Univ.of Illinois Recruitment FALL 2012

[IL Anchor Girl]

Wow, I step away for a few hours for a family event, and I apparently missed a whole lot.

Anyway, glad to see this thread is still open, and super happy to read all the happy updates for daughters, sisters, and rec girls! Wishing everyone the best for Bid Day and a lifetime of great friendships and traditions!

I, too, had to smile at the idea of moms at Bid Day - just doesn't happen. My mom was an ADPi at a southern school, and made sure I had all kinds of recs (also a little unusual at the time I rushed in the early 80s). Given the opportunity, she probably would've shown up for Bid Day!

And to the mom from out of state who was worried about everyone being from Illinois: we used to joke that as far as geographic diversity at Illinois went, students came from 2 places: "Chicago" and "downstate". But in the Greek system it was "Chicago SUBURBS" and "downstate". I was one of only 3 girls in my pledge class from the actual city of Chicago. But- it didn't matter at all! Once we were a pledge class, we bonded. If anything, girls from outside Illinois were like a prize because they were such an exotic rarity!

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I know of so few PNM's who get dropped from every chapter (and the statistics bear it out) at Illinois. My first thought was that this was an effect of having so many chapters, i.e. it's unlikely for a PNM to click with NOONE, but then other schools with a lot of chapters (Auburn, for example) seem to have a much larger number of women who are not invited to prefs.

Any thoughts on why this is? If I had to wager a guess, a lot of women at Illinois know nothing about the chapters when they get there (though maybe this has changed due to the internet?), and I bet there are very few who fall into the trap of going back to the SRCs for first invitational and having nothing later on, when they would have had a bid if they had considered other chapters.

No way at all to test it - but the theory with Auburn (17 chapters) for example - is that women tend to have in mind or know more about 6-8 chapters (or have friends from 6 chapters) when they start recruitment. So they rank their top 12 after first round and everything is fine, but in between ranking their top 7 for skit and receiving 3 invitiations for prefs there is a mismatch between these 6 chapters they know about ahead of time and with which sororities are interested in them, because of cuts required by RFM.

The solution that several people have recommended is to think about it like college applications and to be sure to keep in your top 7 a mix of chapters.

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by IL Anchor Girl

And to the mom from out of state who was worried about everyone being from Illinois: we used to joke that as far as geographic diversity at Illinois went, students came from 2 places: "Chicago" and "downstate". But in the Greek system it was "Chicago SUBURBS" and "downstate". I was one of only 3 girls in my pledge class from the actual city of Chicago. But- it didn't matter at all! Once we were a pledge class, we bonded. If anything, girls from outside Illinois were like a prize because they were such an exotic rarity!

WOO! High five for an actual-city-of-Chicagoan!

Always loved that conversation with new people I met:

Stranger: "Where are you from?"

Me: "Chicago".

Stranger: "Oh, what suburb?"

Me: *Sigh*

[pearlalum]

Just heard from my daughter's best friend who finished her prefs at Illinois today. She has had a very positive experience like my daughter did. She went into prefs with her 3 top choices, pretty sure about which one was her favorite, and came out of it ranking another one in the #1 spot! Can't wait for tomorrow to see where she ends up. I am so excited for her!

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I know of so few PNM's who get dropped from every chapter (and the statistics bear it out) at Illinois. My first thought was that this was an effect of having so many chapters, i.e. it's unlikely for a PNM to click with NOONE, but then other schools with a lot of chapters (Auburn, for example) seem to have a much larger number of women who are not invited to prefs.

Any thoughts on why this is? If I had to wager a guess, a lot of women at Illinois know nothing about the chapters when they get there (though maybe this has changed due to the internet?), and I bet there are very few who fall into the trap of going back to the SRCs for first invitational and having nothing later on, when they would have had a bid if they had considered other chapters.

The number of chapters and size of pledge classes seem just right at Illinois – I’m not sure how many more colonizations it would take to begin to reduce the size of the pledge classes at Bama, for instance. The numbers of PNMs seem to continue to climb – I’m not sure where these will eventually stabilize.

I was thinking about your question, and though I couldn’t find comparable data from Auburn, I looked at comparable data from U of Alabama instead (which also has a comparable number of chapters). I was actually surprised at the numbers – not what I expected to find given UofA’s recruitment reputation.

