Texas Daughter's Recruitment Thread!

texasmom · #1 08-23-2006, 09:59 AM

Do you ever sleep???? Is that nervous worried mom sleeplessness?

_______________________

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep again, proudmom. Actually, I was asleep when TexasDaughter called this morning around 1 a.m. Of course, by the time we chatted, then I posted (obviously, I'm not the world's quickest poster) and the time I got back to bed it was almost time to get up.

Hopefully, it'll all be worth it if she can find her home. TexasDaughter is the type of girl who needs to sort things out verbally when she makes her decisions (unlike her two older sisters). I guess last night I was the recipient of her chattiness.

Of course, I have a feeling I'm not going to be very bright at work today! Oh, well.

GtownGirl98 · #2 08-23-2006, 10:37 AM

Oh... I so wish AGD was still at A&M... I looked into transferring there while I was in college. Also my brother is there and it would be so awesome for him to meet a sister to be my sister-in-law. OH my...

Good luck with all the other options. I am always a very verbal thinker, so on behalf of all us verbal people... THANKS for helping us work through our issues!

adpialumnaecrh · #3 08-23-2006, 10:49 AM

Thank you so much for posting a thread that is so interesting to read! Having been through "Formal Recruitment" myself many many years ago at a much smaller school with only three sororities on campus, this brings back so many fond memories. However, I can only imagine how tired your daughter must be after every round!

I don't usually give advice, but please remind her that the sorority she chooses isn't for four years, it is for a LIFETIME! I wish her the best in her difficult decision and admire her open mindedness!

BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL MATCH!

--First, Finest, & FOREVER!

ΑΔΠ

Cindy0128 · #4 08-23-2006, 04:00 PM

Oh my gosh - my daughter (and I) were in the same boat last year. Yep - a big Texas University. She (and I) were filled with anxst!! I was with her for day 1 (5 parties) but had to go home for the rest of rush. I was tied to the phone!
So, here we are a year later and she's now a Sister, a rusher, and while she's very, very happy and "at home" - being a rusher is much harder than she thought and also very stressful. She and I have often talked about how great Rush was for her last year and here's her top suggestions of what worked for her. She was invited back to the max parties every night:
1) Be totally open minded. Yes, thanks to the local Panhel and my unabashedly contacting every sorority woman I knew for a rec - "B" had at least one rec at every sorority. At least in my neck of the Texas woods, the local PanHel will ensure it.
2) Practice, practice, practice - yes, my daughter, "B" ,practiced the handshake, the small talk. My neice, an active Pi Phi, at Ole Miss helped her. 'B" is quite shy and the practice really helped. Today my daughter told me that it's quite apparent the girls who are asked an open ended question and can somehow turn it into a yes or no. Not a good thing.
3) take notes - after you leave the house - jot down who you talked with and about what -- not only so you can remember but so that at the next party you can say "yesterday I really enjoyed chatting with emily. we talked about your intramural softball league..."
4) CLEAN UP THE FACEBOOK. This year --- girls at this Texas school are being cut left and right because their Face Book has suggestive words, pictures of the girls with alcohol, allusions to alcohol, sleezy outfits. Sororities don't like this!!! My girl's facebook picture and profile was clean, cute, and interesting.
B and I early on decided to treat this like a job interview and followed everything you've heard - smile, BE PREPARED with questions, small talk; eye contact, remember - everyone likes the sound of their own name, etc. and it worked.
My daughter had a tough, tough time deciding which sororities NOT to return to. Odd as it sounds - she cut one because the house was just too loud - music on top of conversation. months later she learned that this house was, supposedly, one of the "tops"
I think your girl is in good shape - they like girls with good grades and who dress appropriately. She'll do great and if she goes where I think - all of the houses are fantastic. Keep us all posted.
CB

bluefish81 · #5 08-23-2006, 05:21 PM

TexasMom, I'm enjoying your updates. I hope that things continue to go well for TexasDaughter. Hopefully you'll be able to get some sleep soon...

NutBrnHair · #6 08-23-2006, 05:30 PM

Great post, Cindy1028. Sounds like your daughter was well-prepared! Glad it was a positive experience.

Don't take this the wrong way, but at some big, competitive Greek campuses you run into quite a few prospective new members who are so "well-prepared" that I refer to them as "professional rushees!"

adpiucf · #7 08-23-2006, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindy0128

CLEAN UP THE FACEBOOK. This year --- girls at this Texas school are being cut left and right because their Face Book has suggestive words, pictures of the girls with alcohol, allusions to alcohol, sleezy outfits. Sororities don't like this!!! My girl's facebook picture and profile was clean, cute, and interesting.

CB

Amen! We discussed this at the Houston AP Round Table this year for the rising freshmen-- I think the younger alums caught the older ones off-guard when we were talking about it with the PNMs because the older ladies didn't know what Facebook/MySpace/LJ, etc., even were, but we've worked it into our print materials for next year.

What sorority is your daughter a member of?

texasmom · #8 08-23-2006, 06:40 PM

Well, invites are back, and TexasDaughter got three... the good news is that they are all to houses she really liked yesterday. I'd be lying, though if I said she wasn't discouraged. It does seem like she's getting cut hard. She's scared and not even trusting her instincts at this point, because she was rushed really hard at several houses and not invited back today. It's excruciatingly difficult because she gets her invitations, then has to swallow her disappointment & put her negativity behind her and go immediately into that first party.

I don't know if I'll be able to post anymore this evening, because I know she wants to talk to me after her last party. As I said before, TexasDaughter thinks things through by talking them out and I have a feeling she'll be thinking and talking this p.m. I know it's' important I stay positive for her -- and I feel I need to be there for her tonight.

For those keeping score, she got invited back to Chris, Fantasia and Paula.

Thanks to all my new friends on GC! Y'all have been wonderful!

AChiOhSnap · #9 08-23-2006, 06:56 PM

Tell her not to be discouraged! It only takes one house to make a successful recruitment. She's still absolutely in the running with three invites. Good luck to her, and stay positive. I'm crossing my fingers for TexasDaughter.

southernyankee · #10 08-23-2006, 07:14 PM

I agree...be positive. I know this is really hard...but as you saw with my daughter...it can still work out!

achio_kerryann · #11 08-23-2006, 07:17 PM

can we find out what houses she's been cut from?

aggieAXO · #12 08-23-2006, 11:21 PM

It is true-it only takes one house. Several of my friends endured heavy cuts toward the end of recruitment (we were all juniors when we went through) but they all got there first choice-tell your daughter not to give up!

Exquisite5 · #13 08-23-2006, 11:39 PM

GO GO GO GO Texas Daughter and keep your head up!

This is comforting me as I await my pesky bar exam results:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your request be made known unto God; and the PEACE that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

Texas Daughter, what God has for you, is for YOU!!! Forget the rest, you're headed towards the best!

Gig'Em!

adpialumnaecrh · #14 08-23-2006, 08:39 PM

Please tell your daughter to keep her chin up!

It is my understanding that Texas A&M's Panhellenic is using a new recruitment method this year and this may be contributing to her being "cut". It is unfortunate that this is happening to her and I'm sure she is disheartened. However, from your posts your daughter sounds like an amazing, brilliant, and resilient young woman. Having experience with the university system as a past lecturer, let me say that any sorority at Texas A&M University would be lucky to have her!

I continue to wish you and your daughter all the best and hope that she does not give up hope!

Remember that nothing happens by chance!

--Doc

southernyankee · #15 08-23-2006, 11:08 AM

I'm really glad she liked so many of the houses...and again I say, "AMBIEN"!