COB Recruitment

[littleowl33]

Originally Posted by Indiglow

- Do COB PNMs have better chances if they were rejected before? And I know that will vary, but I'd still like to know your opinions/experiences. I.E. I was rejected from A & B, but the invite came from B.

If a sorority has already rejected you once, it's not going to increase your chances of getting a bid your second time around with them. Honestly, it probably will decrease your chances. Like most posters say, you need to bring something new to the table, even if it's just being more outgoing, friendly and conversational than last time. I've seen a lot of PNMs who were nervous wrecks during FR come out of their shells at COB, which is a more relaxed environment - so that's something you can definitely work on.

Originally Posted by Indiglow

- Do juniors tend to stand better chances in COB? (Hopefully, not competing against so many underclassmen.)

It depends on the school, but generally the younger you are, the better your chances. Do you know if juniors regularly get bids? Also, are you COBing this semester or in the spring? If it's this spring, keep in mind that you'll only really be active for your senior year (you'll be un-initiated most of the spring). So you can't really blame a sorority for preferring to give one of their open spots to a girl who can be active for 3 years as opposed to just 1.

Originally Posted by Indiglow

- How does COB go at your school? I know it's made up of a week or so of 'regular' events, but how does the bid stuff go? Is there a usual process for all NPCs or does it vary?

I think it varies by group and by school. We do a week of events, then girls receive their bid over the phone the night of the final event (we vote directly afterwards). But other groups may come to your room to give you a paper bid, or invite you to their house/suite/chapter room to pick it up. There's almost always some kind of Bid Day celebration, but usually not as lavish as for FR.

Originally Posted by Indiglow

- Anyone know of any successful junior COB stories? I'd love to hear them.

I'm sure there are some around here. At my school (which sounds pretty different from yours... it's a smaller, liberal arts type school on the east coast) we have extended COB bids to juniors, but only really in the fall. Last year we took 3 juniors and 3 sophomores, and this year we took 8 sophomores and 1 junior. We prefer sophomores for the reason that they have more active years, but if juniors really stand out we'll take them. Usually they are not girls who went through any kind of recruitment before, though. We did take one junior last spring, but we didn't know she was one - she was a transfr student so her credits were weird. Though I don't think that would have changed our decision - we all loved her!

I don't mean to sound too discouraging - if you want to do it, go for it! You don't know until you try. There ARE success stories for girls in your situation, but you really have to give it your all.