JessSigKap's Retro UMD Recruitment

[violetpretty]

Tonight (Tuesday) is preference. It still stings that I won't be going to Anything Goes, but I am still happy to be going to 42nd Street and Wicked. As I was getting ready in the bathroom, Jenni on my floor walks in and she's in her pajamas. I asked her, "Aren't you going tonight?" She said, "No, I didn't get invited back to Wicked, and that was the last one that I liked." It made me thankful that I still had ones that I liked. I am wearing a 3/4 sleeve knee length wrap dress in shades of blue, black, tan, white, and red (sounds weird but it's cute) with red mary jane heels. They aren't too high so I should be ok with the snow and the ice.

I get down to the Armory and I run into some friends from high school. My friend Danielle is preffing Anything Goes, Hello Dolly, and West Side Story. Stephanie (the one in my group) is preffing Phantom, Anything Goes, and Chicago. Although I feel jealous that Anything Goes wanted my friends and not me, I actually start to think that because they wanted them that maybe it isn't the best fit for me. (Stephanie and Danielle are VERY different from me---they were cheerleaders in high school and more the type that you'd expect to go through recruitment).

My first pref party was at Wicked. They had a sister playing a cello when we walked in. I had no idea what to expect during preference and I thought it was really cool that the sister (Morgan, from skit round!) who was preffing me walked over to announce my invitation and take me in. We had cheesecake and some other dessert goodies. Morgan and I went upstairs into her big’s room with another PNM and sister pair and I totally forgot that I was at recruitment. The four of us just hung out and talked about normal things like concerts and shows. Aside form the fact that we were all dressed very nicely, it felt like we were just hanging out and I decided that I could definitely see myself as a sister in Wicked. The ceremony was really nice, and a senior gave a speech about how she wasn’t the “sorority type” but ended up pledging and loving Wicked. I really connected with that. I decided after Wicked that I was not going to drop out. I would at least rank them.

Next, I went to 42nd Street. We must have gotten out early from Wicked’s pref because no one else was on the streets and we had to wait a while outside 42nd Street. I met a bunch of girls who were preffing the same chapters as me. Kelly (from philanthropy round) preffed me at 42nd Street. I was so excited to see her there. Sarah (my favorite from skit round) came up to talk to me during pref too. I was so happy to see that not one, but two sisters wanted me to be a part of their sisterhood. The conversation felt so natural and sincere. The ceremony was really special. I even got a little misty eyed. They had this traveling poem where maybe like 8 sisters read a part of a poem, but it travels around the room. I could see that the sisterhood was really strong like LaRhonda had said. I was completely sold.

My last party of the night was Hairspray. This pref was much different from the other two. For starters, I was one of the last girls to be asked inside, and I was paired with a girl named Laura, whom I had NOT met before. Needless to say, it was very “unspecial” to be having the “what’s your major” conversation during pref night with a new face. I did talk to this girl Wendy who I saw in their skit by butting into her conversation. What a stupid PNM I was! She was talking about the skit and how some people made fun of her part, saying that she was too bouncy and perky. I, being a drama person, assured her that she did a great job and that you shouldn’t hold back because you are afraid what people will think. When I got back to talking with Laura, she told me that another sister had accidentally set a PNM’s hair on fire during the first party. Just what I wanted to know! Once we went to the ceremony, (PNMs were seated with standing Hairspray sisters behind them with lit candles in hand) I sat on the edge and leaned far forward so she would not set my hair on fire, because somehow, I was worried that she would set my hair on fire even though she hadn't. After Hairspray’s pref, I concluded that they were my last choice of the three. I figured if they had really wanted me in their chapter, someone who I had previously met would have wanted to pref me and maybe a connection would have been made.

Then we trekked back to the Armory to sign our preference cards...

[susan314]

Hmmn...I'm torn. I've been rooting for Wicked somewhat all along, but you seemed to have a wonderful experience at 42nd Street's party too.

I suppose it doesn't really matter as long as you end up in one of them. How wonderful that you still have 2 chapters you feel a strong connection to after Preference.

[Drolefille]

OK, I think I can guess now

I had the "get preffed by someone you've never met" experience. It was really disconcerting, particularly when Sigma Kappa's was so different from that. It really really throws off your opinion of a chapter. I understand it's necessary sometimes, but I'd rather have someone who at least met me. Or maybe someone who can sell the "I really wanted to meet you, everyone else told me so much about you" line.

[Leslie Anne]

Go 42nd Street!!!

Originally Posted by JessSigKap

I got back to talking with Laura, she told me that she had accidentally set a PNM’s hair on fire during the first party. Just what I wanted to know! I sat on the edge and leaned far forward so she would not set my hair on fire. I’m sure she was being very careful after her first mistake, but I still had visions of singed hair.

Nothing warms the heart during a Preference party like the thought of spontaneous combustion!

[MaggieXi]

I am rooting for wicked just cuz I love the book!!!!

I can't believe your preffer set a girls hair on fire! How horrible for the pnm!!

[AnatraAmore]

Can you imagine going to the next pref party with slightly burnt hair? Eeek! What a story to tell down the road though! Especially if she were to pledge that chapter!

[FSUZeta]

well, we all know how flammable hairspray is!!

what a shame that your hostess shared that little bit of info. with you. that would have been uppermost on my mind and i am afraid that i wouldn't have gotten much out of their ceremony, being too worried about a repeat performance by the hostess!

[dgdramadawg]

I'm still rooting for 42nd Street... but it could be Wicked... TELL US NOW!!!

[violetpretty]

I talked to Annie, my technical but mostly absent Rho Gamma about what I should do when we got back to the Armory. I was pretty sure that 42nd Street was going to be first and Wicked second, but I wasn’t sure if I should rank Hairspray or not. I had heard that when you don’t rank all three chapters, you have a lower chance of getting a bid. Now we know it makes you ineligible for quota additions. Obviously that is way too complicated to explain to a PNM. Annie put it plainly, “I don't think you have to worry, but would you rather have Hairspray or no sorority?” I was thinking no sorority given the dichotomy, so I ranked 42nd Street first and Wicked second. I guessed that LaRhonda was in Phantom of the Opera and that Annie was in Sound of Music, only because I had overheard a conversation, but I really had no idea which chapter she was in based on her personality. I felt good leaving the Armory that I would be happy in either chapter.

[JaimeNicole]

Originally Posted by JessSigKap

she told me that she had accidentally set a PNM’s hair on fire during the first party.

Side bar - the PNM involved in the "incident" ended up joining the chapter!

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by JaimeNicole

Side bar - the PNM involved in the "incident" ended up joining the chapter!

That's love.