged to attend Bid Day, you may find a helicopter mom or two but otherwise its very uncommon.


Also, the dress code may be a tad casual for second round, but for Open House days you will be given T-shirts to wear! Please wear comfortable shoes because the walk from Pi Phi to KKG is painful. Oh! And do NOT forget to bring an umbrella, it is already expected to rain next week.

[_Lisa_]

Originally Posted by ztafromuk

Back in the day, bid day activities consisted of taking a million pictures, running the new members through the pledging ceremony (depending on the chapter, this could take HOURS), eating dinner with your new sisters, and then going out to alcohol-fueled fraternity rush parties to show off your new pledges.

I guess some of this has changed. Do chapters now rent out moon bouncers or skating rinks like they do down here in GA?

Bid day still consists of tons of pictures, but pledging varies per chapter, and alcohol is forbidden within the first 24 hours after bid day (and even then, is only for those of age!)

Chapters will rent out facilities for their different bid day plans, depending on what the chapter plans for that day.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by ztafromuk

It is not traditional for parents to attend bid day at Kentucky. Most chapters have a parents weekend later in the fall, coinciding with a home football game.

Back in the day, bid day activities consisted of taking a million pictures, running the new members through the pledging ceremony (depending on the chapter, this could take HOURS), eating dinner with your new sisters, and then going out to alcohol-fueled fraternity rush parties to show off your new pledges.

I guess some of this has changed. Do chapters now rent out moon bouncers or skating rinks like they do down here in GA?

The only parents I ever saw at any bid day were legacy moms.

Deja Big Blue all over again. I wrote about the same thing (sans mention of them being alcohol-fueled, I figured that was a given) in the fraternity rush thread about "Rushing rules reg. females".

Originally Posted by TSteven

At Kentucky, there was no rule then [regarding having girls escort rushees to other houses but making sure they come back to your house], and I don't think there is one now. However, I don't think it could be implemented that well with out raising some eyebrows.

Currently, the fraternities invite a specific sorority chapter to come to their rush party for the night (i.e. ABCs on Monday, DEFs on Tuesday etc.). And some of UK's fraternities rush out of a specific sorority house. As such, it might seem odd to see a member of the ABC sorority hanging out at the DEF sorority house. Or a GH member at a party where the XYZ sorority were the special guests.

Now back in my day, sororities would go around from chapter to chapter showing off their pledge classes. So it wasn't unusual for a new ABC pledge to bring along a rushee to the next house. But often, is was an ABC active, who had ties to the chapter, to escort the rushee back to the house.

For what it is worth, I'm Old School.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by _Lisa_

Recommendations really aren't used at UK, even with 960 women registered for recruitment next week I'd say my chapter has only received 30 or so recs. They just aren't common.

Holy Crap! If all 960 get placed, that means pledge classes of 80 (960 PNMs divided by 12 chapters).