University of Missouri Recruitment 2011

[DubaiSis]

DON'T compare one campus' recruitment to another. They are not the same thing. Mizzou is underserved by chapters and that's not changing for another year, so there are a lot of girls looking at a relatively small pool of sororities. Iowa State has plenty of sororities for the number of interested rushees.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

\If you're interested to know, you might CALL them.

NO NO NO!!! If YOUR DAUGHTER is interested in knowing, YOUR DAUGHTER should call them.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by pearlalum

Thanks DubaiSis - Luckily she's well above that. I was just curious. Earlier in the thread, there was the comment about severe cuts at Mizzou due to grades. I was just trying to put that in context - does that mean that most sororities have higher minimums than the Office of Greek Life?

Generally, Panhellenic may require a certain GPA to sign up for recruitment, say a 2.67. But the sororities themselves may have a higher GPA requirement, say a 3.0, in order to be eligible for membership. It varies by each chapter and that information is usually listed in the recruitment guide that a women receives during recruitment.

If a woman going through recruitment doesn't meet the minimum GPA requirement for the sorority, she is generally released from that chapter. Also, a chapter on a specific campus can vote to have a higher GPA requirement than their inter/national bylaws require.

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by MizzouMom

There were some tears this morning and I only got to speak with her briefly on the phone. But within 30 minutes I had a text from her saying "I'm just going to put my head up and be gracious to the houses that wanted me back. If they want me, I want to be with them." I couldn't be more proud of her than I am at this moment.

Beautiful!! I would be proud of her too. She sounds like a wonderful, mature young woman. I hope she has a terrific rest of the week! Best of luck to you both. It is a blow when your sorority cuts your legacy loved one, so hugs an hats off to you both for your great attitudes.

[MizzouMom]

My daughter and I went out to dinner tonight and talked at length about the chapters she visited today and what tomorrow might hold. She had an easier time preferencing after the socials today, and we discussed the best and worse case scenarios for preference round and bid day.

I can't go into very much detail about philanthropy day, except to say that it seemed to consist mostly of house tours and short skits. Every chapter did something very creative and different, but I don't want to give it away for those who might recognize what chapters I'm describing. So here is what I can share about today's socials:

Candlelight - at this point she says this is her favorite chapter - she has repeatedly said that they don't do anything halfway, and everything is so impressive and well planned, plus she's had great conversations all along with the girls

Eloquence - second favorite chapter - again, very organized and creative, lots of energy and very friendly, beautiful chapter house

Strasbourg - third favorite chapter - she really hadn't expected to fall in love with this chapter but says she could really see herself here - she says she has felt like each girl she has met could become a best friend

Grande Baroque - fourth favorite (and one remaining legacy chapter) - always describes them as so fun and friendly, creative, energetic and outgoing - this is another chapter she hadn't expected to fall in love with

Acorn - fifth favorite - says the girls are really friendly and the house is beautiful, she could definitely see herself being happy here

Chrysanthemum - sixth favorite - this is the only chapter she really has reservations about, and we have discussed at length that many girls feel lukewarm about their new chapter at the beginning and end up loving it

So the chapters that are fourth, fifth, and sixth are the ones that she could potentially drop if she gets to go back to her top three tomorrow. She said that if she gets asked back to even one of her top three she will be thrilled. Of course, there is still the possibility that she could be released, or only get one or two invitations. We will find out tomorrow morning (Friday) around 9:00.

[kchaptergphib]

Best of luck to her! As others have said, she seems to have a great attitude

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

NO NO NO!!! If YOUR DAUGHTER is interested in knowing, YOUR DAUGHTER should call them.

Sorry, I changed pronouns in my post a couple times but missed that one. I do concur. This is the time for the girls to take the bull by the horns. Or the cyclone by the tail, as it were.

[pearlalum]

Mizzou Mom - as a fellow "Mizzou Mom," I'm cheering on your daughter and hope she gets pref invites from the chapters she wants. She really has a wonderful attitude. I hope my daughter will have that same outlook next year, when it's her turn to go through recruitment.

[arrowlady]

Your daughter has an amazing attitude, I am loving hearing her story. My daughter will be going thru recruitment next year and I can only hope she will be as level headed as your daughter.

[MizzouMom]

My daughter has been invited back to two (out of a possible three) chapters for preference. She will be going to Chrysanthemum and Candlelight. As she put it in her text, "both ends of the spectrum." One is her favorite, and one is her least favorite. Tomorrow is bid day, so if she does get a bid, she says it could be absolutely wonderful or it could be just mediocre. However, if there's one thing I have learned from lurking on Greek Chat for a couple of years, it's that most women who don't get their first choice eventually end up loving their chapter and can't imagine any other outcome. I've been trying to emphasize this all along but I know it will be tough for her to deal with the initial disappointment. Right now there is no talk of intentional single preference - I am going to strongly discourage this if it comes up.

I think this has been the longest week of my life. I can't even imagine how the PMs must feel.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by MizzouMom

My daughter has been invited back to two (out of a possible three) chapters for preference. She will be going to Chrysanthemum and Candlelight. As she put it in her text, "both ends of the spectrum." One is her favorite, and one is her least favorite. Tomorrow is bid day, so if she does get a bid, she says it could be absolutely wonderful or it could be just mediocre. However, if there's one thing I have learned from lurking on Greek Chat for a couple of years, it's that most women who don't get their first choice eventually end up loving their chapter and can't imagine any other outcome. I've been trying to emphasize this all along but I know it will be tough for her to deal with the initial disappointment. Right now there is no talk of intentional single preference - I am going to strongly discourage this if it comes up.

Good, good, good.

[pearlalum]

Mizzou Mom - it seems to still be going well, especially if one of those invites is from one of her favorites. I think the pref parties today will make a difference and she'll really get to see them both more in-depth. She may even come out of it liking Chrysanthemum more than she thought.

When I pledged (yes, almost 30 years ago!), my roommate was my best friend from high school, and we went through recruitment together. We were definitely set on pledging the same sorority. Luckily, we had the same pref parties, but ended up pledging differently, because we decided at the end to go with our heart. We both loved our sororities deeply and her pledge class and my pledge class became very close. I never regret our decision to go separately at the end.

Good luck to your daughter!

[MizzouMom]

My daughter just attended Chrysanthemum's pref party and texted me to say she loved it! Good sign!!!

I am really not being very productive at work today...

[pearlalum]

Yay! Pref parties really do make a difference.

[IvyLeaf]

My heart is breaking! My daughter has not been asked back to any of her top choices since round 2. She is trying to keep a great attitude but I hear her dissapointment in her voice. She was asked back to two today and really loves one group but feels she has never clicked with the other. She just called and told me that she did put two down but really is only interested in one of them and will be dissapointed if she does not receive her current first choice. She is so exhausted and told me today that this has been the most stressful situation she has ever encountered. While she knows the end justifies the mean she has found the process to be so superficial and shallow. It is difficult to get through to an 18 year old some times that life isn't fair and what doesn't kill us makes us stronger!! On paper she was the ideal candidate, 3.7 30 act, at least two recs for each soroity, 2 legacies, and many leadership positions, activities, work history and scholarship awards. And yes she is outgoing, very attractive, and extremely charming. At least 5 from her floor have dropped out of rush completely. I know this happens and it seems like the addition of a few more chapters would surely help these great girls find a home! Keep your fingers crossed for all of these girls that wish to grow within the greek system at Mizzou