Most Competitive Greek Systems?

[Titchou]

What it means is:

1) You must have a rec at Alabama

2) It's best that you get them yourself because of the sheer volume of women going thru and the fact that many of them send in 2 forms per house - or more! And the very compressed time frame during recruitment doesn't allow much leeway.

3) IF they REALLY want you, it is POSSIBLE for the group to locate someone to do a rec for you (I get calls from schools for recs from my town because they know I've done them before but it's really difficult when they call and say we love her and need something in an hour!)

4) But it's best to not put yourself in that position because the odds of them wanting you badly enough to go to that trouble during recruitment week are pretty slim

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by Titchou

What it means is:

1) You must have a rec at Alabama

2) It's best that you get them yourself because of the sheer volume of women going thru and the fact that many of them send in 2 forms per house - or more! And the very compressed time frame during recruitment doesn't allow much leeway.

3) IF they REALLY want you, it is POSSIBLE for the group to locate someone to do a rec for you (I get calls from schools for recs from my town because they know I've done them before but it's really difficult when they call and say we love her and need something in an hour!)

4) But it's best to not put yourself in that position because the odds of them wanting you badly enough to go to that trouble during recruitment week are pretty slim

I hope the following isn't too far from the actual situation:
From what I've heard and read about recruitment at Alabama -- and campuses with similar kinds of recruitment -- I get the strong impression that one of the reasons that "the odds of them wanting you badly enough to go to that trouble during recruitment week are pretty slim" is that :

if you don't have a rec at the start, there's a higher probablity that you'll be cut after the open house round or the first invitational round; sororities that are required to cut large or enormous numbers of PNMs very often start cutting by grades and/or lack of recs (and/or, as always, "reputation").

So, frankly, many sororities may not really have the time to get to know and luuuuuuvvv someone without a rec -- she'll be cut early because they have to start cutting somewhere.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by exlurker

I hope the following isn't too far from the actual situation:
From what I've heard and read about recruitment at Alabama -- and campuses with similar kinds of recruitment -- I get the strong impression that one of the reasons that "the odds of them wanting you badly enough to go to that trouble during recruitment week are pretty slim" is that :

if you don't have a rec at the start, there's a higher probablity that you'll be cut after the open house round or the first invitational round; sororities that are required to cut large or enormous numbers of PNMs very often start cutting by grades and/or lack of recs (and/or, as always, "reputation").

So, frankly, many sororities may not really have the time to get to know and luuuuuuvvv someone without a rec -- she'll be cut early because they have to start cutting somewhere.

Yeah, pretty much. Although hopefully a pre-freshman girl doesn't have a "reputation" at the college already. If she does, it's probably a negative one.

[KKGis4Me]

What I was confused about, was why they would have someone write you a rec KNOWING that person doesn't KNOW you, and therefore the rec basically has no validity...

But are you all essentially saying that the rec is need because a PNM gets points based off different aspects she brings to the table such as grades, high school activities, etc, and that she also gets points from having a rec, therefore they get an alum to write a rec, not for the alum's actual perspective about the PNM, but instead because it will give her needed points to compete with other PNMs that have all the other stuff and recs? Is this the basic concept?

[Titchou]

No one is saying that they can't find someone who knows her. What they are saying is that when the girl did not make arrangements for the rec, the chapter has to call their contacts in the girl's hometown who will find someone who knows her. This takes time...and time is something that chapters usually don't have much of. So not having one can get you released up front as they are required to release a certain number. Unfortunately, when there are 1500 women signed up for recruitment, it can be a numbers game. And you don't want to be just a number...and a rec is what allows you to stand out.

[TigerOwl]

Thank you!!!---The last few conversations, give me the actual words to use when I speak to the gathering (200+) of mothers and potential new members at our Panhellenic Recruitment Night each year. (not that I haven't said the same thing for the past several years, but it's always great to try to quote what other sorority advisors/gifted awareness greek women preach). Another way to enlighten mothers/aunts/sisters who 'think' they KNOW recruitment NOW in the 2010 year!

[KKGis4Me]

Originally Posted by Titchou

No one is saying that they can't find someone who knows her. What they are saying is that when the girl did not make arrangements for the rec, the chapter has to call their contacts in the girl's hometown who will find someone who knows her. This takes time...and time is something that chapters usually don't have much of. So not having one can get you released up front as they are required to release a certain number. Unfortunately, when there are 1500 women signed up for recruitment, it can be a numbers game. And you don't want to be just a number...and a rec is what allows you to stand out.

Ok, I still don't think you are understanding what I am saying, because there is no way every chapter can guarantee they can find someone, because there is no sure way to say that they know someone in your hometown who is apart of that sorority and who knows the girl, therefore Im still confused as to why it becomes the chapter's responsibility to find someone a rec.

