University of Iowa Recruitment

pearlalum · #1 11-07-2011, 02:11 PM

My daughter is now seriously looking at Iowa and would like to go through sorority recruitment in the fall. Can anyone tell me how important it is to have recommendations? Also, when should they be submitted? Thanks!

DubaiSis · #2 11-07-2011, 03:23 PM

Recommendations will be appreciated but not required. My understanding is the chapters that absolutely require them will get them for her if they're needed. There are two GC members who were advisors there this past fall so they can probably provide more current information. Hopefully they'll jump in! Recommendations should be sent in the spring or early summer to be of most benefit.

What I can tell you from observing (via GC, Facebook, etc.) is that it is more competitive than people think and your daughter should be prepared for heavy cuts. The system has undergone a rebirth of sorts over the last couple years and every chapter but one is at or very near total. Of course there are more and less desirable chapters but they're all good, and GROWING. If she goes in with an open mind she should find a home.

Iowa is a great school and a great (and OLD) Greek system but it's not tied to ancient traditions and status. She doesn't have to feel like she's been relegated to Siberia if she doesn't get what she sees as the top chapter on campus.

GolfersLady · #3 11-07-2011, 04:07 PM

I'll chime in to agree that recommendations are appreciated by the chapter I work with but are in no way required.

The rest was very well put above and I'll add that, at least for us, grades are an important factor when reviewing the potential new member.

Jill1228 · #4 11-07-2011, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GolfersLady

I'll chime in to agree that recommendations are appreciated by the chapter I work with but are in no way required.

The rest was very well put above and I'll add that, at least for us, grades are an important factor when reviewing the potential new member.

What DubaiSis and GolfersLady said

scrapcat · #5 11-08-2011, 12:47 AM

My daughter was just initiated into her sorority at Iowa just last week. Rush is far more competitive than we had thought. The ladies who posted previously have wonderful words of wisdom! We got a few letters of rec for my daughter. She was still cut heavily after the second round. Be prepared! Rush was spread over two weeks so it seemed to go forever! It was a crazy, emotional roller coaster. But the end was really worth it! Good luck!

colordogs · #6 08-12-2013, 12:04 AM

She falls above 3.0 minimum by her HS schools GPA. 4.3 versus 4.0 I think but hits at 2.98 by Iowa official translation. Tough for her as she is dyslexic but took a hard course load of AP and honors coursework at a private academically rigorous college prep school. She will be a BFA in dance major where I expect she will excel grade wise. Any idea if anything other than official Iowa report is used to eval for grades?

Thanks! Just trying to prepare her for the cuts I know will be forthcoming. She has an excellent résumé (lots of volunteer work, taught in a girls school in India for the summer, accomplished dancer with awards, team captain, etc) as well as recs for each house from people who know her well which were sent with official transcript.

pearlalum · #7 11-08-2011, 10:17 PM

Thanks everyone. It's been 30 years since I was initiated and in another state from where I live now. Things have really changed. I have to admit I have mixed emotions about my daughter going through sorority recruitment. I would love her to experience greek life and have the wonderful memories that I have, but also dread the emotional roller coaster of rush! Like every Mom, I think my daughter would make a great sister anywhere. I hope I instill in her that she will find a fit that's right for her if she keeps an open mind and pleasant outlook!

colordogs · #8 08-11-2013, 10:41 PM

My daughter will be going through recruitment at University of Iowa this fall. How competitive is recruitment there? We are living in Texas where many attend SEC schools that seem to be Ultra Competitive, recommendations necessary as well as far more dressy than UI appears. Any advice?

Also can anyone speak to cuts due only to GPA at Iowa? As a sorority member at Indiana and as an alumnae officer helping with recruitment at my local chapter in Texas I know there is some leeway for grades. In general are grade cuts done after a particular round? I want to be able to advise my daughter well.

DubaiSis · #9 08-11-2013, 11:11 PM

Yeah Iowa! Iowa is moderately competitive. Several years ago or more, there was a big difference between the biggest chapters and the smallest chapters, and it caused a lot of drops. Now, I really feel like there is no reason for a girl to drop out because of who she's left with after any given round. I would STRONGLY suggest sticking with it to the end, even if she's terribly disappointed after a round of cuts. The Iowa Greek system is a TON of fun, and that's top to bottom. There are still too many drops at Iowa, but if the girls did the smart thing, the pledge classes could end up in the 50's-60's. As it is, it's made its way to the mid 40's.

I think at all schools, grades are used as the primary cut after round 1. If she doesn't meet the minimum standard on the one thing that is not subject to opinion, then it really wouldn't be fair to keep her.

colordogs · #10 08-12-2013, 12:15 AM

I would STRONGLY suggest sticking with it to the end, even if she's terribly disappointed after a round of cuts.

Agree with that advice wholeheartedly. Coming from Texas where she knows no one at Iowa she has no preconceived notions of any house. And thankfully she is a young lady who is an independent thinker. Judgement by GPA is a rotten fact of life in these situations and this will unfortunately not be the first time that she will have struggled to overcome a number despite all other qualities.

DubaiSis · #11 08-12-2013, 12:26 AM

12 hours is the minimum it takes to maintain full time status. I hope that's all she's got for her first semester. And thereafter, I'd make sure she's aware of when the deadline is to drop a class each semester. Not that she will need to drop classes, but if she's got one where the teacher isn't being supportive of her special needs, then bailing is the better choice.

And as a dancer, she should go in knowing something about Dance Marathon. It's a HUGE thing, and although that's not the kind of dancing your daughter will likely be doing, it might be something she can show special enthusiasm for.

colordogs · #12 08-12-2013, 01:15 AM

Luckily she has 13 dance hours this upcoming semester! She feels like she's in heaven after 3 AP classes second semester senior year! She is so proactive and mature so we had no problem thinking she will be ok at Iowa. Actually Iowa was great admissions wise and in advising for course load!! Got accepted to all 13 colleges she applied to based more on personal interview, resume and dance qualifications than strictly gpa but Iowa was great about looking at her wholistically.

Great advice on learning more about Dance Marathon! Actually only know the bare minimum but it sounds like a great event to be involved in.

DubaiSis · #13 08-12-2013, 01:19 AM

http://dancemarathon.uiowa.edu/

WCsweet<3 · #14 08-12-2013, 01:20 AM

Not much to add, but as a graduated dance major: WOO HOO!

Missouri Ivy · #15 08-12-2013, 07:31 AM

Her dyslexia would be something her rec writers could include in reference to her GPA. My youngest brother is dyslexic, and I know how he struggled all the way through school. She must be very hard working and determined. If there is a place to mention it on the recruitment application, I would do that too.