Ideas on Recruitment?

KappaSigISU · #1 01-22-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Who are you? I go to Arkansas.

8 of our chapters bring in over 50 man pledge classes each fall. Some push 60's. It's not a matter of getting people to rush, but a matter of getting the ones you want.

Yea your in the south, I'm not sure if you know this or not but as you go farther south the recruitment goes way up. I don't exactly know the reason but if you don't believe me you can look for yourself its all in the numbers.

Kappa
Well I'm kinda new at this and I don't know exactly how to show them this, we don't really have the funding which might be kind of a big problem. The problem is these kids love the dorms and the ones that don't are already lining up apartments...its hard to find those middle lyers

ISUKappa · #2 01-24-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KappaSigISU

Kappa
Well I'm kinda new at this and I don't know exactly how to show them this, we don't really have the funding which might be kind of a big problem. The problem is these kids love the dorms and the ones that don't are already lining up apartments...its hard to find those middle lyers

Ugh. I think it's completely ridiculous that apartment housing in Ames is only at, like, 65 percent capacity, yet the city continues to grant approvals to build more. It was just starting to get bad when I was in school and, from my understanding, it's only gotten worse.

I think that's why summer rush is so important - you have to get the guys even before they get their dorm assignments. I know the suite-style dorms like Eaton is what more freshman are drawn to, but there are still benefits to living in a chapter facility. Do any of your new pledges or new initiates have friends that are seniors in high school? Invite them to go to Greek Getaway. Get their names on the list for summer rush events. It's not going to be easy, but if you don't want the chapter to die like DU or D-Chi you have to put some effort into it.

Why do you think the Delts or AGRs are such big chapters? Friends bring their friends in. Granted, AGRs are slightly different because they only/mostly take Ag majors and most guys know if they're in Ag and want to be in a fraternity, they'll be AGRs - they have a huge legacy and hometown pull. But that doesn't mean that type of networking won't work for other chapters. And maybe you guys are doing those sorts of things, I don't know.

I know sorority rush is totally different, I'm just going on my experience of talking to the guys on IFC when I was on Panhel and having friends in different fraternities.

KappaSigISU · #3 01-28-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

Do any of your new pledges or new initiates have friends that are seniors in high school?

I know the sounds like an awesome Idea but college is a way for people to start a new life and most people don't want to drag their past back into their new life. I would be happier if I did not see any other kids from my high school here. I only brought in two other guys from my high school into the frat, and they are like my really good buddies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHISIGPSITRITON

If its not a big frat school then you have to sell your organization as a new wave in fraternities

Thats the whole reason I posted on here haha..I need some ideas!

CrackerBarrel · #4 01-28-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KappaSigISU

I know the sounds like an awesome Idea but college is a way for people to start a new life and most people don't want to drag their past back into their new life. I would be happier if I did not see any other kids from my high school here. I only brought in two other guys from my high school into the frat, and they are like my really good buddies.

See that seems weird to me. What the hell is in anyone's past that they just want to start over completely in college? It's higher education, not witness protection. I'm not like great friends with a whole lot of people from my high school anymore aside from some guys I played football with, but that is how fraternities get the regional pull and stock up on guys is that people who have already pledged bring their buddies by for rush. You're always going to have trouble with numbers (and finding normal kids since they will all have friends trying to get them to other houses) if you are just hoping enough guys that no one knows but seem cool show up for rush.

BabyPiNK_FL · #5 01-29-2009, 12:45 AM

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Originally Posted by CrackerBarrel

It's higher education, not witness protection.

HILARIOUS.

KSUViolet06 · #6 01-29-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrackerBarrel

See that seems weird to me. What the hell is in anyone's past that they just want to start over completely in college? It's higher education, not witness protection. I'm not like great friends with a whole lot of people from my high school anymore aside from some guys I played football with, but that is how fraternities get the regional pull and stock up on guys is that people who have already pledged bring their buddies by for rush. You're always going to have trouble with numbers (and finding normal kids since they will all have friends trying to get them to other houses) if you are just hoping enough guys that no one knows but seem cool show up for rush.

True. I remember reading here somewhere that some high schools in certain towns are known as "feeders" to some fraternity chapters because guys just happen to pledge there and invite the younger guys who graduate from there to come to events.

You definitely don't have to pledge them all, but it seems to provide a good PNM pool from which you can choose.

Elephant Walk · #7 01-29-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

True. I remember reading here somewhere that some high schools in certain towns are known as "feeders" to some fraternity chapters because guys just happen to pledge there and invite the younger guys who graduate from there to come to events.

You definitely don't have to pledge them all, but it seems to provide a good PNM pool from which you can choose.

It's absolutely true. In fact, if you rush a certain school pretty hard you're guaranteed to keep pulling them. Rush in the SEC is very town/school based. All the SAE's are from Catholic/Episcopal in Little Rock, Jesuit in Dallas, and the Hot Springs area. Sigma Chi tends to pull them from some elite Dallas private schools as well as all of Southeastern Arkansas. It goes on. Rush hard on a couple specific schools that y'all have guys from. Those guys will give your fraternity identity (hopefully a good one) and y'all will have a solid base to come from.

33girl · #8 01-29-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

It's absolutely true. In fact, if you rush a certain school pretty hard you're guaranteed to keep pulling them. Rush in the SEC is very town/school based.

That's the thing though, he isn't in the SEC. At some colleges keeping too much of any kind of connection with high school is looked at as lame. I mean one or two guys from the same hometown yeah, a whole fraternity of guys from the same town, either really lame or part of the Mafia.

ISUKappa · #9 01-28-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KappaSigISU

I know the sounds like an awesome Idea but college is a way for people to start a new life and most people don't want to drag their past back into their new life. I would be happier if I did not see any other kids from my high school here. I only brought in two other guys from my high school into the frat, and they are like my really good buddies.

Dude. I'm not saying pledge your entire high school, but if every guy in your pledge class brought in one guy that they knew from high school or class or work or whatever, you would basically double your pledge class. You said you brought in two good friends, that's what I'm talking about.