Just read through this entire thread, and thought I'd share my two cents. I go to a mid-size school in the North where Greek life is extremely prevalent but for whatever reason, is not particularly popular. (What I'm trying to say- I probably phrased that incorrectly- is that while the small Greek community is very noticeable on campus, only a very small percentage of students actually join. A lot of people here are in very rigorous pre-med type majors, so that is definitely a factor.)
No one in my family is Greek aside from myself, and honestly I had never even heard of a rec until I joined GC. On the other hand, a close friend of mine who went through recruitment with me at my school has an older sister who was the president of her chapter at a big Southern school. Although that sorority is not on my campus, her sister managed to get her recs for all of the sororities that are here.
Unfortunately, my friend was only pref'd at one so-called "undesirable" chapter and dropped out of recruitment. I am now a DG.
I have to say I see both sides of the coin on this issue. I have no experience with recruitment at an SEC school, but I can imagine how when there are 1000 girls rushing, sheer numbers make it necessary to have recs. But at campuses like mine, where there may only be 120 girls registered for recruitment, actives have the opportunity to get to know girls individually and having to make huge cuts isn't such an issue.
Also, deferred recruitment at a smallish school makes recs less important as well- if a girl is a huge skank, by the time January rolls around, you know.
|