Retro Recruitment.....with a different ending

[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!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by 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!

From what I know, UNCG isn't an uber-competitive recruitment like Chapel Hill or NC State. Recs aren't needed at all. The only girls who really have recs there are legacies.

[Leslie Anne]

Aww AlwaysSAI, your story is heart breaking. I'd love to hear how you finally found your home in SAI though! Please continue.

[Soliloquy]

First, allow me to agree with the rest of the posters by saying your story really is heartbreaking. I feel like we share may share many qualities as PNM's so I truly sympathize.

I can't wait to hear your happy ending.

[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

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.

Wow I'm sorry somebody told you this. This isn't the best answer to that question (no one can guarantee you a bid).

Also it's pretty awesome to see how the Sigma chapter there has changed. One of our LC's was from there and at her last visit, she shared that they were at total and doing wonderfully.

[susan314]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Wow I'm sorry somebody told you this. This isn't the best answer to that question (no one can guarantee you a bid).

No kidding...unless you went to Tufts or Creighton...which we know you didn't. (Weren't those the 2 schools that have been documented on GC as having "guaranteed bidding" at one time?)

[violetpretty]

Someone correct me if I am wrong...

"Guaranteed bidding" has more to do with bid matching. Chapters make their cuts, and if a PNM is released by all of the chapters, well obviously she doesn't get a bid. I think that when a bid is guaranteed, it refers to a PNM maximizing her options throughout recruitment and ranking all of her remaining chapters on her bid card. Even if a PNM was only invited to one chapter's preference, and say she is near the bottom of their list, some "guaranteed bid" schools will guarantee her a bid (regularly or through quota additions if necessary). A College Panhellenic can NOT guarantee that you will not be released by every chapter, but they CAN guarantee you a bid if you are somewhere on somebody's bidlist come preference and you maximize your options. Again, not all campuses do this.

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Wow I'm sorry somebody told you this. This isn't the best answer to that question (no one can guarantee you a bid).

It wasn't just anybody that told us that, it was the head of Greek Life at UNCG. And, I wasn't the only person she told it to. I was walking behind a group of PMNs after meet and greet and one of them was on the phone telling someone that everyone was gaurenteed placement.

Maybe she was just saying it so that girls that were'nt happy with their invites would stick it out. I'm not really sure, but I think it should be an honest process for the women going through it.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

Maybe she was just saying it so that girls that were'nt happy with their invites would stick it out.

Probably. We've had this happen with Rho Chi's (of all people) when girls ask "What if I don't get a bid?" They say things like "Oh everybody gets one, don't worry" without thinking, just to keep girls from getting scared and dropping out.

I mean most girls at my school do get bids, so they mistakenly think that means everybody gets matched. Placing 99% of PNMs is excellent, but unfortunately, that's not everybody. The Rho Chi trainer actually had to have a meeting with the Rho Chi's & tell them not to say that anymore unless they wanted to be removed from their Rho Chi position.

[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.