A BIG TEN Recruitment Story

[brighteyedgirl]

Today's weather was pretty gross, but the rain held off (thank goodness!). But aside from the humidity today, the weather was fantastic! Yes, we did rank today. It was a bit nerve-wracking to be honest, but I think I'm pretty confident in my rankings. The only part now is having to wait an entire month to get back the houses for 14 party.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by brighteyedgirl

Yes, we did rank today. It was a bit nerve-wracking to be honest, but I think I'm pretty confident in my rankings. The only part now is having to wait an entire month to get back the houses for 14 party.

A general question to those familiar with IU NPC recruitment. When do the chapters turn in their invite lists?

As I understand it, ranking by the PNMs has happened now - after this first round. So do the chapters rank at this time as well since the various impressions of the PNMs should still be fresh? Then after grades come out, any PNMs who are academically ineligible are “automatically” removed (i.e. “dropped”) from the chapter’s next round invite list?

Or do chapters wait until the grades come out to see which PNMs are academically eligible and then make their invite list? If the latter is true, then in essence, the PNMs still have a month to “impress” (or not) the chapters.

If it was up to me, I’d make an initial list now, but wait to finilize and submit the list until the last possible date/time.

So I guess part of my general question is in situations like IU - where there is some time (i.e. days/weeks/month) between party rounds - is there some sort of NPC rule or guideline that says the chapters should turn in their invite list by X number of days/hours?

[IUHoosiergirl88]

Originally Posted by TSteven

A general question to those familiar with IU NPC recruitment. When do the chapters turn in their invite lists?

The chapters generate an invite list immediately after the party, but it's not finalized until grade drops happen in January. The 'official' list is due right before 14 Party, I believe.

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by IUHoosiergirl88

The chapters generate an invite list immediately after the party, but it's not finalized until grade drops happen in January. The 'official' list is due right before 14 Party, I believe.

Grades will be to chapters on Dec 31st, invite list is due by noon on January 1st. It must be a physical, paper list that is turned in. Which means lots of women will be driving to Bloomington nice and early on the 1st.

I don't know how every chapter does it, but there is not enough time to do MS between when grades come out and the list has to be turned back in to move too much around. I would assume that everyone put together the rough invite list and then will just pull the grade drops from the list- rather than making the list after the grade drops are in.

Also, 1687 women started the day at 10am on Saturday. There were women that signed up and then dropped out before recruitment even started. There were also women that dropped out during Saturday and Sunday. But the number we had to start with on Saturday morning was 1687.

[IUHoosiergirl88]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

I don't know how every chapter does it, but there is not enough time to do MS between when grades come out and the list has to be turned back in to move too much around. I would assume that everyone put together the rough invite list and then will just pull the grade drops from the list- rather than making the list after the grade drops are in.

We once waited until right before the list was due, although it was miserable. We were already swamped with things to do and to have to do MS was awful. The next year it was done before break and we finalized after grade drops...much less cattiness there

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

Also, 1687 women started the day at 10am on Saturday. There were women that signed up and then dropped out before recruitment even started. There were also women that dropped out during Saturday and Sunday. But the number we had to start with on Saturday morning was 1687.

Do you think women dropped out because they felt Greek life wasn't for them or that 21 parties in two days is totally overwhelming? I heard from one of the girls I know going through and she was so totally exhausted on Sunday, she just ranked in a hurry to get out of there and didn't really put a lot of thought into it.

[Blue2]

I looked at those stats from the link above and the number of women that go unmatched after preference. Seems like a lot? Can a very large school like IU use another group? Anyway, good luck and study hard on those final exams!

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by Blue2

I looked at those stats from the link above and the number of women that go unmatched after preference. Seems like a lot? Can a very large school like IU use another group? Anyway, good luck and study hard on those final exams!

There are multiple solutions which could alleviate the excessive number of unmatched bids each year.

1.) Move from bed quota to regular quota and set a chapter total. IU does not have chapter total set by Panhel. I believe that chapter sizes range from 160ish to 110 and that is the chapters' choice.
2.) Allowing seniors to live out would mean 20-40 women could be added to each chapter.
3.) Move recruitment to August prior to school starting so many girls would not have been influenced about which chapters are the "best" chapters. Many of the women who drop out do so because they did not receive invitations from chapters they "liked". Don't get me started on this one, the chapters at IU are large enough that I think women could be happy in multiple chapters, I know I would have been.
4.) Free up the land on Jordan for sorority expansion. This would give the two chapters without structures a chance to build some type of dwelling/meeting space. Then use the land to attract the remaining NPC chapters.

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by IndianaSigKap

Do you think women dropped out because they felt Greek life wasn't for them or that 21 parties in two days is totally overwhelming? I heard from one of the girls I know going through and she was so totally exhausted on Sunday, she just ranked in a hurry to get out of there and didn't really put a lot of thought into it.

I'm not sure this is a really bad way to go. We, as old broads, know the likelihood is she would probably be happy in ANY of the chapters, so not worrying about it is probably as good a way to go as any. Good luck to her and to the rest of them.

[brighteyedgirl]

There were many people who did drop during 21 party alone, and many people who dropped right after. I, personally, loved every second of it and will be continuing.

I know the process here isn't ideal, but I am going to try to keep an open-mind about it! Regardless, I am doing this for the experience, and I know there are other places on this enormous campus where I can be happy.

And, to the members who said I would be happy at multiple chapters: Even after just visiting 21 party, I completely echo this sentiment. There are MANY girls in each chapter, and they are all different (yet bound together) in an intricate manner. I would be honored to be a part of any chapter here!