Alabama Recruitment

kk_bama · #1 08-17-2009, 10:34 PM

I don't really know of any chapter would bother to scramble to get recommendations during Recruitment.

It's more of a too bad, so sad situation. If you don't have your ducks in a row by the time Recruitment begins, you're probably going to get cut by the chapters that absolutely require a rec for a bid.

Your best bet is to start 6 months to a year prior to Recruitment obtaining recs for every single sorority. Contact your local alumnae Panhellenic, go to your high school counselor, ask if your teachers were in a sorority, quiz your mother's friends, etc. It's not that hard. Don't put all your eggs in a basket or two thinking that you'll get a bid to one of the 3 sororities you managed to get a rec for.

My favorite recs to look through are the most complete ones. A fully complete rec packet should include, IMO:

-The most updated reference form from your nationals (some that we get are YEARS old photocopied from an old sorority magazine).

-A detailed resume that includes high school class rank and any family greek affiliations (doesn't hurt to list aunts & cousins in addition to sisters, mothers, grandmother & great-grandmothers). We get a lot of great resumes but they are sometimes missing those items.

-Complete high school transcript.

-At least a headshot and a full body photo. Some girls do a cute color full-page photo collage showing them in all their various activities. I love these. So fun to see the girls in their prom dresses, sports uniforms, with family, etc.

-Sometimes we get a handwritten note or typed letter from the alum in addition to the recommendation form. Going into detail about how you know the PNM is great and the fact that the alum went the extra mile means a lot.

Loyally Kappa · #2 08-17-2009, 10:39 PM

I'll see that two cents and raise it three!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kk_bama

I don't really know of any chapter would bother to scramble to get recommendations during Recruitment.

It's more of a too bad, so sad situation. If you don't have your ducks in a row by the time Recruitment begins, you're probably going to get cut by the chapters that absolutely require a rec for a bid.

Your best bet is to start 6 months to a year prior to Recruitment obtaining recs for every single sorority. Contact your local alumnae Panhellenic, go to your high school counselor, ask if your teachers were in a sorority, quiz your mother's friends, etc. It's not that hard. Don't put all your eggs in a basket or two thinking that you'll get a bid to one of the 3 sororities you managed to get a rec for.

My favorite recs to look through are the most complete ones. A fully complete rec packet should include, IMO:

-The most updated reference form from your nationals (some that we get are YEARS old photocopied from an old sorority magazine).

-A detailed resume that includes high school class rank and any family greek affiliations (doesn't hurt to list aunts & cousins in addition to sisters, mothers, grandmother & great-grandmothers). We get a lot of great resumes but they are sometimes missing those items.

-Complete high school transcript.

-At least a headshot and a full body photo. Some girls do a cute color full-page photo collage showing them in all their various activities. I love these. So fun to see the girls in their prom dresses, sports uniforms, with family, etc.

-Sometimes we get a handwritten note or typed letter from the alum in addition to the recommendation form. Going into detail about how you know the PNM is great and the fact that the alum went the extra mile means a lot.

KSUViolet06 · #3 08-17-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kk_bama

I don't really know of any chapter would bother to scramble to get recommendations during Recruitment.

It's more of a too bad, so sad situation. If you don't have your ducks in a row by the time Recruitment begins, you're probably going to get cut by the chapters that absolutely require a rec for a bid.

Your best bet is to start 6 months to a year prior to Recruitment obtaining recs for every single sorority. Contact your local alumnae Panhellenic, go to your high school counselor, ask if your teachers were in a sorority, quiz your mother's friends, etc. It's not that hard. Don't put all your eggs in a basket or two thinking that you'll get a bid to one of the 3 sororities you managed to get a rec for.

My favorite recs to look through are the most complete ones. A fully complete rec packet should include, IMO:

-The most updated reference form from your nationals (some that we get are YEARS old photocopied from an old sorority magazine).

-A detailed resume that includes high school class rank and any family greek affiliations (doesn't hurt to list aunts & cousins in addition to sisters, mothers, grandmother & great-grandmothers). We get a lot of great resumes but they are sometimes missing those items.

-Complete high school transcript.

-At least a headshot and a full body photo. Some girls do a cute color full-page photo collage showing them in all their various activities. I love these. So fun to see the girls in their prom dresses, sports uniforms, with family, etc.

-Sometimes we get a handwritten note or typed letter from the alum in addition to the recommendation form. Going into detail about how you know the PNM is great and the fact that the alum went the extra mile means a lot.

This post should be made into a sticky for some of the SEC schools.

Thanks kk_bama!

AnchorAlumna · #4 08-18-2009, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kk_bama

My favorite recs to look through are the most complete ones. A fully complete rec packet should include, IMO:

-The most updated reference form from your nationals (some that we get are YEARS old photocopied from an old sorority magazine).

-A detailed resume that includes high school class rank and any family greek affiliations (doesn't hurt to list aunts & cousins in addition to sisters, mothers, grandmother & great-grandmothers). We get a lot of great resumes but they are sometimes missing those items.

-Complete high school transcript.

-At least a headshot and a full body photo. Some girls do a cute color full-page photo collage showing them in all their various activities. I love these. So fun to see the girls in their prom dresses, sports uniforms, with family, etc.

