Petals' Recruitment Story at Penn State (finally!)

[petals]

Hello all!
As I’m sitting here trying to get some major mid-term paper writing out of the way before recruitment starts on Sunday, I thought I’d pop in and say thanks for all of the kind words/info/advice. While it was probably a good idea to move recruitment to late October overall, I’m kind of hating that I’ll have to balance mid-term work and recruitment at the same time (at least in the earlier rounds, it looks like things last from 5:30 until 9 or 10 PM... which translates to actually sitting down and starting homework sometime after 11 )

I’m SOOOO so so excited to get this thing started, though… 20 houses *is* a lot to take in, but as LionTamer said, I’m feeling really confident that there’ll be a sorority that’s perfect for me somewhere in there.

Something that I’ve been thinking of that will probably be a big help once the parties start next week are some fall-back kinds of questions to ask if conversation gets slow between a member and myself. I know I found a list of them somewhere on GC once, and I’ll definitely try and find it again this weekend, but if anyone has some suggestions for example questions or directions to go towards, that’d be such a help! Blanking out and akward conversations are definitely my biggest fears for the upcoming week… fainting and breaking my neck or spilling a drink all over someone are nothing

Thanks again, guys!

[KSUViolet06]

Try to ask things that can't be answered with one or 2 words:

*Of course you want to ask about their philanthropy and the philanthropy events they hold. That gets the sorority members talking.

*Ask about their social events. What socials did you have last year? With who? What was your favorite?

*What was your favorite memoriy from your new member period?

*Tell me about Bigs and Littles, what's that like?

*What is the most memorable award your chapter has won?

*What are some local service projects that you participate in?

[FSUZeta]

"tell me about thon"

"does your chapter require study hours?"

"what was your favorite sisterhood activity?"

"does your chapter participate in intramurals?"

then too, you can always ask for advice on courses and professors.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

"tell me about thon"

"does your chapter require study hours?"

"what was your favorite sisterhood activity?"

"does your chapter participate in intramurals?"

then too, you can always ask for advice on courses and professors.

For heaven's sake, mention THON!!!! I can't think of one thing that PSU is more proud of (well, maybe their football coach)!

-Summer vacations are always great fodder for conversation, too. "Can you believe this weather? I could so handle being in the Outer Banks (Bahamas, etc) right now!"

-Ask about sisters studying abroad or doing an internship. Seems that there are using a few.

-Animals/Pets/Mascots: "Pandas are so cute! How did they become your mascot?" "Your lion reminds me of my cat - do you have any pets?"

-The Creamery: "What's your favorite flavor?"

[LionTamer]

Good suggestions, honeychile!

I especially like the suggestion about studying abroad. When I was at PSU, it was sort of a "sorority secret" - the program wasn't well-publicized, and the sororities passed it down, with the older girls sharing their amazing experiences and encouraging the younger girls to apply. One of my friends spent a term at University of Edinburgh, and she was one of the few non-Greeks in the whole group.

And you're right that everyone will have an anecdote about overnight trips to go canning for Thon, or of actually dancing or doing Morale -- always a sure-fire conversation starter.

As for vacations, we might not go to the Outer Banks up here in Yankee country, but a lot of us have a good story from Avalon or Stone Harbor (hmmm, remembering my own Avalon days, maybe we're venturing into risk management territory there......)

Anyway, we're all waiting to hear how things are going -- Good luck, Petals!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by LionTamer

Good suggestions, honeychile!

I especially like the suggestion about studying abroad. When I was at PSU, it was sort of a "sorority secret" - the program wasn't well-publicized, and the sororities passed it down, with the older girls sharing their amazing experiences and encouraging the younger girls to apply. One of my friends spent a term at University of Edinburgh, and she was one of the few non-Greeks in the whole group.

And you're right that everyone will have an anecdote about overnight trips to go canning for Thon, or of actually dancing or doing Morale -- always a sure-fire conversation starter.

As for vacations, we might not go to the Outer Banks up here in Yankee country, but a lot of us have a good story from Avalon or Stone Harbor (hmmm, remembering my own Avalon days, maybe we're venturing into risk management territory there......)

Anyway, we're all waiting to hear how things are going -- Good luck, Petals!

