What to tell overconfident PNMs

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by AOIILisa

I was just paging through one of my recent alum magazines and there is a real push for alumnae to write and send more recs. The article said that the majority of our chapters do not receive any MIFs (our recs are called MIFs) and this is something they would like to change. They have certainly made it easier, our MIFs are now done online and are electronically forwarded directly to the chapter - you attach the PNM resume, pic, etc, and you're good to go.

I would guess that most of the chapters that do receive MIFs are SEC chapters, but maybe another AOII here can confirm.

My chapter (U of Illinois - Big 10) received recs, but certainly not for all or even a majority of PNMs. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State (Big 12) are schools where every single PNM will have at least 1 rec to be considered. Many Big 12 schools have very competitive recruitments.

[kchaptergphib]

I know I'm not technically treading on membership selection info here, so don't flame me, but I wanted to say that a couple of years ago, everyone in our new member class had a recommendation letter. Every. Single. One. At Wisconsin.
Now, that was unusual, and certainly some recs were more moving, more helpful, etc., than others. In the past few years, I'd say our chapter gets 70-130 recs each fall. That's not a large percentage of the total number of women coming through recruitment, but it is way more than a typical quota. When we can fill a a couple of pledge classes with women on whom we have previous knowledge, it can make it harder to stand out if you *don't* have a rec. And if you're a legacy and don't have a recommendation- that ends up looking odd, because in the best case scenario, your legacy-maker is unaware of current rec/legacy policies or practice.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

My chapter (U of Illinois - Big 10) received recs, but certainly not for all or even a majority of PNMs.

Irishpipes, I'm curious - do you know for sure that your chapter received few recs? Were you on a recruitment committee where you'd be privy to that info? I ask because I've listened to women swear their chapter didn't get recs, but they weren't on any kind of committee that processed them and they really didn't know. They only knew that occasionally it was mentioned that a PNM had a rec.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Irishpipes, I'm curious - do you know for sure that your chapter received few recs? Were you on a recruitment committee where you'd be privy to that info? I ask because I've listened to women swear their chapter didn't get recs, but they weren't on any kind of committee that processed them and they really didn't know. They only knew that occasionally it was mentioned that a PNM had a rec.

I was at the same school, and I am certain we only got about a handful, having been chapter president and privy to that info.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Irishpipes, I'm curious - do you know for sure that your chapter received few recs? Were you on a recruitment committee where you'd be privy to that info? I ask because I've listened to women swear their chapter didn't get recs, but they weren't on any kind of committee that processed them and they really didn't know. They only knew that occasionally it was mentioned that a PNM had a rec.

Yes, I was privy to it. We had a ton of legacies come through, and most of them had legacy forms, but not too many others had recs. But, that was a long time ago and I think recs in general were not as widely used. I am quite certain that recs are much more common at my chapter now. The chapter very actively solicits them.

I don't know if you were directing part of your comment at me or not, but I have never said that my chapter didn't get recs. I know we did, but I also strongly suspect most PNMs did not have them - I know they didn't for my GLO. I know many of the women we pledged did not have them. I am sure that certain chapters on campus used them more than we did, and some chapters used them less.

The whole rec business is a lot easier now with electronic media, and I think that has aided the increase in rec usage at schools that didn't consider them heavily before.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Yes, I was privy to it. We had a ton of legacies come through, and most of them had legacy forms, but not too many others had recs. But, that was a long time ago and I think recs in general were not as widely used. I am quite certain that recs are much more common at my chapter now. The chapter very actively solicits them.

I don't know if you were directing part of your comment at me or not, but I have never said that my chapter didn't get recs. I know we did, but I also strongly suspect most PNMs did not have them - I know they didn't for my GLO. I know many of the women we pledged did not have them. I am sure that certain chapters on campus used them more than we did, and some chapters used them less.

The whole rec business is a lot easier now with electronic media, and I think that has aided the increase in rec usage at schools that didn't consider them heavily before.

You and I were also both collegians in the pre-RFM days, too, right? With chapters needing to make heavier cuts much earlier in the process, I could see why both sides (chapters and PNM's) would make a lot more effort to find recs.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Yes, I was privy to it...I don't know if you were directing part of your comment at me or not, but I have never said that my chapter didn't get recs. The whole rec business is a lot easier now with electronic media, and I think that has aided the increase in rec usage at schools that didn't consider them heavily before.

OK! No, I wasn't really thinking you were clueless! But I have known other women who were have declared "We never got recs" when I know very well that they did - it's just that they were never involved in that part of the process.

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

You and I were also both collegians in the pre-RFM days, too, right? With chapters needing to make heavier cuts much earlier in the process, I could see why both sides (chapters and PNM's) would make a lot more effort to find recs.

Yes indeed! WAY more women out there now who are sorority alumnae. Can you imagine having to do all this by US mail? That's how it was done when I started out! And pre-1950, probably all written by hand!

[MSKKG]

After reading the title of this thread, I came to the conclusion that there is nothing we can tell overconfident PNMs. They seem to have all the answers. They come to us experienced members of GLOs for help and then throw all our advice out the window, preferring to rely on the advice of nonmembers of GLOs. Please don't waste our time if you are going to disregard our sincere desire to help you--clearly, you don't need our help.