rush as a sophomore @ IU...

[TigerOwl]

Originally Posted by PenguinTrax

IU doesn't use a quota system. Chapters decide on how many membership invitations they offer.

Barbara, should we also tell everyone that over 1,700 women were registered last year (2006) for panhellenic recruitment at IU? I think so! A couple houses only gave out 40, 41, 42 membership invitations. Please correct me if I am wrong, since I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I think around 800 PNM's received bids.

[violetpretty]

It boggles my mind why Indiana insists on recruiting this way.

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

It boggles my mind why Indiana insists on recruiting this way.

It's my understanding that there are only so many beds in the chapter houses, therefore, they set their quotas in order to keep the houses full.

[PenguinTrax]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

It boggles my mind why Indiana insists on recruiting this way.

Nebraska (Lincoln) doesn't use quota system either.

[NUBlue&Blue]

Originally Posted by PenguinTrax

Nebraska (Lincoln) doesn't use quota system either.

But I don't think there's much drama--most people who want to get into a sorority do, even if it's not their first choice. Disclaimer here--I was totally a slacker sorority sister, never an officer, more concerned with the drama in my personal life, etc., so I can't say anything with authority, mainly because I don't remember that much--but I know we also had some flexibility because we also could take Lincoln girls who didn't count against your house size. ("house" meaning the building, not the chapter).

I asked about quota/total when my daughter went to Red Letter Day last winter and the greek life rep said they have no intention of going to that system. So unless somebody comes in and forces them to do it, I don't see it changing at Nebraska. It seems to work there.

[AnchorAlumna]

Come back abelle06! I'd love to read your story.

[PenguinTrax]

Originally Posted by TigerOwl

Barbara, should we also tell everyone that over 1,700 women were registered last year (2006) for panhellenic recruitment at IU? I think so! A couple houses only gave out 40, 41, 42 membership invitations. Please correct me if I am wrong, since I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I think around 800 PNM's received bids.

I don't remember the exact numbers, either. Unless they are online? Haven't looked.

Thing is, there are LARGER campuses than IU that use quota system and keep the houses full (with waiting lists!). I agree, it boggles the mind.

Their houses are HUGE, too. http://www.indiana.edu/~pha/phachapters/
A lot of the chapters are single-letter chapters.

[Low C Sharp]

only so many beds in the chapter houses

But it's a choice on the sororities' part to say that everybody has to live in for X number of years. Lots of chapters thrive with only the sophomores and officers (for example) living in.
________
LILY_CARTER CAM

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

But it's a choice on the sororities' part to say that everybody has to live in for X number of years. Lots of chapters thrive with only the sophomores and officers (for example) living in.

Indiana isn't like other schools. I don't know why this is, but it is. There are no Panhellenic rules to prevent them from doing things this way, and I'm sure if it was crippling the system it would change.

Someone more familiar with housing and the Greek culture overall at Indiana could probably give more insight.

[IlliniMeg]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Indiana isn't like other schools. I don't know why this is, but it is. There are no Panhellenic rules to prevent them from doing things this way, and I'm sure if it was crippling the system it would change.

Someone more familiar with housing and the Greek culture overall at Indiana could probably give more insight.

I think that there will be a move to change it to a quota/total system in the next couple of years. NPC is aware of it and it really limiting the opportunities for women who want Greek Life.

The other problem is, it is filling beds, but more so the strongest chapters set their quota a good 20 - 25 women LESS than other chapters. This overall is about 60 - 75 bids that could be given out in a quota system a year that aren't. They want smaller PNM classes in order to have the cream of the crop. It's going to be a hornet's nest but I think you'll see IU move to doing quota/total.

To the OP who is originally posted - Don't let being a sophomore discourage you. I would suggest that you think about the reasons you want to be greek. It sounds like you have - sisterhood, friendship, lifetime connections to each other and campus. If you go into recruitment looking for Groups that match the same things you are looking for, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

The reality of the situation is that IU hands out limited bids so having a strong GPA and I would say recommendations might give you an edge. But there are plenty of sororities on campus that provide qualities that it seems that you are looking for, regardless of status, that you can't go wrong. You might also want to check out informal recruitment.

Good luck!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by IlliniMeg

I think that there will be a move to change it to a quota/total system in the next couple of years. NPC is aware of it and it really limiting the opportunities for women who want Greek Life.

The other problem is, it is filling beds, but more so the strongest chapters set their quota a good 20 - 25 women LESS than other chapters. This overall is about 60 - 75 bids that could be given out in a quota system a year that aren't. They want smaller PNM classes in order to have the cream of the crop. It's going to be a hornet's nest but I think you'll see IU move to doing quota/total.

I was wondering if this had something to do with it - if it was a status thing to say "well, WE only took 30 girls because we are more elite."

On the one hand, I think it is silly to bypass total & quota - esp at a school where even "smaller" groups could have big chapters - but on the other hand, I think it would be very freeing to be able to say "we filled our house. We like the girls we have. We don't want any more. We're done with rush for the year. Leave us be." I mean, if you don't want a big chapter, you don't build a big house. It's similar to how the fraternities operate.

It just kind of surprises me that the HQs of the sororities haven't pushed to go to a quota/total system - especially those who have chapters there who would have no trouble filling it.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Right now, they do keep all the beds full. I would imagine in a quota/total system, the less-popular chapters would have trouble doing so.