Thank you so very much! Actually, a fellow alumna once told me that she just knew that she hated her legacy house because they all talked about going to trunk shows in Paris and Milan over the summer, and that was just not her thing! Since then, I've come to realize what a great tool that is.

And don't get me started about the Creamery! Two of my daddy's aunts were professors at PSU, so we were raised with the stuff. I'm just glad I was swimming at least a mile a day at the time, or I'd have NO arteries left!

[petals]

Thanks for all of the help so far, I'll definitely run with it. Especially about THON-- didn't even think of that one (durrr...)! Recruitment starts on Sunday where we meet our Rho Chis and recruitment groups. AHH!

[aephi alum]

... And all of this is going on... during classes. Are midterms happening now as well??

It sounds like Petals and her fellow PNMs will be choosing between study and sleep for the next couple of weeks. Not to mention the sisters - consider the party schedule + setup + cleanup + membership selection. A good argument for immediate fall formal recruitment before classes start, if ever I heard one. Heaven help the engineering majors...

Best of luck, Petals. Relax and have fun!

[petals]

Haha, amen to aephi alum… thank goodness recruitment didn’t start a week earlier, as I’ve got more papers than I have classes due (for the midterm) this week alone (luckily I wrote most of them last week… but still!) It’s definitely going to be ten days of adrenaline and caffiene.

I didn’t realize how nervous I was about all of this until I was sitting with the 800 other girls at orientation today. It’s kind of intimidating for me, at least, since I’m a sophomore and not going through with any friends (at least from looking around, it seems that most of the girls are freshmen doing this with 3 or 4 floormates). Luckily there are some other sophomores in my Pi Chi group, and even overall, my group seems pretty diverse and fun.

I’ve heard that the open house rounds are the most hectic (they start on Tuesday), so tomorrow’s going to be non-stop work to get ahead in classes before the madness starts. Thanks again for all of the kind words and advice! Like I said, I’m going through this crazy process alone, so having a place like this to come back to feels really good

[33girl]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

... And all of this is going on... during classes. Are midterms happening now as well??

It sounds like Petals and her fellow PNMs will be choosing between study and sleep for the next couple of weeks. Not to mention the sisters - consider the party schedule + setup + cleanup + membership selection. A good argument for immediate fall formal recruitment before classes start, if ever I heard one. Heaven help the engineering majors...

Best of luck, Petals. Relax and have fun!

I personally think that 4 days of nothing but 12 hours a day rushing 20 groups before classes begin would be even worse. At least this way they have some time to process everything. Necessary, in my opinion, with that many groups.

[xo_kathy]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Try to ask things that can't be answered with one or 2 words:

*Ask about their social events. What socials did you have last year? With who? What was your favorite?

Jocelyn's advice is correct - ask open ended questions. However, I might caution youagainst the one above. If it's brought up I'd ask about it, but I wouldn't ask outright. They might be mislead to thinking you only care about partying and what fraternities you'll be hanging with. Just my opinion!

[adpiucf]

It's great to hear that you enjoyed the first night of Round 1. Continue to keep an open mind to all of the chapters, as you are doing, and remember that while you may not click with a few members at one event, you may completely change your mind the next time you set foot in their house! Keep an eye on several chapters you could see yourself enjoying, rather than fixating on just one or two, and continue to keep that great sense of confidence and self that you have about you! Good luck.

[LouisaMay]

I'm excited for you! It sounds like you are having a good time. Can't wait to hear the rest of your story

[ShyViolet]

I don't usually post on recruitment threads (though like many others I am addicted to them, lol). But I just have to say you've got such a fantastic outlook on the whole thing - and I'll bet it shows through to the sororities you're visiting. Best of luck and I hope you have another great day of parties.

Cheers,
ShyViolet

[LOVEinZTA]

Not the voice! I lost my voice in rush, as in screamed through the first 4 of 7 parties the first day and started to lose it, sounded like a man the second day, and was silent by pref day. Thankfully the girl who rushed me in Zeta the first day (who ended up being my big!) saw me again the second day and just laughed histerically at the fact that I couldn't talk over then insanity of the party. I'm glad she found it amusing. But seriously, hot green tea all the time - my rho chi ended up having to bring me some in between prefs! haha, glad you're having a blast!!!