Almost64's Recruitment Thread (at an SEC school)

[almost64]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Sorry if you thought I was curt, but I'm a little frustrated. The OP was advised that regardless of what the GL office says, it would be to her benefit to obtain recs on her own, and it just seems like she's coming up with excuse after excuse to blow it off.

I didn't think your post was curt, but I would like to point out that I'm not blowing the recs thing off. Considering I haven't been very happy with my social life during the first semester (haven't been able to make very many friends or acquaintances), I'm not taking the rush process lightly because I know that it's important. In addition, this is the only time I want to go through with it. I'm not going to rush and then just....not sign a bid card or something, and try it again another semester. I just want to try it once and for all. So, I'm not blowing it off, but I DO have other priorities in my life that I need to deal with when I have time off from school that do not include rush. I have family stuff that needs to be taken care of, and frankly, it needs to be done now rather than when I'm back at school and have a full class schedule to deal with.

I mean honestly, I've had enough of this whole rec crap. If a sorority is gonna be that high maintenance and finicky to where they absolutely must have a rec and personal letters and such in advance in order to extend me a bid(and based on what I saw at fall rounds, it only seems like a few are THAT competitive), then it's probably not the house for me. I mean, during rush, I'll be standing RIGHT THERE. What could a house possibly learn about me from reading a rec written by some random alum that I met with for 30 minutes in a Starbucks that they can't learn just by talking and getting to know me? Ugh, it's extremely frustrating.

If I had known sooner that really, it IS a good thing to have recs, I would have gotten them. Frankly, I just don't have the time between now and rush (nor can I really prioritize it over other issues I have to deal with) to attempt to get them. So I'll go in with no recs, and that's fine with me now. If I get cut from all the houses, that's fine and that'll be my fault.

Anyway, I'm sorry that you're getting frustrated. Just remember that aside from the ones on campus (who, because of dirty rushing allegations, can't even TALK to me), I don't know a single person in a sorority. I don't come from a long line of women in XYZ. I don't know how the process works. I don't know what goes on. I didn't even know that alumni were at the houses at all during rush. This whole thing is new for me, and the Rho Chis that are assigned to try to tell you what exactly goes on really don't do anything more than repeat what's said in the 3 page rush booklet. So please try to be patient with me. It's frustrating for me, too.

[Buttonz]

She has a point. For someone who is totally new to the whole rush process and doesn't know anyone in a sorority (though I bet she might know people and doesn't even realize they are in one, like HS teachers and stuff), they really need to have Rho Chi's and other people in the Greek Life office who can really help them, rather then just repeat what is in the booklet they get.

[_Lisa_]

You should keep in mind that a lot of recs acquired in order to extend a bid to a PNM aren't necessarily personal recs. They can be just informative recs, based off your resume. I'd venture to say that the chapter would have an informative rec written by an alum before they'd ask you to meet an alum & hang out in a Starbucks together for 30 minutes. Of course this varies chapter by chapter, school by school, but is something that happens.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by almost64

I mean honestly, I've had enough of this whole rec crap. If a sorority is gonna be that high maintenance and finicky to where they absolutely must have a rec and personal letters and such in advance in order to extend me a bid(and based on what I saw at fall rounds, it only seems like a few are THAT competitive), then it's probably not the house for me. I mean, during rush, I'll be standing RIGHT THERE. What could a house possibly learn about me from reading a rec written by some random alum that I met with for 30 minutes in a Starbucks that they can't learn just by talking and getting to know me? Ugh, it's extremely frustrating.

For some sororities, that is their policy - either nationally or by chapter. That's just how it is. The active members may think it's a load of BS too, but they have to do it.

If you truly are of the mind that "if I get in fine, if I don't fine too" then that's wonderful, but we've had too many PNMs on here that asked what to do to benefit them during rush (like not suiciding, giving all the groups a fair chance) and then didn't follow the advice they were given and were bitterly disappointed.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Alright, it sounds like you need your own recs at your school, so what follows is just general commentary on recs, not directed at the OP.

If a PNM gets a bid, one of the following must be true:

1. The GLO does not require recs.
2. Someone writes the PNM a rec and she does not know about it.
3. The chapter makes an effort to find an alumna who knows the PNM.
4. The chapter advisor/membership advisor writes the rec once the chapter decides to put the PNM on the bid list.
5. The PNM obtains a rec.

Now, the official word on it from Panhellenic usually describes #3, but my guess is that is actually the rarest situation of the 5. I don't want to get into MS in different orgs, but PNM's are being misled fairly often, I fear. I would almost prefer that PHC say something like "MS policies are up to the individual organization".

[MSKKG]

Amen to that! There is enough drama associated with recruitment in a lot of or maybe most colleges that we don't need to mislead PNMs to cause more.

[FuzzieAlum]

Good luck! Vandy has some great chapters.

[Stef the Pef]

Good luck!

re: recs--it sounds like Baylor's rush is a lot like Vandy's, and the chapter that wanted me in the end didn't have a rec for me after rush week. I'm pretty sure KD's national policy requires recs, so I ended up having the reference chair approach me after rush to get the info to have someone else write it for me. Sometimes Panhellenic's policy actually works, so I don't think you're going in too bad off. Again, good luck! When does formal rush start?

[kdonline]

Originally Posted by 33girl

NO. The alumnae aren't just sitting around rush waiting for stuff to do - they are grown women who have lives. The role of alums in rush varies by sorority, but I can't think of any who do this.

Sorry, you are incorrect with this assumption. YES, there are some alumnae who actually sit around, waiting for the phone calls from chapters with rec requests for PNMs. "Hi Mrs. Jones, this is Sally from --- chapter. I met a great girl during recruitment today, and she needs a rec. Will you write one for her? Here is the information..." And within a couple of hours, the rec is emailed or faxed over.

Originally Posted by Stef the Pef

I'm pretty sure KD's national policy requires recs, so I ended up having the reference chair approach me after rush to get the info to have someone else write it for me.

KD no longer "requires" recommendations, but the chapters have to make every effort to obtain one.