Southern Miss recruitment

[Angels&Arrows]

Let me say I pledged at Southern a long time ago, when total was closer to 100 and there were nine chapters, not eight (or seven, though no one seems to be in the know about Theta, except the PNM)! Though, I have been involved over the years, at times it has been from a thousand miles away…

phimu88: It is not too late for recs at Southern, if she has not been dropped by the chapter. The chapters work on recs until pref night for the girls they like, but have not rec'd a recommendation.

There is not a chapter at Southern that can pledge you without a recommendation. However, they have the time and resources (mainly due to the smaller number of PNMs to obtain the recommendations needed), then their sisters at Ole Miss and State. Also, for some reason PNMs seem to fall into two categories at USM; they either have tons of recs and info letters, or none. Chapter total is 80; almost all of the chapters have 50-60 members going into rush. Traditionally, 6/8 (or now 6/7) chapters make quota of 25-30 depending on the year.

Southern is different than Ole Miss or State recruitment; I am not sure less competitive is the description I would use. I think when people say less competitive they are comparing chapter-to-chapter within the State… USM is more of a commuter campus, even more than Ole Miss and State. Though, the school population as a whole is larger, the percentage within that population of commuters and “non-traditional” students is also larger. This combined with the lower percentage of students interested in greek life and the campus population is from a narrower range of towns/states makes it a very different atmosphere.

Just as at any school, if you are not opened minded, you will be disappointed. I have seen many PNMs that were polished, academically and athletically enticing to a chapter, recs that overflow the files, that have been dropped/or dropped out (as at any other school). I would hazard to say that Ole Miss pledges a higher percentage of PNMs, than Southern Miss. In “general,” girls that pledge Tri Delta at State would probably not make it as far through the process with Phi Epsilon at USM. A girl that pledges Delta Gamma at USM would in general not make it through to pledge Alpha Psi at Ole Miss. I guess my point would be competitive would depend on how open minded you are going into recruitment.

This year should be interesting with the chapters officially in their new homes for a full year! I am curious to see if the houses make a difference.