kitten24's recruitment experience

kitten24 · #1 01-31-2007, 02:55 PM

Thank you so much for all your posts. I really appreciate getting your perspectives. To answer some of the questions, yes I am a freshmen now so I would be a sophomore next year. I go to a huge school in the southeast. My GPA last semester was a 3.25. I don't know if that was part of the reason I didn't get picked or not. I guess I will consider going through FR although right now I don't know if it's a good idea.

From other things I've read on the board, I get the idea that some of the schools in the southeast are extremely competitive. Is that really the case?

adpiucf · #2 01-31-2007, 03:00 PM

Many schools in the southeast are considered very competitive Greek Life campuses. First semester freshman with stellar GPAs and activities, as well as alumnae recommendations, have the best shot. Having been on your campus for a semester, you should be able to assess if your school is like this. If you have any sorority acquaintances at your school, you can ask them if most the ladies who go through recruitment are freshmen, or if many of the PNM's come in with recommendations from alumnae. At these schools it is harder to get a bid.

Formal recruitment is many months away. I would suggest to start making plans to secure alumnae recommendations by mid-March. You can prepare and then choose not to go through, but other than some ruffled feathers if you don't get asked back, what harm will it do to try it out. I'm sorry to sound cold, but if you're worried about being rejected, then don't ever apply for a job or scholarship or go on another date. You never know how something is going to turn out unless you give it a chance. I say go for it

Mercergirl2010 · #3 01-31-2007, 05:29 PM

I go to a school in the southeast, and I would have to say that it is slightly competitive. We only have 4 chapters on my campus, so that makes the competition a little tougher. However, AChiOhSnap is right; you should only go through formal recruitment if you are mentally and emotionally prepared for another possible rejection. Also, you only got cut from 4 houses; you have not seen the others on your campus. I would go through it and visit all of the houses; even the ones you just got cut from. You may find that special house that was meant for you.

emily0325 · #4 01-31-2007, 08:50 PM

You should totally go through formal next year, because you only got a taste of a small portion of the greek community when you went through informal. Your home could be with a totally different sorority.

Denise_DPhiE · #5 02-01-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitten24

From other things I've read on the board, I get the idea that some of the schools in the southeast are extremely competitive. Is that really the case?

After pm'ing with you and knowing your school, I would say it is one of the most competitive in the state (not Ole Miss competitve but still extremely competitive).

Upperclassmen would have to be stellar to get a bid - so keep your gpa up (3.25 is in excees of most of the groups minimums most likely) and get involved heavily in one activity you can really enjoy and make a statement in and run for a position too - this looks greeat.

I think securing recs for the groups - all groups - would be a good start - if you divulge the school - some will advise how to obtain these. Your hometown will likely also have an alumnae panhellenic who can assist in rec writing. In short, an alum interviews you and helps translate you into the sorority by answering key questions about you.

Best of luck and should greek life not be right for you, there are many activities to pass the time in a very memorable way.

EGAOPi · #6 03-07-2007, 07:14 PM

I know this response is coming very late, but if you're still debating about formal recruitment and still reading these things, maybe this will help.

Excellent advice from AChiOSnap and Denise DPhiE...and everyone, really.

Like everyone has pointed out, recruitment in the southeast can be very tough. I go to a big southeastern school, as well, and I know a lot of people that have been cut heavily or were never placed, but our recruitment pales in comparison to some of the even bigger name schools in the state.

I had a friend that went through recruitment at a huge southeastern school as a sophomore with a GPA similar to yours...she was captain of the equestrian team, very well dressed, cute girl. She didn't have any recs, but she had a lot going for her. She was cut heavily after the first two days and was only asked back to 2 houses on sisterhood day. According to her, they were "bottom tier" and she decided to drop. However, her roommate went thru recruitment with her...she had a lower GPA, no activities, no recs...also a sophomore...and she got a full schedule everyday and was extended a bid to her first choice sorority. I am not sure what happened there, but things do work out differently for different people. You can have everything in the world going for you, or so it may seem, but there are a lot of different factors that come into play. Competition is huge and the southern tradition of Greek Life is definitely one of those factors--there are typically many women that come through recruitment in the South, whether or not your school is in the Deep South...and these girls come in with massive amounts of recommendations and connections. Even for some of them, things don't always work out.

It's important to just stay positive, be friendly and be yourself. I agree with the other girls about getting really involved in an activity, internship or community service project. Do something memorable. Give them something to remember you by--something that makes you special and makes them know that you would be an asset to their chapter.

In many ways, formal recruitment is more stressful and difficult, but I think informal can be even harder. It just depends on what both you and the chapters are looking for. Like it was pointed out above, sometimes sororities do informal recruitment in search of filling 2 or 3 spots, but they'll have 60 girls show up.

I would definitely encourage you to go through again. I've known girls, like others, that have went through 3 times and never made it. Other girls I've known go thru twice and have everything work out amazingly the second time around. Other girls find their home the first time; some get a bid one year but find out it was the wrong place for them, go thru again, and find the place they were meant to be the 2nd time around.

Being Greek is an incredible thing--something that is so difficult to describe. It's so much more than words can describe and, if given the chance, I think it's something that everyone interested should experience.

Good luck to you and hope to hear about your formal recruitment adventures this fall!

dgdramadawg · #7 03-07-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EGAOPi

You can have everything in the world going for you, or so it may seem, but there are a lot of different factors that come into play. Competition is huge and the southern tradition of Greek Life is definitely one of those factors--there are typically many women that come through recruitment in the South, whether or not your school is in the Deep South...and these girls come in with massive amounts of recommendations and connections. Even for some of them, things don't always work out.

So true, EGAOPi!

However, if you are really interested in pledging and want to see all of the houses, fall recruitment is a good way to do that... and even at some of these very competitive recruitments, there are still houses who will pledge stellar sophomores. I would encourage you to get involved in activities where you might meet some Greeks... as a sophomore at a competitive school, it can be very helpful to already know some people (although this by no means is meant to suggest that it will guarantee you any special treatment, they will at least be able to remember your name).

Best of luck!

KSUViolet06 · #8 03-08-2007, 07:50 PM

I'm sorry things didn't work out, definately give formal recruitment a try. You'll get a chance to see ALL the sororities. My best advice is to keep an open mind. Don't go into recruitment saying that you'll ONLY consider certain chapters and not others. Take an honest look at ALL the chapters. You never know which ones you might end up really liking.

As far as the rejection goes, keep everything in perspective. Not being Greek doesn't make you any less of a person, nor is it the end of the world.

beachgirl87 · #9 03-10-2007, 04:32 PM

Definitely try formal and go in with an open mind - I went through recruitment a month ago and found my home in a very unlikely chapter (definitely not the chapter I thought I wanted to be a part of going into recruitment) and I LOVE IT!

Remember that everything happens for a reason and you do end up where you belong... on the otherside though, also remember that joining a sorority isn't for everyone. Either way, consider getting involved on campus between now and then - it can't hurt!

ZTAPrincessGMU · #10 03-17-2007, 08:26 PM

The one thing my rush experience taught me was never give up. I went through formal recruitment in the fall and informal recruitment this spring. I was devistated when I didn't get invited back for preference. But I later realized it wasn't my time. I went back through this spring and I really hit it off with the girls and was less hesitant and nervous than I was in the fall. I think that makes all the difference.