University of Alabama sorority rush to be both in-person, virtual this fall

[FSUZeta]

Bama has registered 1000 PNMs so far v

[AnchorAlumna]

Auburn is doing the same thing.

Yes, I believe this may be a permanent change. Compare: virtual screening of videos with your team, to be done in air conditioning, dressed however, munching and drinking whenever you like, and hanging out with a few frends......compared to two exhausting days of repetitive small talk with 2200 candidates, while dressed up with full make-up and hair, during days of 98 degree heat and 99% humidity outside with the 75% chance of pop-up thunderstorms.
This is a win-win for both sisters and PNMs.
I understand that PNMs may feel short-changed because they didn't get an in-person visit, but the most popular groups are going to have to release 80% or so anyway the first round.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by carnation

Well, we all know that most chapters at big schools have to make massive cuts ahead of time anyway.

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

This is a win-win for both sisters and PNMs.
I understand that PNMs may feel short-changed because they didn't get an in-person visit, but the most popular groups are going to have to release 80% or so anyway the first round.

If virtual stays the norm, especially first round, how is it decided which chapters are "most popular" and therefore those which must release the largest percentage of candidates?

PNMs aren't doing their choosing on where to go second round based on an in-person level of acquaintance, so that level of 'popularity' measurement has changed.

[Herbie]

Nebraska will also be virtual for the first round of primary recruitment. This is similar to back in the dark ages at Nebraska (stopped some time in the 2000s I believe) when the PNMs did not visit each house first round but rather saw short presentations from each chapter in the Union. Invites for the second round were issued to the PNMs the morning after presentations. This meant PNMs did not see the inside of each physical house and did not have conversations with each chapter as there were fewer parties than chapters in the second round. I thought it cut down on tier chatter and helped women focus on where they were invited to.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by Herbie

I thought it cut down on tier chatter and helped women focus on where they were invited to.

On the other hand, "tier chatter" and a look at a carefuly constructed and sanitized video is all you have to use when ranking.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

If virtual stays the norm, especially first round, how is it decided which chapters are "most popular" and therefore those which must release the largest percentage of candidates?
PNMs aren't doing their choosing on where to go second round based on an in-person level of acquaintance, so that level of 'popularity' measurement has changed.

PNMs do still rank on first round.
Release rates are determined by historic return rates. That part is no different. No actual data here, but I'd bet the so-called "highly esteemed" get that from word of mouth, not necessarily an in-person visit.