Release figures

PenguinTrax · #1 08-30-2006, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

Penguin, what's new about the new release figure system? The old system, at least the way I understood it, seemed excellent. Maybe schools were just awful at enforcement of the figures?

The new system, while more complicated, takes more into account and allows for more flexibility. For example, some chapters may only invte 1.5 times quota back to preference, others may invite 2x or 3x. The system also helps the PNMs stay realistic, I believe. On a a lot of campuses, chapters would invite everyone back until right before preference, then make a huge cut at that time. The new system asks for larger cuts earlier into the process. I think it gives PNMs and chapters a more realistic outlook of what to expect down the road. I think that everyone can agree that heavy cuts early in the week are much easier to handle than later in the week, after a PNM has built up significant hope at *a* particular house, only to be let go right before preference.

SoCalGirl · #2 08-30-2006, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinTrax

The new system, while more complicated, takes more into account and allows for more flexibility. For example, some chapters may only invte 1.5 times quota back to preference, others may invite 2x or 3x. The system also helps the PNMs stay realistic, I believe. On a a lot of campuses, chapters would invite everyone back until right before preference, then make a huge cut at that time. The new system asks for larger cuts earlier into the process. I think it gives PNMs and chapters a more realistic outlook of what to expect down the road. I think that everyone can agree that heavy cuts early in the week are much easier to handle than later in the week, after a PNM has built up significant hope at *a* particular house, only to be let go right before preference.

That sounds like the "old" system that I'm familiar with. So either we were using the old system for quite a while or I'm not understanding.

Either way, I'm glad it seems to work.

carnation · #3 08-30-2006, 10:43 PM

The system is certainly better than what happened back in the day: first, the bigger chapters would invite back girls they knew they'd never pledge just to have full parties and seem desirable. Also, quota was often set the first day of rush so if 400 girls came through recruitment and there were 10 sororities, they'd set quota as 40. Then maybe 320 girls would stay in rush so let's say that 6 of the groups would get quota (240 girls) and the other 80 girls would be divided between 4 sororities. Definitely a way to keep the big groups big.

owlie33 · #4 08-31-2006, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

That sounds like the "old" system that I'm familiar with. So either we were using the old system for quite a while or I'm not understanding.

Either way, I'm glad it seems to work.

The old system had a set formula and assumes all chapters are equal:

Quota x number of events / by %return = number to invite

The new system uses algorithms, prior performance, number of women listing you #1 on preference card, etc. This forces higher cuts for more "popular" chapters during recruitment earlier in the process, thus allowing those women, who never really had a chance of making the cut for the "popular" chapter to explore their options a lot earlier in the process. Essentially the number of women receiving their #1 choice remains the same, but more women are matched and fewer drop out due to unmet expectations.

The new system is not mandatory yet, but it is going in that direction, so your campus may have already implemented it.

SoCalGirl · #5 08-31-2006, 09:49 PM

Thanks for the explanations! I guess I didn't really understand the new system afterall. The old system took into account the three year prior retention average so I guess it just seemed similar to me.

SoCalGirl · #6 09-01-2006, 10:15 PM

I'm debating it. I think I might make cookies for them.

KSUViolet06 · #7 09-04-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannahgirl

I'm hoping that this system will be easier but not hurt the bigger chapters on campus. Like Jocelyn said....Kent will be using the new RFM this year. As a recruitment adviser I still feel very out of the loop as to how this works and such, but I'm hoping for the best. Glad to see this thread so I can get a sense of it before having to deal with it this weekend!

It's not supposed to hurt the larger chapters, it's just meant to help ensure that everyone meets quota (or gets close).

carnation · #8 09-04-2006, 02:10 PM

I think the way it sometimes hurts larger chapters is that it's not always easy to predict who might cut them. I'm told that at some recruitments, the bigger chapters have to cut 50% the first night and 25% more the second. At some schools with a lot of strong groups, it can be hard to figure out who will cut you--let's say that there are 10 really strong sororities out of 18 and the girls have to cut down to 6 sororities. If a strong sorority messes up in who they decide to cut, they could be waaayyy under the number they need for a strong rush. This is why that recently, several powerful chapters on strong Greek campuses haven't made quota.