Retro Recruitment.....with a different ending

[LOVEinZTA]

Wow, the whole researching thing - that's me in a nutshell! haha I'm still in shock when we get a NM in the fall that says "Wait, one of your colors isn't pink?" and I have to explain the difference between our philanthropy and our colors. I could have listed off tons of info on all of the chapters at the school at which I rushed - it's just a little obsession of mine

[tld221]

Originally Posted by LOVEinZTA

Wow, the whole researching thing - that's me in a nutshell! haha I'm still in shock when we get a NM in the fall that says "Wait, one of your colors isn't pink?" and I have to explain the difference between our philanthropy and our colors. I could have listed off tons of info on all of the chapters at the school at which I rushed - it's just a little obsession of mine

[AlwaysSAI]

I sat around all summer and waited for the recruitment applications to become available. Needless to say, I was the first woman registered (as I later learned from the Greek Advisor).

Finally, it was fall semester! I was thrilled! Recruitment began in early September. So, I had a good 3 weeks to get everything together. I had many pep/prep talks with my sister about what to do, what not to do, what to wear etc. While, I was nervous, I felt really prepared.

Tuesday=Meet our Pi Chi's and our group
Wednesday=Meet & Greet
Thursday=Philanthropy Night
Friday=Skit Night
Saturday=Pref
Sunday=BID DAY

On Tuesday night I went to meet with my Pi Chi's and group. I was in the Omega group. I had a lot of other really pretty girls in my group and a few that I met the semester before at interest parties. We played and icebraker and the Pi Chi's did a fashion show of "What to Wear". Honestly, I had my outfits picked out since July and I was so thrilled about my dress for Pref day. It was stylish, but would also allow me to stand out, with many beautiful pastel colors. I couldn't wait for the rest of the week to continue! I felt like my dream was finally coming true.

Sidenote: I was a sophomore going into recruitment. I had a 3.2 GPA and was VP of my residence hall my freshmen year. I also listed many other campus activities I was involved in on my application. I listed my legacy to Alpha Gam thinking that it would give them confindence that I was at least familiar with Greek life. My sister and I discussed her writing me a rec as a fellow greek, but decided against it. I didn't know I could contact local alumnae for a rec. Had I known, I would have also done that.

[susan314]

Originally Posted by tld221

I think she's referring to the pink ribbons for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer foundation. Even though Zeta's might make a lot of use of the pink ribbons due to them being a symbol of the Komen Foundation, pink is not actually one of ZTA's official colors.

[LOVEinZTA]

Originally Posted by tld221

oh it happens - apparently using the phrase "Think Pink" while talking about breast cancer awareness on philanthropy day confuses some of them. I don't know.

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by LOVEinZTA

Wow, the whole researching thing - that's me in a nutshell! haha I'm still in shock when we get a NM in the fall that says "Wait, one of your colors isn't pink?" and I have to explain the difference between our philanthropy and our colors. I could have listed off tons of info on all of the chapters at the school at which I rushed - it's just a little obsession of mine

Zeta,
While all of the research I did sparked an interest in the history of orgs for me, that's not why I did it. I did it because I wanted to present the best side of myself and I wanted each organization to know that I was committed to the process even before joining. I wanted to stand out and impress the women of each chapter and I thought that coming in informed of the National organization's activities would give me a chance and the sisters a chance to really get to know me, instead of going through the normal "This is an intro to Alpha Chi" thing. I wanted to stand out and I thought that was the way to do it.

[CZAXOTerp]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

Zeta,
While all of the research I did sparked an interest in the history of orgs for me, that's not why I did it. I did it because I wanted to present the best side of myself and I wanted each organization to know that I was committed to the process even before joining. I wanted to stand out and impress the women of each chapter and I thought that coming in informed of the National organization's activities would give me a chance and the sisters a chance to really get to know me, instead of going through the normal "This is an intro to Alpha Chi" thing. I wanted to stand out and I thought that was the way to do it.

Yeah, I can't say I remember chatting about the colors or too much about the history of an org when I went through rush. All of that info, plus philanthropy, local & nat'l founding dates, was in the rush booklet.

Also even if I knew a lot about a chapter & was then being told info I already knew during rush I probably would have just nodded my head and expressed interest instead of saying that I already knew that because I wouldn't want to seem like a know-it-all. I remember from going thru rush that Theta of course was proud of being the first GLO for women and AOPi was proud of the fact they were the first sorority on our campus- I can't imagine any rushee being told and then replying, "oh I know."

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by CZAXOTerp

Yeah, I can't say I remember chatting about the colors or too much about the history of an org when I went through rush. All of that info, plus philanthropy, local & nat'l founding dates, was in the rush booklet.

Also even if I knew a lot about a chapter & was then being told info I already knew during rush I probably would have just nodded my head and expressed interest instead of saying that I already knew that because I wouldn't want to seem like a know-it-all. I remember from going thru rush that Theta of course was proud of being the first GLO for women and AOPi was proud of the fact they were the first sorority on our campus- I can't imagine any rushee being told and then replying, "oh I know."

It wasn't an "oh, I know session", I asked simple questions. Like, for example, I knew AXO started as a music sorority, so when I was with the girl rushing me I asked her if the symphony stayed the same after the music requirement was removed from eligibility. Or, on philanthropy day, at Phi Mu the girl rushing me was talking about the sand art, but not the actually philanthropy, so I asked about it. "What else do you do for CMN? What kind of unique things does your chapter do for the children?"

