Alabama Recruitment Prediction (Fall 2008)

[peaches321]

I too would urge girls to check out Alpha Phi before deciding to look toward sophomore recruitment. While Panhellenic has certainly set up a system that encourages bidding of upperclassmen, the stats bear out that not all chapters bid to that number. I wrote recs for two excellent (read High GPA, gorgeous, in-state, big deal high schools) sophomores. One accepted a bid, and the other dropped with only one house left. This is not a criticism of those choices or the system- it's just important to be realistic about what an upperclassman can expect.

[AOEforme]

Originally Posted by Lightning Bug!

But as everyone says, the Alpha Phi thing is a wonderful opportunity, and she should consider trying to get an invitation to join there....nationals usually are very careful to select top, top girls to be the first group of New Members, so she probably will end up with a stellar PNM group, and certainly there will be much more fanfare around everything than she would get with another house...

Agreed. Plus, getting to be a founding member is a unique opportunity that very few girls have. From what it sounds like (I'm nowhere near Bama so I really have no clue, except from GC), she won't really be missing anything either. They have a house and a chance to live in it right away. The bookstore already has A-Phi items avaliable. Swaps are being planned so they can participate in Homecoming and Greek Week.

Will it be more work than joining an established sorority? Undoubtedly. But will it be her best chance: probably. There's no reason this can't be one of the best experiences of her life, bamamom4. They'll have loads of support from the National Office, the Greek Community at her school, and alums.

I think it's worth a shot.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by 33girl

ETA - I got kind of dizzy reading this thread - did everyone make quota? Is everyone at total after that?

I believe the consensus was that everyone did make quota except Pi Phi and Gamma Phi. However, Pi Phi was only one under, so it's very possible they've already filled that position.

bamamom4, I must second everyone else who says your daughter should really check out Alpha Phi. I don't know if she was released from all chapters or she withdrew from recruitment because she wasn't happy with her options. It's my opinion that usually a woman's chances aren't terribly expanded as a sophomore - in other words, a house that didn't want her as a freshman probably isn't going to want her as a sophomore, except in some rare circumstances. If there are houses that were interested in her that she wasn't willing to consider, perhaps after a year at Alabama, she will reconsider and those houses might give her another look. However, sometimes chapters are insulted when a PNM basically refuses to join them - they can figure this out pretty easily.

Again, she should really check out Alpha Phi. It is her best option at this point.

Does anyone know when the COB/COR moratorium begins in order to allow Alpha Phi's colonization to move forward? If anyone is interested in Gamma Phi for example, they should move fast and speak to their recruitment counselor to see if COB would be an option there.

[PenguinTrax]

You can post a link to the Auburn Bid list, but not the list itself. Posting IRL names w/o the permission of the person is against the GC TOS. Thank you!

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

Does anyone know when the COB/COR moratorium begins in order to allow Alpha Phi's colonization to move forward? If anyone is interested in Gamma Phi for example, they should move fast and speak to their recruitment counselor to see if COB would be an option there.

Didn't a similar thing happen to Gamma Phi last year? I could have sworn it did, and they were able to snap up more girls. It was a GREAT recruitment.

Yay for kk_bama and her chapter!

Originally Posted by PenguinTrax

You can post a link to the Auburn Bid list, but not the list itself. Posting IRL names w/o the permission of the person is against the GC TOS. Thank you!

I'm assuming this applies to 'Bama and other schools who post their bidlists online as well?

Thank you, Barbara!

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by OTW

Didn't a similar thing happen to Gamma Phi last year? I could have sworn it did, and they were able to snap up more girls. It was a GREAT recruitment.

Yay for kk_bama and her chapter!

Oh, I'm not sure - I do remember hearing how awesome Gamma Phi did at Bama last year!

But yes, if anyone is interested in joining there now that the major drama has died down, they should find out their options on that really quickly because the chapters won't be allowed to offer bids after a certain date to prepare the way for Alpha Phi.

[Tex-A-Bama]

I am an Alpha Phi Alum.It is not a new sosority. It was established in 1872. It is strong in Texas. We make quota each year and are of the top 4 sororities on campus out of 12. Charter member would be a real special opportunity especially in a place like Bama. Go for it. www.alphaphialabama

[Bamamom13]

I hope I did not offend you Tex-A-Bama. I don't think I was saying that Alpha Phi was a new sorority, but that it was a new colony at Alabama.

[KSUViolet06]

As far as rushing again as a sophomore, I always tell PNMs that at a school like Bama, your BEST chance at getting a bid is as a FRESHMAN. Your chances generally don't improve if you try again next year.

I don't know anything about COB opportunities, as I believe all of the sororities are at or close to total. A few groups may have openings, but the Greek Life Office there would be your best source of info on COB opportunities.

Then of course in the upcoming weeks, Alpha Phi will be having it's colony recruitment. Yes, they are new to Bama, but they are an established Panhellenic sorority, and have many chapters all over the country. It is worth checking out as it would be an amazing thing for your daughter to be able to say that she is one of the founding members of the Bama chapter (if she were selected to be part of the group).

[Lightning Bug!]

Originally Posted by Tex-A-Bama

I am an Alpha Phi Alum.It is not a new sosority. It was established in 1872. It is strong in Texas. We make quota each year and are of the top 4 sororities on campus out of 12. Charter member would be a real special opportunity especially in a place like Bama. Go for it. www.alphaphialabama

I think everyone meant a new sorority at Alabama, since it hasn't been on campus at Alabama in recent history...don't worry...most of us have heard of Alpha Phi before.

Originally Posted by Tex-A-Bama

I am an Alpha Phi Alum.It is not a new sosority. It was established in 1872. It is strong in Texas. We make quota each year and are of the top 4 sororities on campus out of 12. Charter member would be a real special opportunity especially in a place like Bama. Go for it. www.alphaphialabama

I think most, if not all of us here are aware of Alpha Phi being around since 1872.

I'm assuming that everyone was talking about Alpha Phi's presence at 'Bama. If we're gonna get all technical, it's a re-colonization, not a colonization.

[Tex-A-Bama]

I am not questioning your knowledge nor getting technical. I extend encouragment for those who still have the desire to find a Greek home.

Originally Posted by OTW

I think most, if not all of us here are aware of Alpha Phi being around since 1872.

I'm assuming that everyone was talking about Alpha Phi's presence at 'Bama. If we're gonna get all technical, it's a re-colonization, not a colonization.

[NOLA25]

Does anybody know about how many will be selected for Alpha Phi?

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by bamamom4

My daughter did not get a bid. Will she have another chance ever to join a sorority? If so, what are the procedures? Thanks.

Bamamom, several years ago my daughter did not get a bid either, but she did a few weeks after formal recruitment.
There are always a few PNMs that quit, and some members graduate in December. There is always a handful of sororities that COB. It is not normally the big-big-big groups. Often the few spots that do occur go to friends of sorority members, but you never know.
This year is a little different with the moratorium on pledging before Alpha Phi begins their colonization.
Daughter needs to go to the Panhellenic office and sign up for COB. I would especially encourage her to explore Alpha Phi, as well. She also really needs to again consider the smaller groups. Students can have just as fulfilling a sorority experience in a smaller group - sometimes even more. A smaller group is often a closer group. It also affords a greater opportunity to serve in a leadership position, and to REALLY make a difference in the group.
That said...Greeks do NOT make up the majority of students at UA, even though it sometimes seems like it! There are plenty of activities and new friends out there for your daughter.
Encourage her to go to Bama Blast (on Tuesday, I think), and sign up for some great campus organizations there!