Auburn Recruitment Fall '08

[AuburnMom08]

Hey Aumom! Glad it is going well for your daughter! I hope she gets the bid from her favorite.

My daughter spoke with her Pi Chi last night about dropping out and talked about her alternatives. She asked me if I would be disappointed and I told her of course not, it was always her decision. She had 2 parties today, she was cut from her remaining favorite and she says she does not feel at home in either of the 2. She has to let her Pi Chi know today before they vote so she can officially drop out and still be eligible for COB, which she said she would have done COB to start with had she known it was so difficult for non-freshmen and just saved herself the stress of rush.

Her Pi Chi also told her about something I read on here, a new chapter starting up or something? And told her she would be eligible for that if she drops. She stressed to her to NOT accept the bid from somewhere she wasn't 100% sure about.

Thanks for talking to me during this process! It has been an interesting week to say the least. I will let you know what happens!

Oh by the way, we heard "hair salon mom's" daughter dropped out yesterday after she only received 5 invites back to skit day.

I don't think the legacies typically send gifts. Their alumnae mothers / sisters / grandmas / whatever might.

Yes, that's what I meant. The rushing legacy's alum mothers/sisters/grandmas sending gifts to their daughters/sisters/granddaughter's favorite house.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by AuburnMom08

Her Pi Chi also told her about something I read on here, a new chapter starting up or something? And told her she would be eligible for that if she drops. She stressed to her to NOT accept the bid from somewhere she wasn't 100% sure about.

Yes, Kappa Alpha Theta will be colonizing in the spring. Generally when new groups colonize they are allowed to pledge a large group of women up to approx average sorority size. At Auburn, Theta will likely be able to take up to approx 200 women if they so choose. (** don't hold me to that number... I did say approx. I don't know what "Total" is down there, and they do not *have* to take as many as Total)

Also when groups colonize they are looking for Sophs, Jrs and Srs... not just freshmen. The upperclassmen (classwomen?) help to balance out the classifications of members and also serve in leadership roles. Some women like the aspect of being able to join a new group and help to define what it is to become.

There are several GC posters who were charter members of their GLO on their particular campus. Many have said that while it was hard work that they loved being a part of something new.

It must be clarified though... colonizations are also no guarantees for bids. It should never been seen as a "fail-safe" but rather just another opporunity to explore. Typically women who serve as national officers (and sometimes local alumnae) run the interviews for the PNMs.

Okay Total- a pre-set number, similar to quota for pledges, that represents the total number of people a chapter can pledge up to. Going over Total by pledging quota is allowed, but doing COB above Total is not. This is why some GCers caution PNMs to not put all their eggs in the COB basket... if a house is over Total they can not do COB.

Best of luck to your daughter in whatever she decides.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by AuburnMom08

My daughter spoke with her Pi Chi last night about dropping out and talked about her alternatives. She asked me if I would be disappointed and I told her of course not, it was always her decision. She had 2 parties today, she was cut from her remaining favorite and she says she does not feel at home in either of the 2. She has to let her Pi Chi know today before they vote so she can officially drop out and still be eligible for COB, which she said she would have done COB to start with had she known it was so difficult for non-freshmen and just saved herself the stress of rush.

It looks like preference parties are underway, or that she has finished if she was scheduled for the first two parties. I would still strongly encourage her to go to the preference parties just in case she changes her mind. She can always go to the parties and drop out afterward.

About COB, I hate to break it to you, but it's unlikely that chapters she wants will be COBing. If she got cut from a chapter, her chances are very slim of getting a bid through COB, because those chapters will probably have filled quota, be at total, and therefore not have any more spaces. If any chapters are doing COB, it might only be the ones where she was invited for preference. Her only chance at COB for a chapter where she was cut would be if they got too cut happy (unlikely, because Panhellenic tells chapters how many to release) AND if lots of other PNMs didn't want them. Probably not going to happen. Too often, PNMs hear about COB and think that every chapter does it. Wrong.

Formal recruitment, with its quota and release figures is designed to place as many women as possible. COB is not to be counted on. She did the right thing in trying formal recruitment.

