2007 UGA Recruitment

[UGADad]

On top of everything else, there was a fire alarm in Brumby tonight -- somebody burned some bagels. So these tired girls, especially the ones on the top floors, had to walk down all those stairs and stand outside for most of an hour.

As for the tent talk -- who can blame the pnms? Especially the ones with no prior knowledge of reputations and few friends or even acquuaintances among the actives. They have had a grand total of 70 minutes with each of the sororities that are still alive for them. They are starving for information. They think they know who they like, but how can they be even remotely confident that they have a true sense of what each sorority is really like?

[UGAalum94]

The only real problem with tent talk is that the PNMs don't just get talked into one group instead of another, sometimes they get talked out of groups that otherwise they might have liked. And often times the information isn't actually true.

For instance, at some campuses, although not UGA that I know of, some groups are plagued by persistent tent talk that they are in danger of closing when they aren't, and this year at UGA, a group may or may not be on social probation. If they are, it's good for the PNMs to know it, if if they aren't, some PNM may shy away from a great experience for bad reasons.

While wanting to know all you can is understandable, it's not really helpful if you are using bad information to make your decisions.

[UGADad]

I agree with you (AlphaGamUGAAlum). I'm not saying it is right or good, just unavoidable and understandable.

By the way, UGADaughter asked her recruitment adviser tonight about the sanctions for the sorority on "social probation", and one of her friends separately asked her adviser. The answer was identical - the only sanction for this probation is that there can be no alcohol out during social functions. Of course, some of us think that should be the rule anyway -- these girls are 17 and 18 afterall!

Anyway, no restrictions on number of recruits, and no restriction on the ability to have social events. At least that is the word from the Rho Chis (I hope that's the right name).

[cluelessUGAmom]

Originally Posted by UGADad

On top of everything else, there was a fire alarm in Brumby tonight -- somebody burned some bagels. So these tired girls, especially the ones on the top floors, had to walk down all those stairs and stand outside for most of an hour.

As for the tent talk -- who can blame the pnms? Especially the ones with no prior knowledge of reputations and few friends or even acquuaintances among the actives. They have had a grand total of 70 minutes with each of the sororities that are still alive for them. They are starving for information. They think they know who they like, but how can they be even remotely confident that they have a true sense of what each sorority is really like?

UGADad,

I just got off the phone with my daughter and she told me about the fire as well. I'm laughing because she told me that someone burnt popcorn in a microwave and they had to check every room!!!!!!!! So bagels, popcorn mmm.... why would they have to check every room if the person who burnt whatever knew "where" they burnt it!!!!!

As for the Red and Black link -- I was not nearly as upset with the article as I was with the posts. I was very shocked to read what I read in regard to all the slander of the greeks and specifically the sorority identified. But what was really sad was what some of the responses from the girls were! If I was a recruit I would certainly take that into consideration as representation of some in that house.

Looking forward to posts in the morning after the schedules are out. At least they don't have to be there until 7:40 tomorrow!

[UGADad]

Originally Posted by cluelessUGAmom

UGADad,

I just got off the phone with my daughter and she told me about the fire as well. I'm laughing because she told me that someone burnt popcorn in a microwave and they had to check every room!!!!!!!! So bagels, popcorn mmm.... why would they have to check every room if the person who burnt whatever knew "where" they burnt it!!!!!

As for the Red and Black link -- I was not nearly as upset with the article as I was with the posts. I was very shocked to read what I read in regard to all the slander of the greeks and specifically the sorority identified. But what was really sad was what some of the responses from the girls were! If I was a recruit I would certainly take that into consideration as representation of some in that house.

Looking forward to posts in the morning after the schedules are out. At least they don't have to be there until 7:40 tomorrow!

That's really funny about the different fire stories.

Where did you find the posts with responses from the girls? I'd like to read those. I just think we need to be careful jumping to conclusions about a group of 200 girls for what could have been the actions of just a very few. And unfortunately, as college kids go these days, I suspect you could fine a few who might do thi kind of thing in almost every group of 200.

[cluelessUGAmom]

Originally Posted by UGADad

That's really funny about the different fire stories.

