Trying Again, Informal recruitment

AChiOhSnap · #1 03-06-2007, 11:58 AM

I agree with most everything that adpiucf said. However, even though you go to a small school, look around and honestly assess the class rank thing for yourself. If few or no sophomores/juniors got bids during informal and formal this year, that might indicate that your Greek system is relatively closed off to upperclasswomen. As a general rule of thumb, smaller schools that aren't in the South are more open to upperclasswomen and are less competitive, but this isn't always the case.

You said that you're generally shy. Plenty of shy women join sororities, but they probably made a concerted effort to be more outgoing during formal recruitment. Unfortunately, PNMs who have stellar qualities but who aren't very outgoing/are overly quiet are often overlooked during formal recruitment. Try to brush up on your small talk skills if you think that this applies to you.

Also, what REE said might apply too... I wouldn't go out of my way to emphasize your engagment/fiance/wedding plans during recruitment. I don't know whether you did during formal, but the vast majority of 19-20 year old sorority women aren't engaged and it might be difficult for some of them to relate to someone who identifies herself as "future Mrs. J." or whatever. It's probably not a big deal and I'm sure you already know this but make sure you're emphasizing who YOU are as a person.

Really those are just some minor nitpicky things you might want to be aware of, you really do sound like a stellar candidate for Greek life. I think you should absolutely try informal in the fall. Taking the time to get to know more sorority women is definitely a good idea and it will make the informal process that much easier.

And finally, just make sure to maximize your options in the fall. Go to as many informal recruitment events as you can at all the chapters that are holding events. I hope everything works out well! Good luck!

SmartBlondeGPhB · #2 03-06-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AChiOhSnap

You said that you're generally shy. Plenty of shy women join sororities, but they probably made a concerted effort to be more outgoing during formal recruitment. Unfortunately, PNMs who have stellar qualities but who aren't very outgoing/are overly quiet are often overlooked during formal recruitment. Try to brush up on your small talk skills if you think that this applies to you.

I agree with everything else that was said as well but thought this needed extra pointing out.

I am a generally shy person until I warm up to people and am definitely shy in a room full of people who all know each other. I hated recruitment but I still managed to find a spot in a smaller house on the campus I pledged at.

Use this semester to get to know some of the women in the sororities on a one-on-one basis. It will make informal easier next year.

ONElove1997 · #3 03-06-2007, 02:12 PM

If things don't work out with the FOUR organizations on your campus there is the option of founding a chapter of any sorority that interests you if you have the time, and if your school is allowing new organizations on campus!

Just remember don't limit yourself, especially if there are only FOUR on campus, find and organization that feels right for you and do your research!

REE1993 · #4 03-06-2007, 02:54 PM

OK, I misread that as her nickname has "TAP" in it. Sorry!

KSUViolet06 · #5 03-06-2007, 03:25 PM

I say give it one more shot. If you didn't, you'd always wonder what would've happened if you had tried again. Now, if after this recruitment, you still don't receive a bid, then I'd call it a day and focus my energy somewhere else.

BabyPiNK_FL · #6 03-06-2007, 03:55 PM

A lot of my sisters don't know my real name either! The few who do really surprise me when they use it. During recuitment they spelled my real name wrong, on top of the fact that I was known heavily by my nickname (i was cut....bad!) Well, needless to say my first choice (and 1 other org.) didn't forget me and they got me! LOL!

Even my chapter's president has such a popular nickname that when people use a nickname based on her first name (cos her popular nickname is based on her last name) everyone goes..."WHO IS THAT?"

It won't hurt to try again, but after that if you don't make it then I'd cut my losses and move on. Good luck!

TAPchica09 · #7 03-06-2007, 04:12 PM

Thanks everyone for the wonderful advice. A few quick things that I forgot to mention: I don't really use "~*~The future Mrs. J*~*~" signature that often...just in e-mails to friends off campus mostly. I go to a small school, so once my friends found out that I got engaged last year - everyone on this campus who knew me, knew that I was engaged. So I didn't try to brag to all the girls that I was engaged or anything like that - as soon as I walked in the door there were a few girls - who were sisters with friends of mine - who just said things like "congrats" and all when they heard my nickname.

I also forgot to take off my engagement ring, I was going to take it off because I was scared about the whole "no talking about boys" thing that I was going to take it off. The problem with that is that I'm so used to wearing it, that I didn't even think about it until it was too late. So some girls looked at my left hand that didn't know me, and boom. The only people who know my real full first name (which I don't like very much - that's why I go by a nickname) are people who have lived with me because our RAs initially put your legal first name on your door when you first move in.

I know of a few people who are interested in bringing another chapter to school since there are only four - so I might look into that.

Thanks again everyone! ^_^