What is the rationale for recruiting a "type"?

[carnation]

I think that some sororities do recruit "types" but it may not be a conscious thing. One group at Auburn seemed to attract the girls who were upper-class and strong Christians. One at Arkansas was said to carefully choose their new members with an eye to taking as many beauty titles as possible.

Now you definitely see some sororities aim for the girls with the best grades (because they're proud of their standing on campus) or jocks (they practically advertise being #1 in intramurals on their campus for 20 years). I recall one chapter that tried to pledge the girls with the best voices because they were so determined to win the Christmas Sing every year. Said the former Panhellenic president from back in the day when we met up a few years ago:"Don't you remember how everyone else would maybe get out there with antlers and sing Rudolph? And then that group would sing the Hallelujah Chorus in black gowns in 8-part harmony."

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by carnation

I think that some sororities do recruit "types" but it may not be a conscious thing.

This.

I really doubt that a chapter would (extreme example)intentionally miss quota because they're "only taking blondes this year and 80% of the PNMs are brunette because brunette is the hot color now. No go."

I do think that people tend to be drawn to the women in recruitment who are most like themselves, in more ways than just looks.

Ex: if you're blonde, you cheer, and are a bio major, you're going to be pulling for that other blonde, cheerleader bio major you just met because she is like you.

Nothing purposeful, that's just how it tends to work out.

[LAblondeGPhi]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

This.

I really doubt that a chapter would (extreme example)intentionally miss quota because they're "only taking blondes this year and 80% of the PNMs are brunette because brunette is the hot color now. No go."

I do think that people tend to be drawn to the women in recruitment who are most like themselves, in more ways than just looks.

Ex: if you're blonde, you cheer, and are a bio major, you're going to be pulling for that other blonde, cheerleader bio major you just met because she is like you.

Nothing purposeful, that's just how it tends to work out.

YES. I totally agree with this. Especially if we're talking (which it sounds like we are) about chapters that have a tendency to get women who look a certain way.

Now, I do think there's a benefit to a chapter looking at what the chapter's vibe/type is, and being thoughtful about what type of members they would like to actively recruit - whether that's athletes, women with higher GPAs, more leaders, active followers, etc. A healthy organization will regularly self-assess to see what components they are lacking.

And just because your chapter looks for a type doesn't mean that it's ignoring your organization's membership standards - if anything, I think it's just narrowing down the standards for that chapter. Some chapters share a quirky sense of humor, or have a more "chill" attitude that won't mesh with all of the super-star PNMs that come through. Understanding this can be a matter of membership retention.

Also, have we completely ignored the PNM's preference in this matter? Those "hot blonde dancer" chapters also have the hot blonde dancer PNMs CHOOSING to be there - so how much of it is the chapter's affinity to the PNM, and how much is the PNM's affinity to the chapter?

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by carnation

I think that some sororities do recruit "types" but it may not be a conscious thing. One group at Auburn seemed to attract the girls who were upper-class and strong Christians. One at Arkansas was said to carefully choose their new members with an eye to taking as many beauty titles as possible.

Now you definitely see some sororities aim for the girls with the best grades (because they're proud of their standing on campus) or jocks (they practically advertise being #1 in intramurals on their campus for 20 years). I recall one chapter that tried to pledge the girls with the best voices because they were so determined to win the Christmas Sing every year. Said the former Panhellenic president from back in the day when we met up a few years ago:"Don't you remember how everyone else would maybe get out there with antlers and sing Rudolph? And then that group would sing the Hallelujah Chorus in black gowns in 8-part harmony."

How did they know which girls could sing? Did they have them sing during recruitment?

Also, I'm going to go MC on you and point out that the Hallelujah Chorus is only written in four parts.

[carnation]

They recruited girls whom they knew to be great singers plus they looked on rush resumes to find people who had won choral awards.

I know that it's SATB but the woman who was reminiscing was exaggerating on purpose.