Originally Posted by AuburnMom08

Her Pi Chi also told her about something I read on here, a new chapter starting up or something? And told her she would be eligible for that if she drops. She stressed to her to NOT accept the bid from somewhere she wasn't 100% sure about.

Kappa Alpha Theta will be colonizing at Auburn (though not until January). She would not be eligible (until Fall 09) for Theta if she were to accept a bid to a chapter and depledge.

Originally Posted by AuburnMom08

Oh by the way, we heard "hair salon mom's" daughter dropped out yesterday after she only received 5 invites back to skit day.

"Only" 5 out of a possible 6? Cry me a river.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AuburnMom08

Her Pi Chi also told her about something I read on here, a new chapter starting up or something? And told her she would be eligible for that if she drops. She stressed to her to NOT accept the bid from somewhere she wasn't 100% sure about.

BIG HUG to her Pi Chi. Sometimes they get too into the "every girl should be placed" thing and go overboard. As a sophomore, your daughter has seen a little more of the sororities and probably has a little more of an idea what is for her and what isn't - kudos to her Pi Chi for understanding that.

[AuburnUmom]

Originally Posted by 33girl

BIG HUG to her Pi Chi. Sometimes they get too into the "every girl should be placed" thing and go overboard. As a sophomore, your daughter has seen a little more of the sororities and probably has a little more of an idea what is for her and what isn't - kudos to her Pi Chi for understanding that.

Ditto!! My daughter pledged at Auburn last fall after an emotionally traumatic rush week. (Don't get me started on that story!) She was pushed into pledging by an overly zealous Pi Chi, and it was probably a mistake. She's a bit happier now, but probably would have been better off to COB after formal rush when she could take her time and make a more rational decision.

....I should clarify, she tried to drop out of rush prior to pref and again after, and was talked into "hanging in there."

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by AuburnUmom

She's a bit happier now, but probably would have been better off to COB after formal rush when she could take her time and make a more rational decision.

Do many Auburn sororities COB/COR in the fall after formal recruitment? On many competitive campuses, there is little to no informal recruitment because there is no room at the inn, so there is little to be gained by waiting for informal.

Colonization, on the other hand, is a different matter.

[Lil_ChiO_Lady]

It's really annoying to me how some Recruitment Counselors are so pushy when a PNM is in a situation involving dropping out and told to "hang in there"...If you truely don't feel at home somewhere, then you should seek out other alternatives.The RC's are there to give advice and support to the PNM, and also give them options. It's not the end of the world if you don't recieve a Bid.

[tennesseemom]

Almost over!! Anyone heard what quota is at either Auburn or Alabama?
My next door neighbors daughter is going through at Bama and she said it is 81- I couldn't beleive it, is that true?

Originally Posted by tennesseemom

Almost over!! Anyone heard what quota is at either Auburn or Alabama?
My next door neighbors daughter is going through at Bama and she said it is 81- I couldn't beleive it, is that true?

Well, quota at Auburn last year was 57.

Quota at 'Bama was 80 last year. So 81 sounds about right.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Lil_ChiO_Lady

It's really annoying to me how some Recruitment Counselors are so pushy when a PNM is in a situation involving dropping out and told to "hang in there"...

Something to think about:

I think that alot of Recruitment Counselors at big SEC schools are not neccessarily trying to be "pushy" but they just want the PNMs to stick it out because in reality (as freshmen at schools like Bama/Ole Miss/LSU/etc), this may be their only opportunity to receive a bid.

At some of the more competitive SEC schools, there is little to no opportunity for COB and the chances of going through again as a sophomore and getting a bid are also very slim.

[phimusam]

Are flowers appropriate? And does anyone have the place and number in Auburn that puts the flowers together?

[WarEagle07]

Originally Posted by AuburnMom08

Oh by the way, we heard "hair salon mom's" daughter dropped out yesterday after she only received 5 invites back to skit day.

Who is 'Hair Spray Mom'??? I completely missed this! your daughter sounds very emotionally mature and maybe while disappointed in getting cut, she isn't having Diva fits. Kudos Auburnmom08!