UGA Recruitment

[rs086872]

Thank you. We're not angry, we just feel bad for her. We also understand that no one here can explain why this happened.

In retrospect, I wish my daughter's first substantive interaction with UGA had not been with their Greek system. My post was meant to caution others who are looking to go down that path. There's a real downside and you won't get an explanation for the outcome.

[ToujoursSK]

I agree. I am a huge supporter of Greek life, but wish they would move to a deferred recruitment. While it is true that there is selection in all aspects of life, it is a lousy way to start your life at a new school. I know two other girls going through at UGA who got that same call last night...

[Xidelt]

rs, sent you a pm.

[GPhiBLtColonel]

I underscore what irishpipes said about recs being important and until this year, I thought recs were the only way to know about a PNM's academics.

But this year I learned that if a PNM is thorough and detailed on her UGA recruitment registration form, academics as well as all sorts of involvement, awards, leadership, etc will also be made known to all the chapters.

Also, there is a separate upperclassmen quota now in place at UGA so non-freshman are not as "undesirable" as they have been in the past. I personally know three young women who went thru formal recruitment as sophomores after very disappointing freshman recruitment experiences and all three got their top choices the 2nd time around.

[Bamamom16]

Unfortunately this is a story I hear much too often at UGA. Not really sure what the deal is, but as a Georgia resident, I have seen parents at UGA devastated when excellent students with lots of activities and pre-recruitment preparation DEVASTATED when their daughters get dropped. I have also seen parents of legacies in tears when their DD is dropped by their chapter. On a couple of occasions, those girls have gone on to have successful second recruitments, but many times they are scarred and do not try again. It is sad to me that UGA's recruitment comes off this way. It is unfortunate that so many girls at UGA start off with such a negative experience. In my eyes (and in the eyes of those parents), the system isn't working.

[Xidelt]

UGA does have a local sorority, Xi Delta. We are smaller and unhoused, so we rush separately each semester. I loved my time as an active and encourage girls to check it out.

[BraveMaroon]

This will sound hollow, coming from someone who pledged a sorority at UGA, but Greek Life is not the be-all, end-all at Georgia. I had just as many friends who were in a sorority as not. I was involved in a lot of other clubs and activities, and of course, getting a degree. All of those things were a sliver of the pie that was my college experience.

Most of the Freshmen entering UGA this year were super-stars of their class. Good grades, lots of activities, the whole package. It's harder and harder to get into UGA, which is great in a lot of ways.

But it makes a young woman going through Rush have to work that much harder. If the person walking in next to you has the same stats, you have to make an impression in a very short period of time.

Do I think it sucks that there are great young women falling through the cracks? YES!

And it's hard, because these women are going away from home for the first time, and they're getting rejected out of the gate, likely for the first time ever. This generation grew up being told how special and unique they are, and this is a bitter pill to swallow, especially without Mom and Dad there for support/comfort.

Yes, it sucks.

And no, I don't know what could be done.

[AGDee]

I think large school recruitments are especially tough on women who are on the shy side. When members are having to remember so many different women, the quiet ones are likely be lost in the shuffle.

The way NPC is setting chapter total after recruitment based on average chapter size does mean there are more likely to be COR opportunities where a more shy young woman would be more comfortable and social though.

Even if it isn't the first time a young woman been's rejected (college application processes have become brutal for some schools), she is in a vulnerable state when she's just left home for the first time.

[QueenD]

I agree about NPC setting total to average chapter size after recruitment. It's going to help. We have just 3 NPC groups at the campus I advise, and mine has been smallest for a while but is closing the gap. I do believe this will help. Last year total SHOULD HAVE been raised but doing so would have meant the other 2 chapters had to COB when they didn't want to so it wasn't raised. I like that we won't have those things happen anymore.

[BeachMom]

Dear rs086872,
I understand the frustration that you have as this happened to my daughter as well when she went through recruitment at UGA during her freshman year. I just hope they've changed things a bit so that your daughter did not get the phone call at 2:?? a.m. on that Saturday morning to inform her that she had been "released from recruitment." The thought of the recruitment system at UGA makes my stomach flip each fall. That precious young women are subjected to the humiliation of getting up at 6 a.m. to meet their Pi Chi (or whatever they're called) to be in front of a group of women who will in 20-40 minutes decide if they want to invite them back (as well as the sororities know some girls they already want to get to know better) is down right cruel. These are 19-22 year olds deciding this....the brain doesn't fully develop until a little later. I think the Navy used to call it running the gaunlet......

That being said (and to calm down some of the readers) it is a system that over time has proven itself. And as systems go, it is not perfect. Georgia's sorority homes are like eye candy to these young women and they all do a great job of promoting themselves during the week. While returning to recruitment (should she desire) as a sophomore is an option, it is no guarantee and the odds are not really that great even with the UC quota. Lot of very qualified transfers are admitted in at UGA in addition to any upper classmen who make the decision to go through recruitment. I know because my DD tried again....and she's no slacker of a student, etc., etc., etc., and graduated this Spring, double major, magna cum laude, and headed to DC to begin work with a consulting firm on September 8th. I've often thought it is easier to get into UGA than to join a sorority there. Can you believe that?!