Comparing U of Illinois and U of Alabama – 2010 stats for both (most recent figures posted for IL, and free of 2011 colonization variable for U of A) – beginning with attendance number at Open House -- some figures of interest in bold:

U of IL stats: http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/greek/membership/panhellenicStats.asp
U of AL stats (click to enlarge): http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/121342940.png

U of IL:
Attending Open House: 1258
Total Withdrawals up to and following pref: 325 (approx. 26% of PNMs withdrew during recruitment process)
Released by all chapters (through pref invites): 2
% placed in chapter: 72.2%
Not receiving bids: 23 (approx 2.5% of those signing pref cards)
Received 1st choice: 721 (approx 79.5% of those signing pref cards)
Received 2nd choice: 138 (approx 15.2% of those signing pref cards)
Received 3rd choice: 33 (approx 3.7% of those signing pref cards)

Uof A:
Attending Open House: 1604
Total withdrawals up to and following pref: 154 (approx. 10% of PNMs withdrew during recruitment process)
Released by all chapters (through pref invites): 16
% placed in chapter: 88%
Not receiving bids: 31 (approx 2.5% of those signing pref cards)
Received 1st choice: 1226 (approx 87% of those signing pref cards)
Received 2nd choice: 150 (approx 11% of those signing pref cards)
Received 3rd choice: 28 (approx 2% of those signing pref cards)

The UofA numbers were a lot more favorable than I expected – compare the withdrawals during the recruitment process, as well as the percentage placed in chapters. Thoughts? Maybe SEC recruitment is not as scary as its reputation often depicts!

But we still have more mamas and daddies underfoot on Bid Day.

ETA:
Auburn: available stats from years 2008-2011 combined, along with comments that accompany stats:
https://fp.auburn.edu/greek/Files/2012cweforweb.pdf

Withdrew from recruitment: 9.74% (most over not receiving a desired invitation)
Released during week (in process): 3.13%
Released Bid Day: 2.2% (all neglected to maximize pref options)
Placed in chapters: 84.94%

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

The number of chapters and size of pledge classes seem just right at Illinois – I’m not sure how many more colonizations it would take to begin to reduce the size of the pledge classes at Bama, for instance. The numbers of PNMs seem to continue to climb – I’m not sure where these will eventually stabilize.

I was thinking about your question, and though I couldn’t find comparable data from Auburn, I looked at comparable data from U of Alabama instead (which also has a comparable number of chapters). I was actually surprised at the numbers – not what I expected to find given UofA’s recruitment reputation.

Comparing U of Illinois and U of Alabama – 2010 stats for both (most recent figures posted for IL, and free of 2011 colonization variable for U of A) – beginning with attendance number at Open House:

U of IL stats: http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/greek/membership/panhellenicStats.asp
U of AL stats (click to enlarge): http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/121342940.png

U of IL:
Attending Open House: 1258
Total Withdrawals up to and following pref: 325 (approx. 26% of PNMs withdrew during recruitment process)
Released by all chapters (through pref invites): 2
% placed in chapter: 72.2%
Not receiving bids: 23
Received 1st choice: 721
Received 2nd choice: 138
Received 3rd choice: 33

Uof A:
Attending Open House: 1604
Total withdrawals up to and following pref: 154 (approx. 10% of PNMs withdrew during recruitment process)
Released by all chapters (through pref invites): 16
% placed in chapter: 88%
Not receiving bids: 31
Received 1st choice: 1276
Received 2nd choice: 150
Received 3rd choice: 28

The UofA numbers were a lot more favorable than I expected – compare the withdrawals during the recruitment process, as well as the percentage placed in chapters. Thoughts? Maybe SEC recruitment is not as scary as its reputation often depicts!

But we still have more mamas and daddies underfoot on Bid Day.

Thanks. This is a good comparison. I've always thought it was really rare for anyone to be TOTALLY released from recruitment, but we seem to get so many stories around here that go that way.

[908sfirst]

And runtime, I apologize for offending you; I really didn't mean it to be as disrespectful as you obviously took it. Good luck to your daughter tomorrow.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by 908sfirst

So...the sorority thing..

SHE GOT HER 3 TOP HOUSES TO VISIT TODAY!!!! YAYAYAYAY!!!! All of them were her favorites after visiting, and she had such a hard time deciding. A lot of rush infractions were probably happening, as my son was getting text messages from people he knew in the houses updating him on how much they want my daughter. hahaha. Anyway, she is very excited about her number 1 choice, but would be happy with any of them. Yay! I can't wait to hear tomorrow.

