Invite Progression

[kchaptergphib]

Hi all,
As some of you know, the University of Wisconsin welcomed the recolonization of Alpha Xi Delta this fall, so our number of campus NPCs is now 12.
We had been using (in my opinion, a rather "squished") 11 - 6 - 3 max invite progression from Round One through Preference.
Now that I'm pretty sure we'll finally be adding a fourth round of recruitment, I am wondering what the progression is like for other campuses with 4 rounds, particularly those with 12 NPCs participating.
I'm looking at you, ASU, UofAZ, UCLA, UCF, NU, KState, KU, Syracuse, BGSU, Clemson, TAMU, TCU & VTech… what does your progression look like, and what do you think of it?
Thanks, ladies!

P.S. I looked in the MOI, and it just had examples for 10 chapters and for 16 chapters.

[ComradesTrue]

TCU's is 12-9-6-3.

With deep cuts there are a lot of girls that don't have 9 parties for second round but it keeps some chapters in play that otherwise would not be. By third and fourth rounds it evens out somewhat and those with only 5-6 parties for round 2 are much closer to full schedules later in the recruitment process.

When I went through recruitment there were only 10 chapters and the progression was 10-6-4-3. That was also pre-RFM. I think the current progression, along with the addition of RFM, makes for a excellent system of not having girls, or chapters, fall through the cracks.

Round 1 is now over two days, but round 2 is a VERY long day.

[AZTheta]

University of Arizona progression: 12-8-5-2

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Originally Posted by AZTheta

University of Arizona progression: 12-8-5-2

The first round at UofAZ is over 2 days and the chapters hold more than 12 parties in total for first round, as the size of the PNM pool is so large. The chapters also hold more than 2 preference parties although the PNMs can only attend 2.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by AZ-AlphaXi

The first round at UofAZ is over 2 days and the chapters hold more than 12 parties in total for first round, as the size of the PNM pool is so large. The chapters also hold more than 2 preference parties although the PNMs can only attend 2.

Yes that is true, I was simply responding to her question as to # of invites per round (progression). Didn't want to clutter up the thread with too much detail. If the PNM pool shrinks, there will still be 12 parties first round - they simply won't be as large. Ditto for the other rounds.

ETA: how much detail do you want, kchaptergphib?

[kchaptergphib]

This is all good; thanks, ladies.
We finally split Round One into two days, and I certainly hope they keep it that way. I just know it will take some convincing and explaining to the actives that, yes, we need another round of recruitment (we've needed it for a while, really), and that they're going to have to spend more time doing Formal Recruitment. That's just the way it is.
I was also curious what 12 NPC schools had women have up to 2 options or up to 3 options for Preference. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out here in Madison. Ch-ch-ch-changes! It does throw off my anticipated invite percentages, but I'll deal with it to have a growing Greek system!

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by kchaptergphib

This is all good; thanks, ladies.
We finally split Round One into two days, and I certainly hope they keep it that way. I just know it will take some convincing and explaining to the actives that, yes, we need another round of recruitment (we've needed it for a while, really), and that they're going to have to spend more time doing Formal Recruitment. That's just the way it is.
I was also curious what 12 NPC schools had women have up to 2 options or up to 3 options for Preference. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out here in Madison. Ch-ch-ch-changes! It does throw off my anticipated invite percentages, but I'll deal with it to have a growing Greek system!

Are Wisconsin PNMs known for being open-minded as they progress through recruitment? And has RFM worked well there? If so, a final round with only 2 houses might work.

ETA: When I rushed, progression went 10-8-4-2 but we could list three houses on a bid card.

[clemsongirl]

Clemson is 12-9-6-3 as well, with the first round split into two days of six parties each. Because space on campus is limited (we have dorm floors, not houses) Preference is also split into two days, with six groups going on one day and the other six on the other.

[Titchou]

This was common pre-RFM - not unusual at all.

[DubaiSis]

I like the idea of ranking "with regrets." Now that all this stuff is done electronically it wouldn't be hard to make it work. Although probably a bear to explain to rushees.

[ChioLu]

Fall 2014, UCLA was 12-8-5-2. Going from 5 to 2 parties meant many PNMs dropped before Pref (because they got their lower 2 of their 5 chapters) and several groups got 50% +/- returns for Pref.

Really hoping Fall 2015 will be 12-8-4-2. It would help both sides and fewer unmatched at/after Pref.

[LAblondeGPhi]

ETA: Wow - totally missed that ChioLu had just posted!
On the NPCBruins website, I thought it said the progression was 12-9-6-2?

UCLA used to be: 11-8-5-2 (before the days of RFM it was 11-8-4-2)

I say this all the time, but it's been several years since I've been directly involved with UCLA recruitment. The 5 -> 2 drop I don't think was too terrible, especially because it gave women one more day of seeing a chapter she might not have otherwise. It's a little grueling on the chapter side because it can feel like you're retaining most of your favorite PNMs for most of recruitment, only to see the big drop at Preference.

[ChioLu]

LAblondeGPhi -- it may be 12-9-6-2. Some days/nights I was there until 4am, so it was a blur. I just remember the last progression drop not being favorable, math-wise.

[LAblondeGPhi]

Originally Posted by ChioLu

LAblondeGPhi -- it may be 12-9-6-2. Some days/nights I was there until 4am, so it was a blur. I just remember the last progression drop not being favorable, math-wise.

Ah, now I remember that I first heard about the 6 -> 2 drop from you in this post last fall.

I think that's far too harsh a drop in the round right before Pref. I assume that Troy was trying to maximize the number of houses each PNM saw for as long as possible, maybe to provide the newer houses with more rounds in which they could impress PNMs?

I would prefer a 5 -> 2 progression, but I see that other school use a 6 -> 3 progression. I've never worked with a three-chapter pref system - do you all like the way that works? I think I prefer narrowing preference down to two chapters. At most schools (with a guaranteed placement if you maximize your bids), PNMs know that they will get one of the two houses they pref. From what I've read on GC, it sounds like it's slightly more common for PNMs to maximize their options in a three-party pref scenario than in a two-party scenario, in hopes that the odds will work out in their favor, even when they really don't want a bid from one of the chapters. For PNMs, it seems more upsetting to get your third of three choice on bid day than to get your second of two choice.

And on the chapter side - is it not frustrating to end Preference and know that your pledge class will be scattered across that large a section of PNMs? I know the end results are similar for PNMs and chapters, whether the heavy cuts are at the beginning or the end of recruitment, but we've seen from RFM that the psychology of when those cuts take place really can make a difference for happy outcomes.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by LAblondeGPhi

For PNMs, it seems more upsetting to get your third of three choice on bid day than to get your second of two choice.

Agreed.