Almost64's Recruitment Thread (at an SEC school)

[UGAalum94]

Good luck, Almost 64! If rush is in January, you may be able to still some recs. sent. It almost certainly won't ruin your rush not to have them, but it does help. If a group really needs one, and they love you during rush, they can probably get one.

Highjack about recs:

Does anyone know why the official word from Greek Life about recs is so often wrong? Why don't they tell the girls up front that it's good to have recs for as many different groups as you can?

Anyone who works in greek life, can you tell us?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

Highjack about recs:

Does anyone know why the official word from Greek Life about recs is so often wrong? Why don't they tell the girls up front that it's good to have recs for as many different groups as you can?

Anyone who works in greek life, can you tell us?

See my post above.

[UGAalum94]

Sorry, 33girl, I didn't know you were an official greek life person. Thanks for answering.

I had read your post, and I knew that it was true in the sense that if a group is really interested, then they will get the recs. I don't think it covers the cases that I'm afraid might occur: in which a group might need to release a bunch of folks early in a really big recruitment, and they might use recs to help decide.

I don't know that this has ever happened, but I can imagine that it might.

I also don't think it's a good plan to put the groups you want to join in the position of having to look for recs for you. When Greek Life offices kind of put out the word "don't worry if you don't have recs" in a recruitment for which lot of girls do already have recs, I think it puts some the girls who accept the official word at a disadvantage right off.

What does your office advise PNMs about recs?

[GeorgiaGirl]

I can only speak for UGA, but...
girls are NOT released ONLY because they do not have recs. PNMs may tell you that they are sure that was the reason they were cut, but that is not the case. I was a recruitment counselor this year and I spoke to many girls in other sororities about this. While most sororities do require a girl to have a rec before they can offer her a bid, they also have alums, advisors, officers, etc. who's job it is to find rec for girls during recruitment by calling alumnae from her hometown. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that they WILL find you a rec if they want to offer you a bid. At least at my school...

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaGirl

I can only speak for UGA, but...
girls are NOT released ONLY because they do not have recs. PNMs may tell you that they are sure that was the reason they were cut, but that is not the case. I was a recruitment counselor this year and I spoke to many girls in other sororities about this. While most sororities do require a girl to have a rec before they can offer her a bid, they also have alums, advisors, officers, etc. who's job it is to find rec for girls during recruitment by calling alumnae from her hometown. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that they WILL find you a rec if they want to offer you a bid. At least at my school...

Since MS is private, I don't see how you could possibly speak for any sorority other than your own. I'm sure as a Rho Chi you have a lot of great insight into recruitment at your school, but I wouldn't think you would know about MS in other chapters.

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally Posted by 33girl

See my post above.

What you said is definitely true. The problem I have with what Panhellenics currently tell PNMs, though--at least, what they told us--gave the impression that recs weren't worth getting because we didn't need them. I know the official policy, but I think they should also add something like, "...but it's good to have them if you can get them."

[almost64]

Ok, so looks like I'm not going to get any recs. I'm having to take care of some family business which involves a ridiculous amount of traveling (and no long amount of time in one place!), and my schedule is so unpredictable that I have no idea where/when I'm gonna be in any one city to make an appointment. So....that's out.

So when rush starts, say XYZ is interested in me and wants a rec. They have alumni at the house during rush so that they can just say "Hi, this is [my name], why don't you guys talk?" and then she'll write a rec? If so, wow, I wasn't aware that anyone other than active sisters were at the houses during rush.

[FSUZeta]

alumnae are not supposed to interact with pnms during parties. if a sorority wants you badly enough, they will find a rec. for you,if they want to work that hard. it is an unspoken thing-you will not even know about it.

[UGAalum94]

Thanks, Georgiagirl, that's good to know.


I knew that they would find you one if they wanted you bad enough. I was just afraid that at some groups; if they didn't know you in advance and you didn't have a great rec, then you might not make it to second round. I'm happy to hear that no one using recs to do releases.

[BadCat25]

Isn't it somewhat silly for the sororities at Vanderbilt to even think about recs? Vandy has become increasingly selective over the past dozen years and now is just a cut below the Ivy League schools in this respect. You would think that just being admitted to Vandy would be enough of a rec.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by almost64

So when rush starts, say XYZ is interested in me and wants a rec. They have alumni at the house during rush so that they can just say "Hi, this is [my name], why don't you guys talk?" and then she'll write a rec? If so, wow, I wasn't aware that anyone other than active sisters were at the houses during rush.

NO. The alumnae aren't just sitting around rush waiting for stuff to do - they are grown women who have lives. The role of alums in rush varies by sorority, but I can't think of any who do this. If alums are at rush, they're probably putting out refreshments or something similar. Rush is for active sisters to interact with rushees.

[Leslie Anne]

How about instead of jumping down her throat, someone might try explaining things to her. A number of posters have mentioned that "if they really want you they'll get a rec for you". Clearly to someone not familiar with recruitment, this is a curious statement.

Anyone care to explain this to her?

[33girl]

Sorry if you thought I was curt, but I'm a little frustrated. The OP was advised that regardless of what the GL office says, it would be to her benefit to obtain recs on her own, and it just seems like she's coming up with excuse after excuse to blow it off.