University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) 2012 Recruitment

[Gingerdeltaz]

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

It's allegedly 2-3 out of 9 groups, and next years colony will make 10. PNM classes are expected to be 150.

Jumping in as the mom of a PNM at Ole Miss...

With water parties being tomorrow, we talked today about any preconceptions she may have already about each chapter. Coming from an area far from Mississippi, she was able to go to Ole Miss with all the chapters being on even footing in her mind. HOWEVER, already she had started to develop an opinion on a couple of the chapters based on what some Mississippi folks have told her.

No matter how much I try to downplay what she has been told during her week there and no matter how much she tries to ignore it, the fact is that it's already in her mind. No matter how much I say, "Keep an open mind about ALL the chapters and form your own opinions," what she has heard will be in the back of her mind. For that reason, I would have loved for recruitment to have been at the beginning of school.

I know that some girls from the area or with deep ties to Ole Miss may already have formed ideas about what chapters they want, but at least for those that do not have those ties, it would make it easier for each chapter to have the opportunity to stand on their own merits and each PNM to form opinions based on what the chapters presented to them.

I still feel that she is going into recruitment excited to learn about all 9 sororities, rather than just 2 or 3, and open to them all, but I feel badly for the girls who have already narrowed their options, even before the beginning of recruitment.

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by Gingerdeltaz

I still feel that she is going into recruitment excited to learn about all 9 sororities, rather than just 2 or 3, and open to them all, but I feel badly for the girls who have already narrowed their options, even before the beginning of recruitment.

Some of the girls who have already narrowed their options will be all right, just about 200 - 350 of them. Those PNMs already know a bunch of people in those houses and have been to camp and cotillion with those girls. They will make their debuts at the same debutante societies, and are likely legacies multiple times over. Those favored few chapters will not be likely to ever participate in COB or Spring Informal recruitment as they push their fourth and fifth year members out the door to make room for the next class. Those same favored chapters are very reluctant to take sophomores, so dropping out and re-rushing next year is unlikely to make a difference for a choosy PNM.

The rest of the PNMs need to keep an open mind if they want the Greek experience. Everyday, when the PNM gets her invitations back, the chapters that invited her are the ONLY ones on that campus for that PNM. A chapter has indicated an interest in getting to know that PNM better, and she should be very grateful. Sadly not everyone can be an Ole Miss Greek, but keeping an open mind makes it a possibility. Every PNM class is nearly big enough at Ole Miss to change the entire personality of a chapter. So, if you don't like what you see now, stick around and "Be The Change You Want To See."

Best Wishes and Good Luck To All the Ole Miss PNMs!