Hooray!!! What an exciting day tomorrow will be!

Best wishes to all for a happy, happy Bid Day!

[Runtime]

Originally Posted by 908sfirst

And runtime, I apologize for offending you; I really didn't mean it to be as disrespectful as you obviously took it. Good luck to your daughter tomorrow.

No problem...and I am glad your daughter also got invited back to her top 3. I know how excited my daughter was, so I know it was a good day for your daughter and your family. Good luck to your daughter as well, and check back in after she gets her bid...which I am sure she will.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Thanks. This is a good comparison. I've always thought it was really rare for anyone to be TOTALLY released from recruitment, but we seem to get so many stories around here that go that way.

I just corrected one figure on UofA's "matched to first choice," and added some percentages for both to compare. It does appear rare that girls are released from all chapters (and it does not appear that girls at UofA are withdrawing from recruitment in unusually high numbers -- according to the comparison here, in fewer numbers actually).

I would be surprised if the numbers at Auburn were that different from UofA (just from a regional POV I guess), but so far I'm pretty surprised by the numbers period.

Does anyone have comparable numbers from Auburn (or other SEC school)? I'm curious now.

[HQWest]

I dont have five years of numbers but from the powerpoint shiwn to parents at Camp War Eagle that is online, the AU numbers are comparable to Bama. Less than 2 percent are released from recruitment. The number of withdrawals after round one is higher at Auburn - I have been told this is because of girls tht sign up so they can move in early or who are overwhelmed by the crowds.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by HQWest

I dont have five years of numbers but from the powerpoint shiwn to parents at Camp War Eagle that is online, the AU numbers are comparable to Bama. Less than 2 percent are released from recruitment. The number of withdrawals after round one is higher at Auburn - I have been told this is because of girls tht sign up so they can move in early or who are overwhelmed by the crowds.

You’re right – looked up some Auburn numbers from a presentation (probably the powerpoint you are referring to):
https://fp.auburn.edu/greek/Files/2012cweforweb.pdf

Auburn stats from years 2008-2011 combined, along with comments that accompany stats:

Withdrew from recruitment: 9.74% (most over not receiving a desired invitation)
Released during week (in process): 3.13%
Released Bid Day: 2.2% (all neglected to maximize pref options)
Placed in chapters: 84.94%

I tried to find some numbers for a variety of other schools reputed to have very competitive recruitments (UGA, USC, and SMU), but was not able to find comparable numbers.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

You’re right – looked up some Auburn numbers from a presentation (probably the powerpoint you are referring to):
https://fp.auburn.edu/greek/Files/2012cweforweb.pdf

Auburn stats from years 2008-2011 combined, along with comments that accompany stats:

Withdrew from recruitment: 9.74% (most over not receiving a desired invitation)
Released during week (in process): 3.13%
Released Bid Day: 2.2% (all neglected to maximize pref options)
Placed in chapters: 84.94%

I tried to find some numbers for a variety of other schools reputed to have very competitive recruitments (UGA, USC, and SMU), but was not able to find comparable numbers.

Okay, but while the numbers of totally released women are small, they are still much higher at Auburn and Bama than at Illinois. 3% of 1000+ women is 30+ women, which is 15 times higher. Of course, I wouldn't draw any conclusions based on one year of statistics, though.

[DG Illinois]

Yeah!!!!!!!!! It's finally bid day! There is a video of bid day on the Quad where the Rho Chis reveal their house and then the pnms open their bids. It's super cute. I will see if I can figure out how to link it here. So happy for everyone!

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Okay, but while the numbers of totally released women are small, they are still much higher at Auburn and Bama than at Illinois. 3% of 1000+ women is 30+ women, which is 15 times higher. Of course, I wouldn't draw any conclusions based on one year of statistics, though.

Yes, part of the problem with comparing numbers may be how the numbers are reported. The Auburn numbers appear to be a 4-year average, while IL and AL are same-year comparisons.

Is it possible that the number of girls who withdraw (proportionately) could affect the release numbers over the week? Thoughts?

Illinois (2010): approx 26% of PNMs withdrew during process
Alabama (2010): approx 10% withdrew during process
Auburn (average years 2008-11): 9.74% withdrew during process