Torn Between Studying Abroad and Leading Recruitment.

[Senusret I]

I, too, would choose the study abroad. (Although I wish you had studied abroad summer before Junior year, then you could have done both. Oh well.)

[pfg2010]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I, too, would choose the study abroad. (Although I wish you had studied abroad summer before Junior year, then you could have done both. Oh well.)

Believe me, that thought definitely crossed my mind but due to some financial issues last year, it wasn't possible to go last summer.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Study abroad.

One of the big factors in my decision not to study abroad was my chapter and it was our first formal recruitment. I went to training the previous summer and knew the system from helping out with other chapters in our area, so I felt I couldn't leave.

Recruitment comes around, I get mono. I'm sent home and almost hospitalized the week of recruitment. Guess what? Recruitment went on without me and the chapter did fine.

Not studying abroad is one of the things I regret.

Train members in your chapter, assist as much as you can before you leave, and then go abroad and enjoy.

[pfg2010]

Originally Posted by DolphinChicaDDD

Study abroad.

One of the big factors in my decision not to study abroad was my chapter and it was our first formal recruitment. I went to training the previous summer and knew the system from helping out with other chapters in our area, so I felt I couldn't leave.

Recruitment comes around, I get mono. I'm sent home and almost hospitalized the week of recruitment. Guess what? Recruitment went on without me and the chapter did fine.

Not studying abroad is one of the things I regret.

Train members in your chapter, assist as much as you can before you leave, and then go abroad and enjoy.

While I appreciate your advice, I think it's important to realize how different IFC and PHC recruitment is. With fraternities, the recruitment effort really is led by the person in charge of recruitment and his committee during the summer, while from what I gather about sorority recruitment it is a MUCH more colloborative effort from everyone in the sorority pitching in and recruiting during the rounds. At my school we really don't have a formal fraternity recruitment and practically all the recruiting for guys is done in the summer. If you aren't well organized, prepared, and effortful during the summer you won't pull in a good pledge class. That's why it's so important to have an outstanding individual leading our rush, because he is the one making calls, delegating others to make calls, planning events, and attending to hundreds of guys going through recruitment. If you have one slacker leading your rush, I don't think I can say, "Recruitment went on without me and the chapter did fine."

[PhoenixAzul]

Study abroad. Without a doubt it was the best decision I made in college, and lead me to a better postgraduate degree (also in a foreign university) and those credentials were extremely important in getting me the job I was just offered. Studying abroad, and proving that not only can you be versatile and flexible, but that you also have some knowledge of international systems and customs and that is a huge boost on a resume.

I also went the spring/summer of my Jr year, only because there was no opportunity to do it before then, and it was the only chance I had to fit in my credits.

Keep in mind you can always impact recruitment as an active brother, and as an alum. There are ways to contribute even if you can't physically be there.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by pfg2010

While I appreciate your advice, I think it's important to realize how different IFC and PHC recruitment is. With fraternities, the recruitment effort really is led by the person in charge of recruitment and his committee during the summer, while from what I gather about sorority recruitment it is a MUCH more colloborative effort from everyone in the sorority pitching in and recruiting during the rounds. At my school we really don't have a formal fraternity recruitment and practically all the recruiting for guys is done in the summer. If you aren't well organized, prepared, and effortful during the summer you won't pull in a good pledge class. That's why it's so important to have an outstanding individual leading our rush, because he is the one making calls, delegating others to make calls, planning events, and attending to hundreds of guys going through recruitment. If you have one slacker leading your rush, I don't think I can say, "Recruitment went on without me and the chapter did fine."

I think you missed the point of that story.

Life is full of uncertain factors and you never know what will happen. She gave up a chance to study abroad to be rush chair, and then she couldn't do rush chair anyway. What if you get mono or, God forbid, something else happens and you can't be there in the summer?

All I can say is if your fraternity is at the state that you feel you are the ONLY one who can do this position, and that Stevie Slackjaw ran unopposed, rushees are going to pick up on that and your rush is going to be epic fail anyway, even if you do stay and lead it. You can't have one superstar and a bunch of dullards.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by pfg2010

While I appreciate your advice, I think it's important to realize how different IFC and PHC recruitment is. With fraternities, the recruitment effort really is led by the person in charge of recruitment and his committee during the summer, while from what I gather about sorority recruitment it is a MUCH more colloborative effort from everyone in the sorority pitching in and recruiting during the rounds. At my school we really don't have a formal fraternity recruitment and practically all the recruiting for guys is done in the summer. If you aren't well organized, prepared, and effortful during the summer you won't pull in a good pledge class. That's why it's so important to have an outstanding individual leading our rush, because he is the one making calls, delegating others to make calls, planning events, and attending to hundreds of guys going through recruitment. If you have one slacker leading your rush, I don't think I can say, "Recruitment went on without me and the chapter did fine."

It sounds like you have your mind made up, so why are you asking us?