Iowa State??

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

I would say recruitment is somewhat competitive compared to other midwestern campuses, but not as competitive as say UIUC, Mizzou, Purdue or IU.

UIUC is not competitive. Fewer than 5 girls/year get released from all chapters, on average, out of 1200 or so.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

UIUC is not competitive. Fewer than 5 girls/year get released from all chapters, on average, out of 1200 or so.

I'll clarify:

Competitive meaning there are usually less than 350 women going through recruitment for spots in 13 (or 15 if you count the two non-NPC) chapters. Pledge classes have ranged from 16-21 the past three years and chapter total is 85. Perhaps competitive isn't quite the right word. Recruitment can be stressful (as any recruitment can), but it is not as stressful, IMO, as it seems to be at campuses with larger chapters. With 15 sororities and 30 fraternities, the Greek community itself is rather large compared to some Universities, but it feels smaller and close-knit.

bluefish81 can also give her perception of Greek Life at Iowa State.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

I'll clarify:

Competitive meaning there are usually less than 350 women going through recruitment for spots in 13 (or 15 if you count the two non-NPC) chapters. Pledge classes have ranged from 16-21 the past three years and chapter total is 85.

That's a lot of sororities for 350 rushees!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

That's a lot of sororities for 350 rushees!

In the Northeast there are also often more sororities and smaller pledge classes, rather than the other way around. Many people prefer it to being in a chapter of 200.

[Denise_DPhiE]

Originally Posted by 33girl

In the Northeast there are also often more sororities and smaller pledge classes, rather than the other way around. Many people prefer it to being in a chapter of 200.

Maybe it is a unversity thing in the Northeast? For example, Hofstra just keeps letting groups coming on (men and women). An "anti-sorority sorority" formed in the late 1980's - they then got roped into panhel to "control" them and today they are the newest NPC group on campus.

When I was an undergrad we had 5 NPC and 3 locals and my chapter was 80 women (it took a while to get quota total working so this was before it got going). Quota in formal recruitment in spring 2006 was 8 and total is 50. Chapters are much smaller today. Groups have to take new member classes in the fall just to keep themselves in the 40 range so their national offices don't put them on warning or probation.

[33girl]

I wouldn't say that - I mean, the Panhel still has to vote to let them in. I honestly think it's just a difference of cultures.

As far as the national offices, well, I think it's a question of if you go there, this is what you get. You're not going to get LSU/Ole Miss/UF size chapters. The important thing should be whether they have enough people so that the chapter works efficiently and maintain their size. If a national can't countenance that, then they should either not go there or pull out of those type schools rather than continually harangue the women about their size.

Most groups do have to take pledge classes in the spring and fall, but you gotta remember, a class of 8 is not the same as a class of 50 - i.e. you're not going to have to have the whole world stop the way you do for a huge formal rush or a huge class.

[bluefish81]

Originally Posted by ruaprincs2

Hey girls.. I am currently a senior in HS (in IL) and I'm not sure where I'm going next year.. right now its pretty much between University of Illinois and Iowa State.. I'm somewhat familiar with the process at U of I.. however.. does ANYONE know anything about rushing at Iowa State? In April, Iowa State hosts a "Greek Getaway" for H.S. jr's and sr.'s to come and stay with a sorority/frat for the weekend to experience what Greek life is like... but im still hoping i can learn something about the greek system there before i visit thanks a bunch girls!

xoxo
paige!

Hi Paige,
Definitely check out the Greek Community website if you haven't already. It'll let you link to all the chapter websites on campus too. Have you done a campus tour yet and visited a chapter during your visit? I know that I gave a bazillion house tours during my time when prospective students were thinking about ISU during EIS Days.

I'd definitely recommend going to Greek Getaway as well. ISUKappa gave you the basic lowdown. I know that some years, prospective students have been able to stay at two different chapters in addition to touring a few other chapters on Saturday and I think the cost is maybe $40. Last year they ran a deal where if you went with a friend you got a discount (they also offered a discount if you went through Formal with a friend). It's a great chance to get a better feel for the Greek Community as a whole, plus the school if you're still not sure which school you want to attend.

I would say that it isn't as competitive as Illinois, I don't know if recs are needed at Illinois but they are not required at ISU, though they are accepted. I know that in the fall of 2005, every chapter did a little bit of informal recruitment in the fall, although total has been lowered since then. I think that all of the chapters are great, I had a friend in just about every chapter when I was in school. And if you do choose to attend ISU and go through formal I think you'd be able to find the one that fits you best.

Formal Recruitment is a four day process running Sunday through Wednesday prior to classes starting. The first round PNMs attend 13 parties. The second day is skit day. PNMs attend nine parties. Four party day is next. This day is several things: philanthropy, house tour, food day and financial info sheets are provided. And then Preference night.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

UIUC is not competitive. Fewer than 5 girls/year get released from all chapters, on average, out of 1200 or so.

If this number doesn't include the amount of women who drop out, ISU is pretty close to that number from 2001 -2005(excluding women who SIP'd).

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

That's a lot of sororities for 350 rushees!

It is, and there also used to be a few more NPC chapters! The two associate chapters do not participate in Formal Recruitment. I think the largest group that I can recall going through Formal Recruitment (in the past decade) was around 430 or so and that was in 2000.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

I'll clarify:

Competitive meaning there are usually less than 350 women going through recruitment for spots in 13 (or 15 if you count the two non-NPC) chapters. Pledge classes have ranged from 16-21 the past three years and chapter total is 85. Perhaps competitive isn't quite the right word. Recruitment can be stressful (as any recruitment can), but it is not as stressful, IMO, as it seems to be at campuses with larger chapters. With 15 sororities and 30 fraternities, the Greek community itself is rather large compared to some Universities, but it feels smaller and close-knit.

bluefish81 can also give her perception of Greek Life at Iowa State.

Thanks for the clarification. I sound like a broken record in a lot of these threads, but I try to distinguish between campuses where a lot of great women fall through the cracks and campuses where very few women fall through unless they decide on day 1 that they must be an XYZ.