Please don't quit Rush, FSU pnms

missellie · #1 08-21-2009, 12:46 AM

My daughter is currently going through Rush at FSU, and is having a great time. Luckily, she has been asked back to all her choices, and we will find out at 9:30 this morning how she fared after Philanthropy round. The hard thing for her was deciding who to eliminate because there were lovely girls in each sorority who were so kind!

She has been impressed with many of the houses, and how hard the girls have worked to make Rush enjoyable. She takes her duties as a pnm seriously, and will continue till the end even if her top 2 choices drop her. She said she could be happy in at least 4 houses, and is really shocked at the number of girls who are dropping out so early because they had to go back to houses they did not choose-especially in light of the agreement they signed to participate.

In my day at an SEC school when you signed up for Rush, you stuck through till the end, and the only ones who left either had emergencies that truly made them leave, or were dropped by all.

I am not saying every pnm should join a sorority; I am saying the lack of committment to and appreciation of the Recruitment process is sad. I know how much thought and hard work my sisters and I put into Recruitment, and just hope the great FSU Panhellenic women do not get discouraged by the quitters.

Good luck to all, and know your work is much appreciated by my daughter, me and those who stick it out. As my daughter told me, Rush has been such a great way to get to know girls from all the houses-and as I have always told her there are quality girls and friends to made in every house!

KSUViolet06 · #2 08-21-2009, 12:51 AM

Your post totally made me think about something:

Alot of PNMs think that when they make/submit rankings, they are "choosing" chapters.

So when they get their schedules and chapters they ranked low were on it (and others they listed are not), they get upset because they say "I didn't pick/want this one."

They don't understand that ALL they're doing is RANKING them. They are really not making any "choices."

missellie · #3 08-21-2009, 01:00 AM

You are so right, and I hope this info gets out clearly to the pnms. Frankly, Rush works out like it should in that most girls get placed in houses where they are a good fit-if the pnms will just stick it out.

Sadly, I think some feel entitled to their "choices", and maybe those girls are just too spoiled or accustomed to instant gratification to really fit in any sorority. Because sisterhood is about we not just me.

Thanks for your well thought out response!

missellie · #4 08-21-2009, 01:12 AM

One thing that is a bit confusing: Some Rho Gams- and I am certainly not saying all or most- are telling the girls they have to "banish" a certain number of sororities, for instance 4 yesterday, and I never heard that terminology before ...Perhaps, we all need help with semantics!

Appreciate your help!

KSUViolet06 · #5 08-21-2009, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missellie

One thing that is a bit confusing: Some Rho Gams- and I am certainly not saying all or most- are telling the girls they have to "banish" a certain number of sororities, for instance 4 yesterday, and I never heard that terminology before ...Perhaps, we all need help with semantics!

Appreciate your help!

Well if you are asked back to a certain number, you do get to choose a certain number that you DON'T want to return to.

Example: At my school we had 6 chapters and if you were asked back to more than 4, you could drop 2.

But that was only for those who received more than a certain number of invitations.

missellie · #6 08-21-2009, 01:40 AM

Thanks again for your wise answer. My daughter has been in the fortunate situation of being able to "drop" those she ranked lowest-but as she said-there are a lot of great sororities and she is not saying who or how she ranked, ever. Why hurt someone's feelings? And just maybe your own chances for success in the process. There really are enough plenty of good sororities at FSU for all sorts of girls who are willing to maximize their options.

And one further thought, she- and I hope others who had recs written for them- will be thanking everyone who wrote a rec. I know I appreciate it when those I recommend let me know who they pledged. It doesn't matter whether they pledged my sorority, it's just nice to know the time you spend writing for the girls is appreciated.

DubaiSis · #7 08-21-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missellie

And one further thought, she- and I hope others who had recs written for them- will be thanking everyone who wrote a rec. I know I appreciate it when those I recommend let me know who they pledged. It doesn't matter whether they pledged my sorority, it's just nice to know the time you spend writing for the girls is appreciated.

Good luck with that, missellie. I think one of the more important things life in a sorority can teach is the social graces, like sending thank you's and that RSVP'ing to an event is not optional. We all learn how to make a correct introduction because recruitment is so important, but some of the less "we need to know it right now" details seem to fall to the wayside. Yes, they're busy. Yes it's a lot of notes to write, but it's critical. As I've told my chapter, alums who are kept informed send money. Period.

MaggieXi · #8 08-21-2009, 08:21 AM

I've always thought that the term "Mutual Selection Process" is misleading to already nervous and stressed PNMs. The word "selection" doesn't equal "ranking", which is really what PNMs are doing at most campuses.

Titchou · #9 08-21-2009, 08:35 AM

The ranking system that PNMs use is relatively new...say in this century. So, the terminology still hangs around from when they actually did cut groups....as was the case when I went thru (when dinosaurs roamed the earth!). Just like some people still say "rush" - I even misspeak at times....it is a sticky wicket.....

33girl · #10 08-21-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missellie

One thing that is a bit confusing: Some Rho Gams- and I am certainly not saying all or most- are telling the girls they have to "banish" a certain number of sororities, for instance 4 yesterday, and I never heard that terminology before ...Perhaps, we all need help with semantics!

Appreciate your help!

That sounds like a Rho Gam with a flair for the overly dramatic. That is certainly never a word I have heard used here or anywhere.

I don't think it's the inability of the school to explain the rankings the PNMs must do, rather it's the PNMs' Veruca Salt mentality. And of course, we all know who's to blame for that.

Your daughter sounds like she has her act together though - I hope she finds her home!

AnchorAlumna · #11 08-21-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

..."Veruca Salt mentality"...

I like that.

PeppyGPhiB · #12 08-21-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

I don't think it's the inability of the school to explain the rankings the PNMs must do, rather it's the PNMs' Veruca Salt mentality. And of course, we all know who's to blame for that.

So true. Usually the girls who drop out after the first or second cuts are spoiled, and dropping is their way of pouting. It's as if they think, "I'll show them!" But of course all they're really remembered for is being a poor sport or sour grapes.

FlaGirl07 · #13 08-21-2009, 12:34 PM

Good luck to your daughter missellie, I hope she finds a perfect home in one of our 15 amazing sororities =)

gardensyl · #14 08-21-2009, 02:06 PM

I'm impressed with your daughter, missellie, with that kind of positive attitude she will be a great asset to any sorority. I hope all goes well for her.

DGTess · #15 08-21-2009, 03:01 PM

i hope your daughter finds success.

But I also have to wonder how a first-semester freshman can be "committed" to or have an appreciation for the Recruitment process.

I know I don't (I truly dislike the process), and they don't even know what it is. If the process doesn't show them there's value, why should we expect they'll know this?