-Sometimes we get a handwritten note or typed letter from the alum in addition to the recommendation form. Going into detail about how you know the PNM is great and the fact that the alum went the extra mile means a lot.

Also
--Home Address
--Parents' names
---Their colleges and Greek groups, and what they do for a living (nosy? Yes...but I want to know the sorority bill will be paid)
--ACT/SAT scores

I am building an Excel spreadsheet for Alabama's recruitments (darn those UA people for not posting it that way to begin with!!) that you can sort for sorority, hometown, state, etc. If anybody wants a copy, DM me your e-mail address and I'll e-mail you a copy. It may be tomorrow before I'm finished.

VandalSquirrel · #5 08-18-2009, 01:35 AM

This isn't just about 'Bama, but if at my school (middle of nowhere, full of farmers and first generation students) we can manage to get recs on women, then it shouldn't be hard in a more populated area with a funcitoning Alumnae Panhellenic. There is a good reason that at larger schools where rush is competitive there is a cut off date to sign up. One is so grades and eligibility can be checked by Panhellenic, the other is that there is a final list give to each chapter to handle as they see fit. Even though I am currently living in the town where I attended school, I have written recs for women from my home area as well as from other areas my family lives in.

The women I have been contacted about are not legacies, are not from this state, and may be first generation college students, but I not only help my sisters, but my Panhellenic sisters by writing recs on these women and passing on their information to alumnae I know in the other eight NPC groups on my campus. I feel it is my job not only as an alumnae, but as a woman, to give every qualified woman an equal chance at rush, even if she doesn't attend my school. I have driven hours or met with women while on vacation to write a solid and informative rec because I truly believe one shouldn't be limited by her connections or not being as savvy as another. Recruitment is every woman's job, collegian or alumnae and some of my favorite sisters (my own and in other sororities) are women who knew nothing about the process and I took the time to help. I think that to acquire quality members we need to do what we can to reach the women who aren't in the know, and with all of the technology available to us in 2009 it is possible.

Nhfulmer · #6 08-18-2009, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

This isn't just about 'Bama, but if at my school (middle of nowhere, full of farmers and first generation students) we can manage to get recs on women, then it shouldn't be hard in a more populated area with a funcitoning Alumnae Panhellenic. There is a good reason that at larger schools where rush is competitive there is a cut off date to sign up. One is so grades and eligibility can be checked by Panhellenic, the other is that there is a final list give to each chapter to handle as they see fit. Even though I am currently living in the town where I attended school, I have written recs for women from my home area as well as from other areas my family lives in.

The women I have been contacted about are not legacies, are not from this state, and may be first generation college students, but I not only help my sisters, but my Panhellenic sisters by writing recs on these women and passing on their information to alumnae I know in the other eight NPC groups on my campus. I feel it is my job not only as an alumnae, but as a woman, to give every qualified woman an equal chance at rush, even if she doesn't attend my school. I have driven hours or met with women while on vacation to write a solid and informative rec because I truly believe one shouldn't be limited by her connections or not being as savvy as another. Recruitment is every woman's job, collegian or alumnae and some of my favorite sisters (my own and in other sororities) are women who knew nothing about the process and I took the time to help. I think that to acquire quality members we need to do what we can to reach the women who aren't in the know, and with all of the technology available to us in 2009 it is possible.

I absolutely could not agree with your philosophy more! I'm thrilled for all the girls I wrote recs for - whether they pledged my sorority or not. The point is that they experience Greek life - not only during college but for years to come!!

VandalSquirrel · #7 08-18-2009, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Also
--Home Address
--Parents' names
---Their colleges and Greek groups, and what they do for a living (nosy? Yes...but I want to know the sorority bill will be paid)
--ACT/SAT scores

I am building an Excel spreadsheet for Alabama's recruitments (darn those UA people for not posting it that way to begin with!!) that you can sort for sorority, hometown, state, etc. If anybody wants a copy, DM me your e-mail address and I'll e-mail you a copy. It may be tomorrow before I'm finished.

I'm not a fan of the occupation of the parents as they may not be paying. Grandparents may be paying, a woman may (gasp) have a job and saved up for it, maybe she has a scholarship to help cover her housing portion, that is just antiquated to me and does not help our reputation of looking elitist and snobby. Also their college, not that important; their Greek affiliations, sure. More first generation college students are signing up for rush and the information may not exist.

HeavenslilAngel · #8 08-18-2009, 03:55 AM

I paid for my dues myself. My parents weren't supportive of my decision to join a sorority but I wanted to do it and so my paychecks paid for it. My parents paid everything else so they really couldn't say anything about my sorority involvement. I love learning about big SEC recruitment. I went to a small state school in Louisiana where recs were rare for the most part and I went through COB not formal rush.

Bear · #9 08-18-2009, 08:04 PM

Is anyone else going to post pictures?????
The only ones so far are from Gamma Phi Beta.
****They look so great in thier Pink and Brown.******

SWTXBelle · #10 08-18-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear

Is anyone else going to post pictures?????
The only ones so far are from Gamma Phi Beta.
****They look so great in thier Pink and Brown.******

I love the one new member who looks like she is can't believe she's really a Gamma Phi! (Those tears must be of joy - and who can blame her?)