Petals' Recruitment Story at Penn State (finally!)

petals · #1 10-03-2006, 08:59 PM

Hi everyone

After reading recruitment stories since AUGUST, I’d say I’m finally ready for it to be my turn! Tonight was my first info session, and although recruitment doesn’t actually start until the 22nd, I’m just so excited for things to finally get started that I thought I’d start my thread now (hope you guys don’t mind the wait

).

Like I said, tonight was a basic info session about Greek life at Penn State. Even though I already knew most of the things they went over because of this site, I was kind of nervous when I realized how many freshmen there really were (I’m a sophomore). It seems that recruitment is a little more laid back up here, though, and I’m hoping that my class standing won’t hurt me too much.

We have 20 national chapters and over 700 women to going through recruitment this semester. The chapters arrrrrre:

Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Phi
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Xi Delta
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Delta Zeta
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Phi Mu
Pi Beta Phi
Sigma Delta Tau
Sigma Kappa
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Zeta Tau Alpha

I’m going to try and be as discrete as possible, so I’ll just say that I have some factors working in my favor— some recs/people in different chapters rooting for me/knowing what’s going on thanks to GC— but I’ll *definitely* be biting my nails until bid day.

I suppose that’s all for now… I’m just so excited to get started with recruitment, so if you guys have any advice or questions, let me know!

violetpretty · #2 10-03-2006, 09:11 PM

Yay a Northeast thread! Good luck to you!

twinkle555 · #3 10-03-2006, 09:19 PM

OoOo!! thats a nice list of choices!!! i cant wait to read ur thread!

BellaBerlee · #4 10-03-2006, 09:44 PM

WoW, that is A LOT of sororities! I would get confused naming them all with all the code names and such

I'll stay up to date with your thread though!

Have fun and can't wait to hear all about it!

<3

LOVEinZTA · #5 10-03-2006, 09:49 PM

WOW, that's intense. sounds like someone's going to need a notebook for in between houses. haha, good luck honey!

KSUViolet06 · #6 10-03-2006, 11:24 PM

I have Greek friends at Penn State and they love it! Good luck!

That's ALOT of sororities! Good luck finding codenames or them

Jill1228 · #7 10-04-2006, 06:41 PM

Added you to the thread...

best of luck

TigerOwl · #8 10-04-2006, 09:59 PM

Penn State---20 NPC's
Illinois---19 NPC's
Indiana---19 NPC's

We should all be lucky to have someone post from those schools. It is an exhausting event.

Penn State 34 "parties" open house and 1st round
Illinois 30 "parties" open house and 1st round
Indiana 31 "parties" open hosue and 1st round

It is exhausting for all the PNM's, collegians and advisors.

700 +/- PNM's for Penn State
1,387 PNM's for Illinois
1,250 +/_ PNM's for Indiana

Yes, all sororities will love to have and NEED letters of recommendation and pics. It's imperative with the numbers! Ask any advisors and recruitment chairs. It soooooo helps the conversations.

So GC members----Set your daughters, grand daughters, neices, neighbors up to succeed! Send those letters, resumes and pics!

I can't wait to read all about Petals experience! I so love Penn State!

All the best, and please keep us as informed as you can. Take notes please! Because you will laugh and tear at all your experiences. Keep them, because they are words from your 18 year old life.

TigerOwl

TigerOwl · #9 10-04-2006, 10:17 PM

Oh one more thing----It really is a shame that Penn State's panhellenic does not accept letters or resumes or photo's. 33 is that True? If that is true, then the Greek Advisor has never "sat in the seat" of an alumnae with a grand daughter going thru recruitment at the beloved halls of Old Nittany or any other university for that matter.

bluefish81 · #10 10-04-2006, 10:25 PM

Good Luck Petals! I definitely recommend keeping notes. My school had 15 chapters and notes helped me keep everything straight back in the day.

LionTamer · #11 10-05-2006, 09:36 AM

In case anyone thinks I'm hallucinating:

Quote:

From the Penn State Panhel website: We do not use recommendations, pictures, or resumes for Penn state Recruitment. Please refer to the sorority's national website in regards to a particular sorority accepting these.

I know a number of great girls slipped through the cracks of recruitment at PSU because we so often got into arguments about who was who ("the one sitting by the patio door?" "no, no, no - she was sitting by the piano!")

On the other hand, I like how it doesn't discriminate against those not groomed from birth for rush. The 1st generation collegian who never even thought about sororities until she got to college still has an excellent chance of getting a bid from a great sorority -- it isn't all about who your "people" are. She can find out about Greek Life, and give it a chance without worrying that she's starting rush with an insurmountable handicap - no professional photo or reccs from all of Mama's friends.

On a practical note: the advice quoted often here -- that you may want to consider wearing an interesting bracelet/watch, earrings or necklace --- is particularly salient with a rush without pictures. Nothing freaky - just something to help people remember you (in a good way).

33girl · #12 10-05-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerOwl

Oh one more thing----It really is a shame that Penn State's panhellenic does not accept letters or resumes or photo's. 33 is that True? If that is true, then the Greek Advisor has never "sat in the seat" of an alumnae with a grand daughter going thru recruitment at the beloved halls of Old Nittany or any other university for that matter.

No, it isn't a shame, for the reasons that LionTamer stated.

If a sorority alum wants to send a rec DIRECTLY TO HER SORORITY, she's more than welcome. The point is that Panhel doesn't want to mess around with it. With 20 sororities, I can't blame them.

LionTamer · #13 10-05-2006, 10:10 AM

Another word of advice that applicable at Penn State: without resumes, you need to let the chapters know what you're bringing to the table (other than your great personality and winning smile).

Some talents that they might be looking for:
- proven leadership skills (for chapter and Panhel exec positions)
- proven organizational skills (along with leadership, the biggest need - people who would enjoy organizing parties, recruitment, outings, Thon solicitations, philanthropies, etc etc etc)
- singing, dancing, choreography (for Greek Sing/Greek Week)
- drawing, painting, graphic design, scrapbooking, photography, web design, calligraphy (for Homecoming windows, Historian, Editor, Webmistress, t-shirt designer, party decorator)
- reporting/writing (someone has to send chapter news to the national magazine)

When you're asked about your interests, hobbies or high school activities, be sure to highlight your skills and accomplishments. It's not bragging to tell them how much you enjoyed heading up your Prom Committee or doing all the artwork for your yearbook - it's giving them information they need to make the decision "what does Petal bring to our organization?"

Sounds like you're going into this with your head on straight - good luck, Petal!