University of Alabama Recruitment

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Lane-swerving, but:

You and most others posting here, as women experienced with how NPC recruitment and colonization work, understand that. But the student in college who wants to be Greek and who isn't nearly as familiar with how NPC recruitment and colonization work may not understand that, and may read much more than intended into a statement like this:
Hence the hyperbolic responses to that statement from some who have seen that from PNMs on GreekChat all too often.

Then for informational purposes -- PNMs considering participating in a colonization -- some (snark- and vulgarity-free) information:

Colonization and PNMs...is it for you?

Yesterday I spent some time describing generally how the colonization process works. There are quite a few campuses across the US that have sororities colonizing on them this fall. So how do you know as a PNM is colonizing a sorority is right for you? Let’s look at colonization from a PNM’s view-point.

First of all, when a sorority colonizes it actually builds an entire sorority…what I mean is that there will be all 4 classes of girls represented, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Let’s talk about the upper classmen first, specifically juniors and seniors. Colonization is an idea for those upper classmen women on campus who wanted to join a sorority but for a number of reasons they didn’t. The reasons range from as freshmen they were intimidated by the process (finding recs for each house, LORS), finances (sorority life can be expensive especially for a girl who is paying her own way), or they just didn’t see how sorority life would fit with their college schedule. Many of the young women I have talked to who have gone through the colonization process as juniors and seniors told me they felt that something was “missing” in their college experience and after colonizing their sorority that void was filled. It’s easy to say “why do this when you only have one or two years of sorority life on campus?” The answer is easy..”Because it’s a sisterhood for a lifetime..not just the years you are in college.” A friend who was a senior and colonized on her campus is now working in her sorority’s national office. It is a misconception that these women will be the “leaders” of the new sorority. While age, maturity and life experiences will certainly give them an edge over the younger girls, colonization is a “it takes a village” sort of experience.

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Sororities and Colonization...a tutorial

I was part of an interesting discussion yesterday….several parents were debating whether sorority and fraternity membership was on the upswing. This conversation came in light of a recent article stating that The University of Alabama had the surpassed the The University of Illinois as the largest greek population in the US.

Here is a link to the blog article for those that are interested, NEW #1, ALABAMA TAKES OVER AS NATION?S LARGEST GREEK COMMUNITY » Phired Up Recruitment Blog.

The subject of colonization came up. Colonization is near and dear to my heart these days since my sorority, Alpha Phi, was just approved (and accepted) to colonize at LSU for the Fall of 2013. In the past 4 years Alpha Phi has colonized on the campuses of Kentucky, FSU, Clemson and Alabama. I am excited to seeing their growing presence on campuses across the US.

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A Joint Information Session will then follow on August 22nd. Usually during the marketing phase sign ups are held to attend this session. In some cases sign ups are not required and PNm’s just choose to attend. In Alabama’s case there were two separate info sessions and a PNM could simply choose which one to attend. During the info session information will be shared about how the colonization process works, how much membership in each sorority costs, housing and meal plans…lot and lots of info!!

There are 2 one hour parties planned on this day as well. Usually during this time a series of “interviews” takes place, sometimes concurrently with the parties. In the case of Delta Gamma at Alabama PNMs were asked to sign up for a particular time slot on one of 4 days. The interviews lasted approximately 15 minutes. Think of these interviews as a mini recruitment conversation of sorts. The PNM will be asked the same type of questions that she would be asked during recruitment….why are you going through colonization, what can you bring to this sorority…..tell us about yourself ect.

After the interview and party process then the PNM’s are asked to asked to rank their personal choices on September 7th. Bid matching will occur and a Bid List will be constructed with Bids being issued on September 9th. Bid Day activities will be planned for PNMs for both houses…jerseys given out as they are welcomed into their new sisiterhoods.

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