But now back to your DD....she is a precious young woman, she is important, she matters to the world, and she is loved by you. There isn't a trio of Greek letters out there that can substitute that. What can she take from all of this? Life can suck at times and then you move on. It's also about relationships that you develop with other people...you mentioned she was shy...maybe this experience will encourage her to put herself out there a bit more. I'm not going to lie, it was painful as hell both times and the production in Athens up and down Milledge (and Lumpkin) on Monday night will be tough. Give it a few weeks and then it will begin to die down. There are many great organizations at Georgia that need new members each year.

Can Georgia improve their process? I think so. To slap this right up against first day of classes, the focus for all moving in last week was "I'm hear for recruitment" and if you weren't, then it was "what the heck are all those buses doing moving girls from house to house?" That's just one idea.....I have some others that I'll keep to myself.

Sorry for such a ramble. I wish the best to you and your daughter.....

[BeachMom]

Sorry....meant to say "here for recruitment" not "hear"!!!!

[pinapple]

Originally Posted by BeachMom

Dear rs086872,
I understand the frustration that you have as this happened to my daughter as well when she went through recruitment at UGA during her freshman year. I just hope they've changed things a bit so that your daughter did not get the phone call at 2:?? a.m. on that Saturday morning to inform her that she had been "released from recruitment." The thought of the recruitment system at UGA makes my stomach flip each fall. That precious young women are subjected to the humiliation of getting up at 6 a.m. to meet their Pi Chi (or whatever they're called) to be in front of a group of women who will in 20-40 minutes decide if they want to invite them back (as well as the sororities know some girls they already want to get to know better) is down right cruel. These are 19-22 year olds deciding this....the brain doesn't fully develop until a little later. I think the Navy used to call it running the gaunlet......

That being said (and to calm down some of the readers) it is a system that over time has proven itself. And as systems go, it is not perfect. Georgia's sorority homes are like eye candy to these young women and they all do a great job of promoting themselves during the week. While returning to recruitment (should she desire) as a sophomore is an option, it is no guarantee and the odds are not really that great even with the UC quota. Lot of very qualified transfers are admitted in at UGA in addition to any upper classmen who make the decision to go through recruitment. I know because my DD tried again....and she's no slacker of a student, etc., etc., etc., and graduated this Spring, double major, magna cum laude, and headed to DC to begin work with a consulting firm on September 8th. I've often thought it is easier to get into UGA than to join a sorority there. Can you believe that?!

But now back to your DD....she is a precious young woman, she is important, she matters to the world, and she is loved by you. There isn't a trio of Greek letters out there that can substitute that. What can she take from all of this? Life can suck at times and then you move on. It's also about relationships that you develop with other people...you mentioned she was shy...maybe this experience will encourage her to put herself out there a bit more. I'm not going to lie, it was painful as hell both times and the production in Athens up and down Milledge (and Lumpkin) on Monday night will be tough. Give it a few weeks and then it will begin to die down. There are many great organizations at Georgia that need new members each year.

Can Georgia improve their process? I think so. To slap this right up against first day of classes, the focus for all moving in last week was "I'm hear for recruitment" and if you weren't, then it was "what the heck are all those buses doing moving girls from house to house?" That's just one idea.....I have some others that I'll keep to myself.

Sorry for such a ramble. I wish the best to you and your daughter.....

I 100% understand what you are saying but the base of disappointment in ANY Greek System during recruitment, IN MY OPINION, is our societal norm that we never allow children to fail. Trophies for every kid, ribbons for everyone one who isn't first, second, or third, etc. Some of these girls walk through doors of these houses never having had experienced major life disappointments. They arrive at the college they wanted, in the car they wanted and are staying in the dorm they wanted. When that is the case and it is coupled with a disappointing recruitment, it is a perfect storm and a horrible way to start a new chapter of one's life. I certainly do not have the solution, but I do believe this is a huge part of the issue when it comes to how the disappointment is handled. I see it every year. The girls that are actually released, the girls that "self" release and the girls that simply cannot accept that her bid card says ABC instead of DEF. You could literally line up the majority of women in the majority of houses, strip their letters, shuffle them up and you would never know the difference. Because of that in the deep part of the brain that is our reasoning sector, the girls have to realize it was not personal, no matter how it feels.

[compassrose]

DD had a rocky recruitment at UGA but eventually ended up at one of her lower choices. She has told me many times that unless you are extremely connected or have a major "hook", you have to have someone inside that will fight for you. That means making a strong connection with someone during a party or already going into recruitment knowing someone inside.

I HATE that so many girls start out their UGA career with this experience. I'd like to suggest that your daughter check out some of the philanthropy organizations at UGA. They attract great kids and the experience will look good her resume

[XDEmerald]

Hi ladies -

Hope you all have been doing well! The UGA board seems a bit smaller this year!

I'm back again to extend an invitation to anyone that has a "rec girl", daughter or friend that was released from Panhellenic recruitment this past week to come out and meet some great young ladies, of Xi Delta, a local sorority that was founded at UGA. Many of them also participated in Panhellenic recruitment and found their home with us!

We're always looking for wonderful additions to our sisterhood and formal recruitment starts soon. They're having a casual picnic tonight for PNMs, which may be late notice, but pls message me directly if you're interested, I'll be happy to send you additional information.

Again, I hope I haven't broken any rules about posting this, if so - apologies in advance.

Thanks sisters!

[PearlGirl13]

Bids should be given out very soon!!! Does anyone know what quota is?