Where did you find the posts with responses from the girls? I'd like to read those. I just think we need to be careful jumping to conclusions about a group of 200 girls for what could have been the actions of just a very few. And unfortunately, as college kids go these days, I suspect you could fine a few who might do thi kind of thing in almost every group of 200.

I couldn't agree more. But still, those "few" were chosen/selected to "fit in" to that house. Sometimes there is truth to some accusations about reputations - in both good and bad ways. But, just as the posts mentioned about the chapter that shut down being predominantly Jewish - this may or may not be true but that was the perception and as adults in the real world and workplace we know that too often, "perception = reality" no matter how unfair or biased it is.

ok I'm starting to ramble and need to go to bed! But to answer your question, the posts are in a link just under the article. there were about 70 or so posts.

[UGADad]

Well it is underway, and we can all take a breath (yes AJC you can quote me on that).

Best wishes to all the young ladies and their families today. I hope there is much happiness and very little heartbreak.

Hopefully the freshmen girls can find time today to venture onto campus and find the buildings where they will actually begin CLASSES tomorrow!

[cluelessUGAmom]

Well, with only the 1 rec phoned in, my D has a full sked today with her top 2 on it!!!! #3 has all along not been one of her "fits" but she kept saying they seem to really like her. however, she is going to all 3 but she is considering not listing the #3 on her ranking - just the other 2 where she will be happy at either one. Is this the "suicide" thing?

But after reading about Auburn Mom who's D had full skeds every day and wound up with the bid of the one she didn't feel fit, and is still miserable, I'm thinking that my D should not list it if she does not want to be there at all. Any thoughts?

She told me too that she feels so badly for girls who didn't get any and also only got 1 or 2 that they didn't really like. She told me about 1 girl who got 3 and complained that she didn't really like any of them and I advised her that the girl may be feeling that way because she didn't get her top choice and she needs to make the best of today and be glad she has 3! My D also tried to be very quiet when she got her sked and didn't say anything unless she was asked because she saw some girls get so excited and they were right next to others who didn't get 1 -- this is really tough.

Apparently there are 4 rounds today - but still they only go to 3; it is just that one house wanted smaller groups or is a small house and needed more time or something like that.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by cluelessUGAmom

Well, with only the 1 rec phoned in, my D has a full sked today with her top 2 on it!!!! #3 has all along not been one of her "fits" but she kept saying they seem to really like her. however, she is going to all 3 but she is considering not listing the #3 on her ranking - just the other 2 where she will be happy at either one. Is this the "suicide" thing?

Putting 2/3 is not considered "maximizing your options" and would make her ineligible for snap bids and Quota Additions (they're confusing, there are whole threads on them, but basically, it means that she can get a bid outside of the normal quota restrictions...).

I've suggested this before, but you need to have her check with her local PHC before doing so, to make sure they don't count this as not maximizing...She could put the two that she liked, and then one that cut her first round.
So, say she really liked ABC and XYZ, and also liked GBH, but GBH cut her first round, her bid card could read:
1.XYZ
2.ABC
3.GHB
Since she most likely wouldn't appear anywhere on their bidlist, she most likely wouldn't get a bid from them, but she would still be listing the maximum amount of groups.
Additionally, I wouldn't have her ask her Rho Gamma this (they probably wouldn't have a definitive answer)- I would have her ask either the Greek Life director or the PHC VP of Recruitment.

[ugadg]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Putting 2/3 is not considered "maximizing your options" and would make her ineligible for snap bids and Quota Additions (they're confusing, there are whole threads on them, but basically, it means that she can get a bid outside of the normal quota restrictions...).

I've suggested this before, but you need to have her check with her local PHC before doing so, to make sure they don't count this as not maximizing...She could put the two that she liked, and then one that cut her first round.
So, say she really liked ABC and XYZ, and also liked GBH, but GBH cut her first round, her bid card could read:
1.XYZ
2.ABC
3.GHB
Since she most likely wouldn't appear anywhere on their bidlist, she most likely wouldn't get a bid from them, but she would still be listing the maximum amount of groups.
Additionally, I wouldn't have her ask her Rho Gamma this (they probably wouldn't have a definitive answer)- I would have her ask either the Greek Life director or the PHC VP of Recruitment.

