Why are recs absolutely necessary at some schools, while not expected at others?

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Well my sorority chapter wouldn't have known what to do with one, generally speaking. If you've never seen one and don't know what it is, how could you know what the value of it is?

And why is it so wrong to THEORIZE that a rec could have a negative affect on a PNMs recruitment, or at least initially be looked at as something strange/off/weird? Regardless, I don't see how theorizing this = sticking your nose up at schools that rely heavily on recs.

But maybe I'm missing something?

I am not trying to offend you, and I feel certain you aren't trying to offend me. I think the difference may lie not only in how some schools value recs over others, but also in how one sorority values recommendations over another in membership selection. Every sorority has different criteria that they value over others. A recommendation doesn't guarantee someone a bid to a sorority, but it is something considered in the process and some organizations may place more weight on the rec than other sororities. I guess I am now understanding that for some sororities, a rec is just a rec, and for others, it carries varying degrees of weight in actual selection.

A PNM cannot stand on a rec alone, but it may help her secure a bid in concert with other factors where she is otherwise well-qualified. If there are 100 girls with similar grades and attributes, a rec will help them. If there are 100 girls with similar grades and attributes (including recs), then not having one will hurt them. However, if your particular organization places no value on recs (and given the above conversations they may be wise to do so!), it doesn't matter either way. But if your organization provides alumnae with a vehicle to recommend PNMs, the sorority members should be trained on how to process them, and how much weight, if any. should be given to them. This all treads into the territory of private membership selection though.

ETA: When I say "value," I mean actual valuation (e.g., predetermined weight) of a factor considered in the selection process, not that you don't value the opinions of your alumnae. For example, every chapter puts value (weight) into a minimum GPA.