Auburn University Rush--Fall 2007

UGAalum94 · #1 08-11-2007, 12:31 PM

I hope it's good news!

(I think it would be really hard to write a real-time recruitment story unless by some odd chance a girl stuck with her earlier favorites all the way through.)

MerryGPhiB · #2 08-11-2007, 12:43 PM

I'm excited to hear about Kate's results today!

Also, I wanted to mention my daughter is home and leaving for school today. She is president of her sorority ( they have deferred Recruitment) I shared this thread with her and she was impressed as am I with the wonderful Panhellenic spirit is on this thread! Go KATE and GO GREEK!!!

Thank you Auburn Mom for sharing your daughter's experience with us all!

Ocalagirl · #3 08-11-2007, 02:30 PM

I can't wait to hear how she did!! Crossing fingers for good luck

Momto2gals · #4 08-11-2007, 05:49 PM

My daughter has had a very disappointing time in recruitment this week. On the day they were to get 12 invititations she only recieved 4. Now those 4 have cut her down to 2. My questions would be this:
1. What do they base their cuts on? I have heard that the first cuts from 16 to 12 are based solely on GPA. My daughter has a GPA of 3.5. Is that not good enough to be in a sorority at Auburn? What other reasons could there be for being cut. Her Pi Chi hasn't been much help to her at all. She was really devastated that her favorite two sororities cut her. She has admirable career plans. She even has plans that fit exactly with one of those sororities philanthropies so she was really excited about that. In fact at the ice water tea she met more girls at that particular sororities party than any other. They REALLY acted interested in her and her career goals. I would just really like to know why she was cut.
2. my 2nd question would be - is there ANY chance if she drops out tomorrow after the prefs (if she even gets invited back to any) that one of these sororities that she likes would consider her during COB? I just really need some HONEST answers from someone who has been through this at Auburn, please?
We are devastated. She is a very good girl with great character and skills. She has been a leader in our community and also in our Church and has done many volunteer projects. She plans on being VERY active in organizations during her time at AU and also continuing her volunteer work there as well as being actively involved in a local Church in Auburn.
I am not going to mention the name of the Church.
I was of the idea that her resume looked excellent and that she is an excellent young lady that would add a lot to any sorority she decided to join. I would just like to know what y'all think. Was her GPA not good enough? Could it strictly been based on her personality? Which I happen to think is great. She is an attractive girl too.
Please we need to know what to do about this. Should she go ahead and accept a bid or wait it out for COB? What if she doesn't get a bid in COB? Does she stand a chance later on? She really wants to be in a sorority to be in a dorm next year and also it helps with her resume to be in a sorority as she will be applying to Med School eventually. Besides, she just wants to be apart of things at Auburn and make friends. She has heard so much about the sorority experience from her Mom (me).
Although my sorority is not at Auburn.
She also had letters of recommendation for each sorority at Auburn.
Ok, I will wait to see if anyone can help me with this.
Thanks

KSUViolet06 · #5 08-11-2007, 06:19 PM

First off, I'm really sorry your daughter is having such a rough time.

No one here can tell you what the sororities at Auburn base their cuts on. We can't really specualte as to why your daughter was cut heavily because membership decisions of sororities are private and we really don't know why.

COB depends on whether the sororities reach total (the max number of girls they're allowed to take) at the end of formal recruitment.

Those sororities who are below total may have COB after recruitment. So if every sorority reaches total during formal rush, there won't be any opportunities for COB. If there is COB, her options will be limited because COB only involves those groups that don't reach total during formal (like 2 or 3 chapters).

Her best bet is to stick it out through formal recruitment and see what happen. If she does not receive a bid, she is still eligible for COB if there are chapters doing COB after formal.

Momto2gals · #6 08-11-2007, 06:27 PM

I know that no one can tell me the EXACT reason the sororities cut her but I was just hoping for and idea of what to do.
Isn't it true, that sometimes a lot of the girls that pledge drop out of the pledge class before initiation and then that sorority can have more members join? Is there a chance she would then be picked up?
Also, during COB, if she lets the girls in her dorm that pledged the particular sororities that she wanted (about 5 of them she would really be happy in) know exactly HOW interested she is in joining one of those sororities wouldn't that help her chances of getting a bid during COB?
I am just wondering if maybe her shyness hurt her and the sororities didn't think that maybe she was interested enough in them?
Should I just go ahead and tell her to put the two down on her pledge card and take whatever she gets? Is being in any sorority better than waiting around to see if a particular few will express interest in you again?
Thanks
You are really helping me out with my sanity here.

KSUViolet06 · #7 08-11-2007, 06:32 PM

I wouldn't bank on her being picked up if someone drops out of a sorority before initiation. That usually doesn't happen. Sororities at Auburn don't usually add to the pledge classes if someone drops.

Her best bet is to stick it out through formal recruitment and see what happens. There are so many girls who stick it out in recruitment and end up very happy that they did so, because they end up LOVING their new sorority!

