Schools where you absolutely positively need recs

[debann127]

So I just went out there looking for recs and got 3 of them which I dont know if those are my top pics as Im trying to keep an open mind about all 16 of the houses at FSU. How does the recommendation help me? Does it guarantee a bid or is it just something that is used to tell a little more about me and possibly get me a bit more noticed.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by debann127

So I just went out there looking for recs and got 3 of them which I dont know if those are my top pics as Im trying to keep an open mind about all 16 of the houses at FSU. How does the recommendation help me? Does it guarantee a bid or is it just something that is used to tell a little more about me and possibly get me a bit more noticed.

How can you have top picks yet? Recruitment hasn't even started.

No, a rec in no way guarantees anything. Not having a rec can practically guarantee an automatic cut at some chapters. That is all you are protecting yourself from, and you are giving the chapters more information about you to use when making membership selection decisions. If you only have recs for 3 chapters, you really need to be doing everything you can to get 13 more, and quickly.

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by debann127

So I just went out there looking for recs and got 3 of them which I dont know if those are my top pics as Im trying to keep an open mind about all 16 of the houses at FSU. How does the recommendation help me? Does it guarantee a bid or is it just something that is used to tell a little more about me and possibly get me a bit more noticed.

Think about recruitment like a job interview. At a school where not many people have recs - a rec can be like a letter of introduction to someone you don't know or someone sending you to talk to someone about an unadvertised job opening that might be a good fit for you. It can help your resume get into the "must look at" pile.

At a school where everyone has recs - it can be kind of like a background check - is your resume really as good as you say? Or it can be like a really good letter of reference - she's awesome you should take her! Again, it can help your resume get into the "must look at" pile. (unless you don't make grades....)

In either case, member selection is up to the chapter, so while a really good reference can help, there very likely wouldn't be any decisions made on just that.

[ChioLu]

Originally Posted by HQWest

Think about recruitment like a job interview. At a school where not many people have recs - a rec can be like a letter of introduction to someone you don't know or someone sending you to talk to someone about an unadvertised job opening that might be a good fit for you. It can help your resume get into the "must look at" pile.

At a school where everyone has recs - it can be kind of like a background check - is your resume really as good as you say? Or it can be like a really good letter of reference - she's awesome you should take her! Again, it can help your resume get into the "must look at" pile. (unless you don't make grades....)

In either case, member selection is up to the chapter, so while a really good reference can help, there very likely wouldn't be any decisions made on just that.

Great analogy HQWest. If you want a job at a certain firm and a current or past employee gives you a referral, it can increase your chances of being hired. Granted, that doesn't guarantee you'll get the job, but it's better than sending your resume, blindly, to that company. Would you rather have an employee walk your resume to the hiring manager or you emailing your resume through an internet job website?

Since this thread is now 20 pages about recs/referral letters, let me ask one (crazy) question:
Does anyone know of ANY college, university or GLO where it would be a DISADVANTAGE to HAVE a rec?
(I'd be really fascinated if there is & why.)

If there is NO school or group that is adverse to recommendations, the answer is simple:
GET RECS, get recs, get recs, get recs.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by ChioLu

Since this thread is now 20 pages about recs/referral letters, let me ask one (crazy) question:
Does anyone know of ANY college, university or GLO where it would be a DISADVANTAGE to HAVE a rec?
(I'd be really fascinated if there is & why.) If there is NO school or group that is adverse to recommendations, the answer is simple:
GET RECS, get recs, get recs, get recs.

Occasionally I hear of specific chapters that don't like to get recs or ignore them. Usually it's when they feel the alumnae are telling them what to do. But sometimes it's an alumna whose favorite PNM wasn't pledged.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by debann127

So I just went out there looking for recs and got 3 of them which I dont know if those are my top pics as Im trying to keep an open mind about all 16 of the houses at FSU. How does the recommendation help me? Does it guarantee a bid or is it just something that is used to tell a little more about me and possibly get me a bit more noticed.

Good grief, how did I miss this? debann, just like Irishpipes and HQWest told you, you need recs to EVERY sorority at FSU-not just your top three. There is no wiggle room. Get cracking!

Going in with top choices already and recs. only for those three sororities is not good. PNMs are not in the drivers seat-the sororities are.

[carnation]

Originally Posted by debann127

Does it guarantee a bid or is it just something that is used to tell a little more about me and possibly get me a bit more noticed.

PNMs, repeat after me: nothing ever, ever guarantees a bid.