How are bigs and littles assigned?

[KSUViolet06]

This is how it was done in my chapter (no clue it's done the same or differently now.)

NMs are presented with the list of eligible Bigs. You had to be in good standing (grades, participation points, etc.) and willing to take on the financial responsibility. You didn't have to be on the list if you were eligible, though. For example, if you were a junior and you took Twins during fall and a another Lil in the spring class, you might have asked to NOT be on the list (even though you were eliglble) because you didn't want to take anymore Littles.

NMs lists their top 5 choices for Bigs.

Eligible Bigs listed their top 5 choices for Littles.

The VP matched them up based on their rankings as best as possible. Ex: If Suzy and Sally Sigma are both each other's #1, they are matched.

My chapter also didn't have limitations on which classes could take Littles (some chapters will say that the only eligible Bigs are the class above the NMs) or that no one could have Twins.

We also didn't say that EVERY eligible Big HAD to get a Little Sis. So there were situations where an active would be all "zomg!! how did Suzy get Twins and I didn't get anybody!!!!???" just because no one had that person on their list anywhere. Was there drama with our system sometimes? Sure. But i've worked with chapters using a variety of systems. Some assign based solely on who the Bigs want, some do it totally randomly (like names out of a hat), some say that the class immediately before the NMs are the only ones eligible to take Littles, etc. and there is some drama with ALL of them.