General Advice

[hottytoddy6]

Hi! I'm from Chicago and I'll be attending Ole Miss in the fall. Having read the recruitment forums thoroughly (a million thank you's- I definitely would have shown up in jeans or made some awful faux pas), I know I need to contact the Chicago Alumnae Panhellenic for my recs. However, I was wondering if anyone could give me advice regarding how to word that introductory e-mail. It seems rude and rather forward to simply ask for alumnae to write my recs- especially if they don't know me. Should I ask them to lunch? Any help would be much appreciated!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by hottytoddy6

Hi! I'm from Chicago and I'll be attending Ole Miss in the fall. Having read the recruitment forums thoroughly (a million thank you's- I definitely would have shown up in jeans or made some awful faux pas), I know I need to contact the Chicago Alumnae Panhellenic for my recs. However, I was wondering if anyone could give me advice regarding how to word that introductory e-mail. It seems rude and rather forward to simply ask for alumnae to write my recs- especially if they don't know me. Should I ask them to lunch? Any help would be much appreciated!

It's not rude at all - for them, it's an opportunity to introduce a young woman to the sorority they love. You don't have to grease the wheels by feeding them or anything. Just be sure that you have all the information needed (which an Ole Miss-savvy poster will help you out with) so they don't have to keep calling you for confirmation on this or that.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by hottytoddy6

Hi! I'm from Chicago and I'll be attending Ole Miss in the fall. Having read the recruitment forums thoroughly (a million thank you's- I definitely would have shown up in jeans or made some awful faux pas), I know I need to contact the Chicago Alumnae Panhellenic for my recs. However, I was wondering if anyone could give me advice regarding how to word that introductory e-mail. It seems rude and rather forward to simply ask for alumnae to write my recs- especially if they don't know me. Should I ask them to lunch? Any help would be much appreciated!

Are you in Chicago proper? There are several groups in the area, and you'll want to find the one closest to you.

[VandalSquirrel]

Retaking classes or attending summer school to bring up your GPA? These are things to look into, take into consideration, or be aware of if you are someone concerned about GPA or class standing and recruitment. Places or people to ask are the registrar or records office, an academic advisor, and also the Greek Life advisor/office.

1) Check and see when grades are officially posted and GPA is calculated as it may not happen until after recruitment or after the deadline to submit materials and when local Panhellenics check for a GPA.

2) Check and see if a class is eligible for a repeat and/or grade replacement, not just for rush but also for academic purposes.

3) If you are an incoming transfer student refer to number 1 and see when your first school and your new school post and calculate grades/transcripts so you know the facts about your class standing and GPA.

4) If you were at school and then went to a JC or CC, and are returning to your first school or a new school, check if and how those credits transfer and/or affect your GPA and class standing.

Every school is different and has their own rules so before you waste time, energy, and money or summer school, a different school, or rush, get all the policies and information so you can make the best decision based on reality.

[ml2314]

Hi Y'all,

I have a bit of an unique situation and would love some advice. While in high school I participated in a program that allowed me to earn college credits while in high school and graduated with one year completed. After.. graduating I went to college for a year and had to take a break last year due to complicated famly issues. Now, I have transferred universities and would love to pledge a sorority.

This is really my sophomore year of college considering the time I had to take off. However, I have roughly 53 credits because of the classes I took while in high school. Should I consider myself a sophomore with my 53 credits or consider myself a junior? I am asking because I know not rushing my freshman is going to severely hurt my chances of getting a bid. Rush at my school is very competitive. Also, I have heard that being a junior would actually help me out as they do not count as part of the quota but rather are just extra additions added on to a previous pledge class.

Does anyone have any advice??? Thank you!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by ml2314

Hi Y'all,

I have a bit of an unique situation and would love some advice. While in high school I participated in a program that allowed me to earn college credits while in high school and graduated with one year completed. After.. graduating I went to college for a year and had to take a break last year due to complicated famly issues. Now, I have transferred universities and would love to pledge a sorority.

This is really my sophomore year of college considering the time I had to take off. However, I have roughly 53 credits because of the classes I took while in high school. Should I consider myself a sophomore with my 53 credits or consider myself a junior? I am asking because I know not rushing my freshman is going to severely hurt my chances of getting a bid. Rush at my school is very competitive. Also, I have heard that being a junior would actually help me out as they do not count as part of the quota but rather are just extra additions added on to a previous pledge class.

Does anyone have any advice??? Thank you!

The junior thing you're speaking of is called upperclassman quota.

That's also not how it works. You're correct in that juniors don't count against quota, but it's not an "automatic in" kind of thing. There's also a limit to the number of juniors one can take with it.

A chapter can choose to utilize it. It certainly doesn't have to.

[aggiegirl14]

So since recruitment is coming up VERY soon, I have been reading a bunch of GC threads and recruitment stories, even now in the early hours of morning! Some of the stories use the phrase "rushing hard", as in, "this house was really rushing her pretty hard". I don't really understand what that means. I tried searching for this, but 'rushing' and 'hard' appear a LOT in GC! LOL. If you could help me out that would be wonderful!! I hope you all are having a wonderful night/morning! Thanks a bunch!

[aggiegirl14]

Thanks so much! That was everything I wanted in an answer and more! In other words, the perfect answer. Good advice, too!