If you could determine your pledge class size... - Page 2

jennyj87 · #1 06-02-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrishLake

Yeah, I consider small school is less than 7 or 8 thousand. We had 3200, 4 NPC sororities, ceiling was around 80 for each group (varied year to year), which left pledge classes around 20 or so.

This is true to a point. When I say small school, i'm comparing to schools like FSU, UF, UCF, USF because those are the closest to us. For them to have pledge classes around 80 is understandable, but when our chapters are only averaging 110 members then we get a pledge class of 80, that seems a little much in my opinion.

BabyPiNK_FL · #2 05-31-2010, 09:41 PM

35-50. About 40 appears to be a good working number amongst orgs at my alma mater.

JohnnyCash · #3 06-01-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

35-50. About 40 appears to be a good working number amongst orgs at my alma mater.

This.

Not too big, but big enough to have all types of members that will contribute to the chapter.

Leslie Anne · #4 05-31-2010, 09:59 PM

My pledge class had 36 members. It was a nice size but I think it would have been closer-knit at around 25 or so.

purpleparrot · #5 06-01-2010, 04:19 PM

We have around 45-50. I think it is a really good number. The idea of an 82 girl pledge class is crazy to me...I feel like I would barely know half the pledge class. 45-50 is big enough that we all find a group of best friends, but we also all get to know each other pretty well.

pshsx1 · #6 06-02-2010, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purpleparrot

We have around 45-50. I think it is a really good number. The idea of an 82 girl pledge class is crazy to me...I feel like I would barely know half the pledge class. 45-50 is big enough that we all find a group of best friends, but we also all get to know each other pretty well.

It was enough work for me just getting to know the other 70 guys in the chapter well, let alone a PC that large!

AGDee · #7 05-31-2010, 10:34 PM

I'm going to look at it in a logical/practical way and say from 1/3 to 1/2 of the existing chapter size. So, if there are currently 30 members, then 10-15 new members would be ideal. When there are more new members than initiated members, it's very tough on the chapter. When there are too few new members, it's hard on the new members. It's all about balance

Gusteau · #8 06-01-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

I'm going to look at it in a logical/practical way and say from 1/3 to 1/2 of the existing chapter size. So, if there are currently 30 members, then 10-15 new members would be ideal. When there are more new members than initiated members, it's very tough on the chapter. When there are too few new members, it's hard on the new members. It's all about balance

I like this ratio. 1/3 is really manageable for the chapter, the only downside is that it doesn't encourage growth (which could be okay depending on what your chapter is looking for.) I think 3/4 is a good number if you're trying to grow, but you only really need that one semester, after that semester I would go back to 1/3-1/2 or the growth would be out of control!

Barbie's_Rush · #9 06-01-2010, 12:30 AM

I think pledge classes of about 50 are ideal. Small enough to know everyone yet large enough to have a number of women who will have interests similar to yours.

IrishLake · #10 06-01-2010, 12:48 AM

I think it depends on the campus size, the percentage of students who are greek, and how many sororities/fraternities there are. I think 20-30 is ideal for smaller schools, 50 or so for larger schools.

pshsx1 · #11 06-01-2010, 12:55 AM

I'd go more specific: 10-20 for smaller schools, 20-40 for medium schools, and 40+ for larger schools.

My Fraternity had a 33 member class 3 years ago, and it was kind of a mess (especially since the chapter was at 25). Now 12-18 is our safe number for Fall and 20 per year is our ultimate goal.

TPA85 · #12 06-01-2010, 03:09 AM

My pledge class started out as 9 and at the time of Initiation was 6. We were a pretty close group but I would say 15ish would be ideal for me. I'd be okay with 20 but no bigger.

MaggieXi · #13 06-01-2010, 09:28 AM

My PC was 42, the one before me was 47. It seems that whenever totals get up into the 40s and remains there for a handful of years, the campus starts talking expansion. Total is 110, so I think they are afraid of pledge classes in the 50s.

DTD Alum · #14 06-01-2010, 04:01 PM

My pledge class was 10 (and nobody dropped out or was kicked out), but we were a spring class...the fall class was considerably larger. I think a good size for a fraternity would be about 35ish if you are pledging one class a year, and 24ish with a spring of 10-12 if you are pledging two.

The wide variety of answers shows how there really is a need for all different sizes of chapters...although it would suck if you were one of those who wants a pledge class of 5 at a school where the pledge class is 80 (or vice versa).

33girl · #15 06-01-2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTD Alum

The wide variety of answers shows how there really is a need for all different sizes of chapters...although it would suck if you were one of those who wants a pledge class of 5 at a school where the pledge class is 80 (or vice versa).

Yeah, one of my sisters was like this. She would have much preferred a pledge class of 40 or so and a chapter of 150-175. Then again, if she wanted to go to that sort of school, she should have.