Schools where you absolutely positively need recs

[greekmomjo]

W & L is such a great school. I'd do a rec and a letter for each house. You sound so organized, future officer material! Good luck

[jordang312]

I didn't see it listed. But, Southern Miss is also a school where recs are required.

[KSUViolet06]

My general rule of thumb:

If a school's Panhellenic website has a section dedicated to recs, or has list of addresses telling you where to send your recs, or mentions recs AT ALL--then you need to GET RECS.

If the rec section of their website says anything like "recs are suggested but not required, the chapters will get them for you" the translation is "you better get recs because everyone is going to have them and you have a good chance of being dropped like a bad habit if you don't have them."

You don' know how many girls I've encountered who were not as informed as others and when offered a rec from a family member or something say "oh the website said recs are optional."

If the site tells you not to worry and the chapters will get your recs, IGNORE IT and get them yourself anyway.

As with anything I say, feel free to disagree. lol.

[FSUZeta]

totally agree with you violet!

yesterday i was looking on a few college panhellenic websites and i was shocked to see on a particular sorority's site the following paraphrased statement,"it is our responsibility to find a recommendation for any pnm who does not have one." while it is politically correct to say this, it is so far from the truth it's not funny. on top of that, it is one of the most sought after chapters at that particular college, which has a very competitive recruitment. they should be ashamed of themselves.

[greekmomjo]

As usual, I totally agree with KSUviolet. Ignore Panhel and get a rec for every house that you can. Extra letters help at competitve schools.

[pearlbubbles]

I wanted to add my two cents about CU. They're certainly not mandatory, but they are really really helpful and my chapter tended to get a bunch of them and that was really nice, especially when recruitment numbers are about to hit one thousand or so.

But then again, I worked with reference every year I was active, so maybe that's the only reason I find them so helpful. haha.

[beeish]

How much would it hurt you to not have recs at USC. No one in my family at all has gone greek, and I don't know anyone that has either even outside of my family.

[greekmomjo]

you know Greek women, you just don't know that you do. Everytime someone asks you where you are going to college, ask THEM if they were in a house where they went to school. Greek women want the best girls in their sororities, and are happy to help you. I have been told that USC is a jungle--and there are too few houses there too.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by greekmomjo

you know Greek women, you just don't know that you do. Everytime someone asks you where you are going to college, ask THEM if they were in a house where they went to school. Greek women want the best girls in their sororities, and are happy to help you. I have been told that USC is a jungle--and there are too few houses there too.

Again, which USC?

p.s.: There is no length limit on posts. You can make all you've said into one big post.

[ADqtPiMel]

Kentucky people, is it really necessary to have recs at the University of Kentucky? I ask because my high school has been sending increasing numbers of women to UK, most of whom go through recruitment. I've volunteered to write recs for the girls I know well, and they were all happy to receive them but made no effort to get recs to other groups. All of the women who've gone through from our hometown at UK have received bids, most to so-called top-tier groups, with few to no recs.

[catfan]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

Kentucky people, is it really necessary to have recs at the University of Kentucky? I ask because my high school has been sending increasing numbers of women to UK, most of whom go through recruitment. I've volunteered to write recs for the girls I know well, and they were all happy to receive them but made no effort to get recs to other groups. All of the women who've gone through from our hometown at UK have received bids, most to so-called top-tier groups, with few to no recs.

I've had the same scenario play out in my community in KY too. Although the girls with GLO Moms will get recs and be prepared for recruitment. My house has sent me email lists of PNM after rush has started requesting recs. I try to help them, but often I don't have time to get the information and write for all of them. This is a very busy year for me as far as recs. My daughter and many of her friends are rushing at UK. Can't wait to see where they pledge. Most have no GLO family members.

[sydney bristow]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

Kentucky people, is it really necessary to have recs at the University of Kentucky? I ask because my high school has been sending increasing numbers of women to UK, most of whom go through recruitment. I've volunteered to write recs for the girls I know well, and they were all happy to receive them but made no effort to get recs to other groups. All of the women who've gone through from our hometown at UK have received bids, most to so-called top-tier groups, with few to no recs.

I know plenty of sorority women at UK who did not have recs and still had highly successful recruitments. However, as someone who is in state, my friends and I knew girls in lots of chapters. I think recs are very useful for those not in a position like mine. I had recs to every chapter and they only helped.

They're not make or break at UK like at other SEC schools, that's for sure. It is entirely possible to have a great recruitment without them, however, I hesitate to say that because it makes PNMs think that they don't need them at all and that's not true.

Basically, if you have the means/connections to get recs GET THEM!!! But if you don't, you'll be alright as long as you aren't rude/awkward/inappropriate/any of the other recruitment faux pas that GC warns against.

ETA: It is really, really, REALLY rare for a PNM to go through recruitment at UK and go totally bidless. Quota is determined like at other schools, by dividing the number of PNMs attending pref by the number of chapters (12). However, PNMs HAVE TO maximize their options. You hear about girls not going greek because "oh it's so competitive" or "oh I didn't feel a connection with them" when really they're concerned about tiers and drop out when they still have other groups that might want them. This really applies to any school, but it thought it would be good to reiterate.

[FSUZeta]

southern cal or south carolina?

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

southern cal or south carolina?

Actually, FSUZeta, recs are highly desirable / essential at either one, right?

[FSUZeta]

you are right, exlurker.

if the poster will tell us which "usc" she is referring to, she might get better, more specific information.