I didn't walk up to every sister gloating about my knowledge. If it came up, I spoke about it. Like, at Sigma, the girl rushing me and I spent a considerable amount of time discussing the history of the Robbie Page foundation and how if formed as Sigma grew instead of her telling me the whole story of how the boy died. Seriously, I was classy.

It definately was not a "oh, i know, you don't have to talk to me" session. It was the best way I knew to express my interest and show sincere commitment to an organization. I was prepared and I knew what I was getting myself into when I went greek.

[CZAXOTerp]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

It wasn't an "oh, I know session", I asked simple questions. Like, for example, I knew AXO started as a music sorority, so when I was with the girl rushing me I asked her if the symphony stayed the same after the music requirement was removed from eligibility.

Honestly I was initiated more than 10 yrs ago and I am one of those ppl who knows tons of random info (like Cliff from cheers) and I don't know the answer to this one... that question would have thrown me for a loop.

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by CZAXOTerp

Honestly I was initiated more than 10 yrs ago and I am one of those ppl who knows tons of random info (like Cliff from cheers) and I don't know the answer to this one... that question would have thrown me for a loop.

She told me that it did stay the same even after the music requirement was removed. Maybe she was just guessing, but I honestly wanted to know. If you read it, I think you can kind of tell.

And, I love the part of the AXO symphony about "appreciate all the is noble in another be her badge what it may". How beautifully spoken.

[PhenomenalZTA]

Do you think that having recs would have helped you match? A friend's daughter is attending there in the fall, and will be going through recruitment, so I have been glued to this one! Great, interesting thread!

[Hopeful_Bubbles]

Originally Posted by CZAXOTerp

(like Cliff from cheers)

This cracks me up.

[AlwaysSAI]

It's Tuesday night & Meet and Greet! One of the girls in my Pi Chi group asked the Greek Life Coordinator what would happen if a no sorority wanted us. She responded by saying that if we showed up every night and did what we were supposed to do she would make sure we went somewhere. That made me feel a little better. Gaurenteed an org....I can deal with that.

I was thrilled for rush to actually be starting although I was a little upset about having to wear the rush shirts. I had the entire week of outfits picked for a month or so before recruitment, so it messed up my schedule. Either way, I wore the shirt with a pair of blue jeans.

First I went to see Alpha Delta Pi. I was really excited about meeting this chapter. I had seen them around campus and they seemed like really classy ladies and were always really nice. I was a music minor my freshman year and one of thier sisters worked in the music library so I saw her pretty often. But, I didn't really click with these girls. They were all very nice and VERY BEAUTIFUL but, I just didn't click with them. The conversation with these girls didn't flow really well, but they were still a great group of ladies.

Second was Chi Omega. I attended interest parties for this organization the previous semester and was anxious to see them in "full recruitment" action. I loved their chant about a Chi-O being a doctor, a lawyer, a professional woman. The first girl that rushed me and I had a great conversation about her love of broadway and how I had seen Hiarspray the year before on Broadway and had orchestra seats. I remembered the second girl that rushed me from the previous semester. She asked me how everything was going and what I thought of recruitment so far. I told her that I was really excited and having a lot of fun, but I was scared that wouldn't get a bid anywhere. Probably not the best choice, looking back. But, I was a nervous PNM! I had fun with these girls. They were a really diverse group and involved in a lot of other activities.

Third was Phi Mu. The girls seemed really nice overrall, but the girl rushing just nodded her head to everything I said. She didn't seem to know what she was supposed to be doing. I felt like I was having a conversation with a wall. The second girl that rushed me was fun. We talked about why I was interested a in joining a sorority and what other things I had been involved in. Overall, I wasn't sure how I felt about this chapter, but I wouldn't mind seeing them again.

Fourth, I visited Alpha Chi Omega. I was excited to meet these girls because I knew they started as a music sorority in 1885 and I was studying music. I also loved their philanthropy, domestic violence. It held a special place in my heart because of some family situations. I had a lot of fun with these girls! They were all so nice and the girl rushing me seemed really impressed that I knew some of Alpha Chi's history. We talked about scrapbooking which is a chapter tradition and I also love scrapbooking, so I loved that aspect of the chapter.

Last, but not least, I visited Sigma Sigma Sigma. I'll admit, I wasn't thrilled about visiting this chapter. At the time I rushed, they were a struggling chapter, far below quota and unpopular with most of the girls in my rush group. The girl that rushed me was super sweet! Her name was Dana and we spent a lot of time talking about the Robbie Paige Foundation and how Tri Sigma was unique in that the Foundation was started by Tri Sigma. I LOVE this philanthropy! I was a patient of play therapy as a young child and still recieved many of my medical serivices at UNC-Chapel Hill. I told her how excited I was to get involved in that and how close it was to my heart. My RA from freshman year was a member of this org and when she saw me, she winked. It put me at ease, for sure. I was starting to really like Tri Sigma, regardless of what the other girls said.

At the end of the night we had to meet with our Pi Chis to rank the groups.

My card read as follows:

Alpha Chi Omega
Chi Omega
Tri Sigma
Alpha Delta Pi
Phi Mu

I walked out, proud of my decision. Of course, my sister had called me 12 times, so I called her back. She couldn't wait to hear how the night went. I think she was more nervous than I was.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

Like, at Sigma, the girl rushing me and I spent a considerable amount of time discussing the history of the Robbie Page foundation and how it formed as Sigma grew instead of her telling me the whole story of how the boy died. Seriously, I was classy.

As a past RPM committee member, I would've been that girl. I was the "go to" sister for philanthropy round presentations. It would've really impressed me that you already knew the background about him.