Schools where you absolutely positively need recs

[ellebud]

Just a little fly in the ointment: In some parts of the country it is very possible to go to teachers, parents' friends, coworkers etc. to find recs. But I have to say that in my area (west Los Angeles and to a lesser degree the valley...as for the valley you know who you are ) there were very few Greek women. Most of the sorority women belonged to one of two sororities (AEPhi or SDT). Yes, lots and lots of AEPhis and a few SDTs. And I have a wide circle of friends. In my entire social network I am aware of one ADPi, a Chi Omega (her husband works for my husband).............and with my daughter's friends ONE ADPi. Teachers here tend to be non Greek.

It may really be difficult for some girls to get recs. My daughter had three, although I was told she had one to DG where she pledged. (She didn't. The girl said that she wrote it and didn't.) And her school is HIGHLY competitive.

I do not have a solution to the problem. I am merely telling it like it is. I am absolutely not ridiculing others' advice. I am merely saying that some girls may find it nearly impossible to find a diverse cross section of recs.

[honeychile]

This is the first I've read this thread, and I have two observations:

-For those who don't know, "That Girl" is the 18 year old who gets drunk constantly, flirts with anything in pants, and develops a reputation by the second weekend of school. You really do not want to be That Girl, you don't even want to be That Girl's close friend.

-While many PNMs may think that recs are stupid, look at it this way: you're about to attend a party of about 1,000 people. You know no one. But! If you've sent out your rec to the sororities, those who've received it at this party will know something about you, and be happy to look for you and meet you. Wouldn't you rather have that advantage?


Now, nobody's mentioned Virginia Tech - any recs needed for VTech?

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Now, nobody's mentioned Virginia Tech - any recs needed for VTech?

I wouldn't even put VT on the questionable list. Of course it can't hurt, and they would help a PNM stand out since they are still a bit of a novelty. I think they may be less important because it is a deferred recruitment school; you have a semester to make yourself known.

Relationships you build during your first semester will help you go much further than simply having a rec. VT's Panhellenic has places all registered PNMs on a Panhellenic listserv, and PNMs are invited to various sisterhood/programming/philanthropic events to get to know chapters during fall semester. For example, there might be pumpkin carving with Alpha Phi and Chi Omega. PNMs don't know which chapters are participating, and they must RSVP in advance, as there are a certain number of spots for each event.

[greekmomjo]

Sometimes I think with a deferred rush recs are even MORE of a big help--actives do rush "work" that first semester at many strong-Greek-system schools, and they go thru pictures and recs so you can "watch for" those girls on campus. I know they can find a pic on your facebook if an alum hasn't sent one in wtih your rec...but wouldn't you rather have that high-quality, studio senior picture be the one they are looking at as they try and learn your name pre-recruitment? (so this is another CLEAN UP YOUR FACEBOOK PLUG TOO)