PNM's and Intentional Single Preference (aka 'suicide bid')

[adpiucf]

I wouldn't even bring it up until after the pref parties have ended and you are instructing your PNM's on how to fill out their cards. You don't need to use fancy terms like SIP or Suicide. Just do this:

Tell them that they should only list the sororities that they would accept a bid to membership from.

The more sororities they list, the greater their chances of receiving a bid, but that while the effort will be made to match them with their top choice, they should be prepared to accept a bid from any of the chapters that they list. If they don't receive a bid on Bid Day, they can participate in COR. If they receive a bid on Bid Day and decline, they may not participate in any recruitment activities until the next school year.

So if they can only see themselves as a member of XYZ and would not accept a bid from ABC, don't list ABC.

Best advice during recruitment week that you can give your PNMs: Instead of looking for just one sorority that you LOVE, look for a few that you really, really like. You'll have a lot more options open to you in this process by following that mindset. You can't pledge your heart and soul to ABC when all you have to go by is campus reputation and about 5 minutes of random conversations and a 10 minute skit. But you can begin to get a warm feeling toward a few sororities where you've enjoyed spending time with the members. Capeesh?

[LovinTriSigma03]

thank you so much for you help! i will definately keep those tips in mind!

[adpiucf]

Good luck! Don't keep them in the dark-- but don't over explain, either-- it's all new and very confusing! Tell them what a sorority is, some of the fun activities sororities hold, to keep an open mind to the possibility of fitting in at more than one sorority, and a list of the sororities on campus (and maybe websites). Point out that like college applications, this process is a mutual selection and both PNMs and the chapters are going to start with a lot of options and slowly (mutually) whittle their way down to a few.

All they really need to know on Day 1 is what to wear, when to show up, and an idea of some of the questions they'll be asked. Tell them there may be singing and cheering when the doors to a house open, and that they will be paired with a sorority member the entire time they're at an event so they don't feel like you're just dropping them off in the middle of nowhere.

When you go to do ranking for the first time, explain it then-- just let them enjoy the process of getting to know new friends and having a good time without cluttering it with terms like SIP, COR, etc.

Being a recruitment counselor is a fun and very important job! Have a great time and remember-- baby steps. This is a whole new world for your PNMs!

[KSUViolet06]

Feel free to pop into the Tri Sigma forum and introduce yourself!