And whenever I read about recs, it's says that it is indeed the chapter's responsibility to find someone a rec, and that just seems like a lot to put onto a chapter, when it isn't their job to find someone who knows you so you can be in their sorority. Im sorry but this just confuses me lol

[Titchou]

Ah, now I see your problem! i don't know about KKG, but many group do not require the signer of the rec to actually know the young woman....only that she know someone, whom she trusts, to vouch for the woman. And there is a network set up to handle this. In my group it's called the City Sponsorship Chairman or the State Sponsorship Chairman. This person has agreed to find information on all the young women in her area going to any college where we have a chapter. And usually she will have people in each high school's area she uses for the information. So it's a formal network that is set up to do this and the chapter just contacts that woman (CSC or SSC) and turns it over to her to locate the information thru her contacts - members or not.

As an example, I have provided rec information to other groups for young women I know. In fact, just this fall the daughter of a friend went to a college where we don't have a chapter but where I know the chapter adviser for one of the groups which are on that campus. It's a great chapter and my friend who is the adviser is a wonderful mentor to her women. I really wanted this young woman in a chapter where she would be well looked after. So I contacted my friend and said "You need this woman! She goes to XYz High School. Who does your recs for that school?" And so, we secured the rec and the she ended up pledging that group. It's also worked the other way where my friends have called me because they know I do the forms for certain HS's here and/or have lots of contacts (I was the city chairman for my group for 14 years so I know lots of people).

So it's not required that the alumna actually know the young woman...she just has to find someone else who knows her and who is capable of giving objective information on her. I rarely personally know the women I sponsor. I've probably signed 1000's over the years. But I know someone who knows her...and that's good enough because I only ask people I trust!

[FSUZeta]

it is politically correct to state that "it is the sorority's responsibility to secure a recommendation for any pnm who does not have one," and comes from the NPC rules of recruitment. it is not real life-in most cases.

[Zillini]

No one will argue that the original and true purpose of a Rec is for a GLO alumna who knows the PNM to personally recommend her and provide personal information showing how she would be as asset to the chapter/org. The thing is at Bama and other similarly competitive campuses having Recs has evolved into a part of the competitive Recruitment process. In other parts of the country Recs are a rarity, but here they are a necessity. Why? Because so many other PNMs have one (or more) so if a PNM wants to be on the same starting level she needs one too.

Regardless of what anyone says, the responsibility of finding a Rec falls on the PNM because of the huge numbers in recruitment. There is no way a chapter can find one for everyone nor would they even want to try. As I said in an earlier post there may be the occasional "rush crush" where one or more members chase one down, but as a whole the chapter doesn't simply because there are so many other fabulous PNMs who already have a Rec to choose from.

Not all Recs are created equal. Chapters often receive "Info Only" Recs which come from alumnae who have never met the PNM or barely know her. These may come from GLO Alumnae Associations, NPC Alumnae Associations, or simply an individual alumna that the PNM has gotten contact info from someone/somewhere. Having read numerous threads on the subject of Recs here, I have learned that most GLO's Rec forms ask how well the writer knows the PNM or if the writer doesn't know her how the information was obtained. An Info Only Rec may or may not carry as much weight as one written by an alumna who has known the PNM for years. That is part of membership selection policies and is confidential. Regardless, it still counts as having a Rec.

I can say with confidence that each chapter reads every Rec, regardless of who wrote it and the relationship to a PNM, in order to get as much information as possible on her. Some PNMs who don't have a Rec will send chapters a transcript and resume just so they have her info. That is read as well.

FYI most GLO's have a policy of courtesy inviting anyone with a Rec to the first invitational round. At Bama chapters often have more PNMs with Recs than they are allowed to invite back to 2nd round, especially now with RFM. Last spring Greek Affairs contacted all our I/Natls making them aware that courtesy invite policies may not be able to be enforced due to this. Needless to say this shocks and angers a great many alumnae who know their GLO's courtesy invite policy. The reaction is almost as bad as those who still think legacies cannot be dropped or that we'll call them about it.

[Titchou]

And I've had to chase down one for a few "rush crushes" over the years....one in particular still stands out. It was a toughie but they LOVED her. It was one of our top chapters so I finally managed to find a friend of a friend in this small Alabama town. And the girl turned out to be a great member....so it can happen. Was a good thing they called me and I was willing and had the time.

But you are right, Zillini, the sheer numbers at Bama just make it impossible for the chapters to do the recs, even when their nationals may require them.

[KKGis4Me]

Ok gotcha! Thanks for explaining that, because I was quite confused. So does that mean that if I rushed without a rec, they did indeed find someone to right one, or at less competitive schools, it's not necessary?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by KKGis4Me

Ok gotcha! Thanks for explaining that, because I was quite confused. So does that mean that if I rushed without a rec, they did indeed find someone to write one, or at less competitive schools, it's not necessary?

If your national policies require that you have a rec on file to become an initiated member, yes, you are correct.

[Titchou]

It has always been my policy wherever I've been a chapter adviser that the NMs write a thank you to the woman who sponsored them. So they've always known who that was.

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by Titchou

It has always been my policy wherever I've been a chapter adviser that the NMs write a thank you to the woman who sponsored them. So they've always known who that was.

What a great new member activity!