As a former rho chi at uga (and vp membership) this does not sound like it would maximize her options. I do not think you are allowed to rank houses that you did not attend a pref party. Also, houses that make quota and are already at total are normally not allowed to make snap bids. They may go a little over on quota with quota additions (girls who have ranked all their options and do not land on a pledge list before it reaches quota is at any of their houses will often be added on at one to maximize the number of girls pledged), but are not normally allowed to go over quota and total with snap bids.

Another note on cob and possible pledgeship later in the year, yes all of these houses may lose some girls through early graduation and terminating pledgeship or membership, but will it really be enough for the sorority to want to do the entire member education program again? Often large houses will not have a member education period for just a few when they are dealing with over 200 and know it will even out next year. Just some thoughts....

Perhaps a little late, but maybe some of the girls should think about the reasons why they want to join a sorority and consider if the ones they are going to will possibly meet these reasons - we all have different reasons and none are right or wrong. Sometimes these things can get lost in the stress and emotions (and heat!).

[violet14]

Originally Posted by cluelessUGAmom

Well, with only the 1 rec phoned in, my D has a full sked today with her top 2 on it!!!! #3 has all along not been one of her "fits" but she kept saying they seem to really like her. however, she is going to all 3 but she is considering not listing the #3 on her ranking - just the other 2 where she will be happy at either one. Is this the "suicide" thing?

The "suicide" thing is usually when a girl only lists one sorority after preference party. My chapter considered this a "partial suicide" and while I normally don't support suiciding because it can greatly hurt your chances of getting any bids I think that if your D is not comfortable with the 3rd house then she should not list it at all. Realistically - it is a possibility that your D is not high enough on the 2 favorites bid list to make a bid match so if she can't see herself in that 3rd choice then she doesn't need to list it at all. She just needs to make sure that she feels that strongly about this house because it does lessen her chances of a bid and at a school like UGA the COB process is sometimes non-existant (especially at the stronger sororities) because houses are already at total. I wish your D the best of luck - I am sure that she will make the decision that is best for her. Best of luck for both of your nerves as you wait for tomorrow.

[UGAgreekmom]

As a greek mom to 2 at UGA, I've read the AJC articles and your posts here, and can remember well your worries and joys for your child this past week !! Mine have graduated but being greek at UGA was a wonderful experience for them. I hope and wish the very best for your daughters at the end of this experience !! I know that the whole recruitment process is hard work- for the PNMs and sororities. The PC at UGA works to provide a good outcome for both PNMs and sororities, but I can say for sure that you MUST have recs, let everyone you know that's active in a sorority now that you are going thru recruitment, and you have to have a very open mind. There are always several sororities that everyone really likes and recruit very well. Many of the PNMs want to come back, but the sorority can only have a certain number. To keep PNMs in the recruitment process as long as possible, you rank your choices and on occassion throw in an extra 2 or 3 choices. Many girls are disappointed, both PNMs and in the sorority, but for most, this probably imperfect system works out well. I would really recommend that each PNM rank every pref party they attend. When the formal bids are issued, a lot of the sororities already have a list of girls they will talk to immediately if they have an open bid and the openings to reach quota are sometimes very few. As parents, get involved with your child's group !! Throughout the year there will be activities for parents and families and I would encourage you to attend. You will be amazed at the wonderful friends, activities and events that your daughter has become a part of at UGA !!

[AuburnMom]

Originally Posted by cluelessUGAmom

But after reading about Auburn Mom who's D had full skeds every day and wound up with the bid of the one she didn't feel fit, and is still miserable, I'm thinking that my D should not list it if she does not want to be there at all. Any thoughts?

Just to set the record straight my daughter loves the sorority she ended up with at Auburn; it was one of her two favorites from the beginning. I think you may be talking about AUGreekMom's (not AuburnMom's) daughter in your quote above.

I just wanted to clear things up so that the poor DG's at Auburn didn't think they had a new pledge that wasn't happy to be there!

good luck to all you Georgia Parents and your daughters from the Auburn parents and their daughters! We're keeping our fingers crossed for all of you.....

[AuburnMom]

p.s... I so understand the comments about the lack of sleep from the Georgia parents. I slept with my cell phone and my house phone for a solid week when my daughter was going through rush at Auburn earlier this week; just so I could make sure I was there for her if she needed me.

It was nice to able to return the phones to their normal places in the house when the week was over!