RFM-pref day

[33girl]

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

But when should the RFM specialist permit the release of the PNMs that keep putting a WRC last? Part of RFM practice is to reduce the number of rounds meaning less time for Chapters and PNMs to gain an accurate read or correct misconceptions about one another. Seems like the reduction of the SRC chapter invites needs to come earlier for best results overall.

Honestly, I think that's up to the WRC. Unless you've spent your life in a cave, you can usually tell the difference between a girl who is genuinely amazed that she is liking your chapter more than she thought she would and is just listing you last because someone has to be last, and the girl who is just never going to budge or give you a chance. I know that's very hard to quantify or communicate to an RFM specialist though.

[LAblondeGPhi]

Originally Posted by carnation

Ladies who are RFM experts: let's say that a PNM has 3 parties on pref day. She likes 2 (A and B), hates the other one (C). A and B have always made quota. C never makes quota--right off, anyway.

She lists A and B only on her MRABA but doesn't get a bid. Most of us have seen this scenario. How often have you seen this happen? If the third sorority doesn't usually make quota, does it seem to you that that's the bid that girls get in such a scenario?

I realize that it's different for every girl and that it depends where they're placed on the sorority's list. It's just that so often, it seems to me like the PNM gets C.

I think in this scenario, it is slightly more likely for the PNM to get a bid to C chapter than in a scenario where she is preffing three relatively equal chapters and/or where the C chapter typically makes quota just fine.

Reason 1:
This is going to assume that there is a relative gradation of PNM "desirability" that is somewhat even across chapters. Yes, I know that chapter personality and fit are all major factors, but you still tend to see similar strength chapters compete more frequently with each other for PNMs.

If A and B are significantly stronger chapters, then it may be the case that PNM is already near the middle or lower end of those chapter's pref lists. A and B will likely have many women they like just as much as PNM from which to choose. Thus, RFM isn't doing anything to push these PNMs into C, it's more that the scenario is kind of pre-indicating that PNM is more likely to match with C.

Reason 2:
The Quota Addition rules are helpful for PNMs in making the decision to maximize options really only if all the chapters she has tend to make quota. The only benefit to including a chapter that she ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT WANT A BID FROM on her MRABA is in the event that she is not matched with A and B - then she hopes that she is not matched with C so that she can be hand-placed into one of the other chapters as a QA. If C rarely/never makes quota, then PNM receives no benefit to maximizing her options, in the event she truly would turn down the C bid anyway.

Edit: Or at least, this is how I understand RFM to work on most campuses!

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by LAblondeGPhi

If A and B are significantly stronger chapters, then it may be the case that PNM is already near the middle or lower end of those chapter's pref lists. A and B will likely have many women they like just as much as PNM from which to choose. Thus, RFM isn't doing anything to push these PNMs into C, it's more that the scenario is kind of pre-indicating that PNM is more likely to match with C.

This!

[ladybug12]

I agree. In reality, what percentage of PNMs get placed as QA's? I am seeing some campuses where there are huge quota additions, but these groups are making quota (and everyone else is also). SO this is probably a newer GLO on campus vs a WRC that has been improving their numbers over the past few years but their RRS is not high enough for them to release lots of PNMS...thus they have more PNMS in their parties. But they are matching more of them and more are showing up on Bid Day..some of these groups are the largest in number on their campuses after recruitment. Overall, retention over the years is the largest factor....and that is up to each chapter to remedy over time. It is one thing to only get 30 on bid day when quota is 60...totally another to get 75 on bid day when quota is 60 and you only initiate 40 of them.

[Sciencewoman]

We only preffed 2 chapters max when I went through recruitment, and there were 17 groups.

There's something about getting a 3rd choice out of 3 that seems much more deflating than getting your 2nd choice out of 2. I think this is a good move for the chapters and the PNMs, especially with a colonization following recruitment.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Interestingly, the number of women who put chapter C down or don't put chapter C down can actually affect quota, which in turn affects their chances of being placed at A or B.

For a GROSSLY simplified example of how this could happen:

Fifteen women go to A, B, and C for pref.

If all fifteen list all three, quota is five and all three chapters make it.

If ten list all three, and the remaining five list only A and B, and those five are the highest on both A and B's list, quota is five and all three chapters make it.

If ten list all three, and the remaining five list only A and B, and those five are the lowest on both A and B's list, a quota of five now only places ten women, with five unmatched. Raising quota to 6 now places twelve women, with three unmatched. Lowering quota to 4 places ten women, with five unmatched, but better balances the chapters. The quota-setters have to make a tough call about whether to place more women at the expense of parity.

Of course, no example is this simple and there are other chapters in the mix, etc., but it is indeed true that, in the aggregate, PNM decisions can affect their chances.

[Sciencewoman]

^^^ I hope the PNMs' moms saved some wine for me!