With the number of girls going through, there might not be very many sororities doing COB. Keep in mind that if she stays in recruitment and does not receive a bid through formal, she is STILL eligigble for COB if there is any.

Best of luck!

SWTXBelle · #8 08-11-2007, 06:37 PM

I cannot speak specifically about Auburn, but it has been my experience as both an active and alumna advisor that very few girls drop out of pledging. If the sorority is at total, even if pledges drop out they will not COB.
IMHO, her best bet is to see recruitment through to the end. She can only pledge ONE house, so all she needs is ONE house. As long as she doesn't absolutely hate the two houses she has left, I'd be willing to bet that she would be happy in either of them.
Please remind her that there are two houses on the campus who obviously think very highly of her. It's easy to get caught up in the ones who cut you - but focus on the two who really like her.
If she is shy, it may very well be that some of the chapters thought she was not interested. I cannot say - but please assure her that there is still a place for her. As was stated earlier, if she doesn't get a bid at all, she can still COB.
I wish her the very best of luck. I know she is crushed - but she is lucky to have a mom who is so concerned. Tell her we are all rooting for her to find her new sisters - hang in there!

UGAalum94 · #9 08-11-2007, 06:38 PM

It just depends on which of the groups the five she is interested in are.

The majority of the groups at Auburn will be over total, I think, once they have their new members classes, which basically means they will have no room to offer your daughter a COB/COR bid.

Other groups may have room because they are below chapter total. I think that the number of groups who do COB/COR is probably pretty small, and that if your daughter's favorite groups are also other rushees favorites groups, it's unlikely that they will be the ones to COB/COR.

On the other hand, if your daughter still likes her two groups, remember that if she gets a bid from one of them, that's the maximum that any girl can get.

Will her recruitment counselor tell her which groups did COB/COR last year?

AuburnMom · #10 08-11-2007, 08:24 PM

I was away from my computer for the entire day...

First, Momto2gals, I am sorry about the hard time your daughter is having at Auburn's rush. I hope that today went well for her and that she will be invited back tomorrow (for pref) to the 2 sororties that she attended today. I wish I could help you more, but the only advice I can give you is to encourage your daughter to stick with it and let's see what happens with the 2 sororities she's still attending!

I will keep my fingers crossed for you and for your daughter!

AUmom · #11 08-13-2007, 10:20 AM

There are 16 panhellenic sororities. I can tell you that the most popular ones are VERY VERY competitive. Auburn's recruitment usually starts with 1200 girls and only about 50 or so are kept for each sorority (that's l/2 of what they start with).

Yes, it is not uncommon for girls to quit their sorority before initiation (which is a must if you want to get into a different one) or they do not accept the bid. Accepting the bid and going through initiation make it nearly impossible to go through COB.

The sororities base their cuts on what the prospect can do for their group, their standing in their own community prior to coming to Auburn, what they are already involved in at Auburn (cheerleader, dancer, etc.), and how they do at Ice Water Teas. How is the girls personality and how does it mesh with the group?

Yes, COB is only for the sororities with openings (and there are always some openings in your lower echilon sororities).

Some are better than others (locally), but I won't go into that.

Momto2gals · #12 08-11-2007, 07:33 PM

Thank you all so much for your help. I don't even have any idea which two parties she went to today. Her Pi Chi didn't know (or didn't tell her this morning) I guess she found out when she went to pick up her schedule which was right before her first party which was at 3 I think. I haven't heard from her yet either so I am kind of worried about how it all went. She said of the 4 she had been to during Philanthropy she was going to drop out of rush if one of the two wasn't such and such. I am going to try to convice her to stay in and accept a bid from whomever. It sounds like her chances for COB aren't guaranteed. I appreciate all the help. You have all calmed down MY nerves quite a bit!

MerryGPhiB · #13 08-11-2007, 06:35 PM

I too am so sorry that your daughter has not received more invitations. So often when there are so many women going through recruitment really great women are released. What I do want to say is your daughter has two houses that do really want her and they DO see what she has to offer. While they may not be her first or second choices, can she see herself contibuting to the house and the sisterhood? Can she see herself participating in activities with these women? So often women will be happy in a house they originally didn't think they might like. And, it is only a suggestion. Best wishes.

PVBTheta · #14 08-11-2007, 06:59 PM

Momto2gals,

Your daughter sounds like a fine young woman and she should be proud of her accomplishments as well as her future goals. As an alumni from a southern school that also has a very competitive recruitment, I would advise your daughter to stick it out. Based on the info provided in this thread, there are a record number of girls going through recruitment and it is likely that all of the chapters will end up above or at quota. Also, remind your daughter that even though she was cut from her 2 favorites she may end up finding a home with another sorority. I went through a similar situation during my recruitment experience and I now that I look back I ended up right where I belonged. I couldn't imagine being anything but a Theta!!! Best of luck to your daughter... and I hope that this reply helps with her decision.