A Penn State Disney Recruitment!

[Nittanyville]

I do appreciate everyone's advice and comments. I really like the story about the girl who wore her letters a lot and showed what her sorority truly was. And I agree with some of you guys who said I shouldn't of been rude. But I don't really prefer a lecture because what's done is done.

I am still open-minded but I'm not as excited about the process as I was since I got my list back for second rounds. The bad thing for me was that literally every chapter I liked, including my favorites and my maybes, all didn't ask me back. It was rough not to even have that "at least one I like" to hold on to.

Aside from that, pref night is tonight. Hope it goes well! I'll write up second rounds when I get back hopefully!

[IndianaSigKap]

Nittanyville, it's totally ok to be a little disappointed. Most of us have been disappointed at one time or another throughout our lives. It's what you do with the disappointment that defines your character. If you go to the chapters with an open mind and still don't feel a connection to even one of them, then at least you gave it your best shot. If you go in with an open mind and feel like you might be able to grow with one of your options, then that's great too. All you can do is to try. Best wishes to you this evening! I hope that you're able to go in with an open mind and an open heart.

[Nittanyville]

Originally Posted by IndianaSigKap

Nittanyville, it's totally ok to be a little disappointed. Most of us have been disappointed at one time or another throughout our lives. It's what you do with the disappointment that defines your character. If you go to the chapters with an open mind and still don't feel a connection to even one of them, then at least you gave it your best shot. If you go in with an open mind and feel like you might be able to grow with one of your options, then that's great too. All you can do is to try. Best wishes to you this evening! I hope that you're able to go in with an open mind and an open heart.

I was definitely more open minded last rounds and I hope to be the same tonight!! Thank you!!!

[ConfettiCupcake]

Have fun, Nittany! Don't stress out so much about it and just sort of let it happen.

[Nittanyville]

Hey guys!

Ok, second rounds! 40 minute parties for the sisterhood round. Maximum you could get back was 8. These parties were spread across two days.

Lilo & Stitch - I liked this one a lot better! Their sisterhood video was very cute. However, I was still pretty upset about getting dropped and I kept tearing up during the party.

Toy Story - I had a much much better time here today! The second girl I talked to was awesome! The conversation flowed easily and she really spoke a lot about her sisterhood and she seemed really genuine.

Hercules - I got another girl that rushed me but I'm not sure if she remembered. She was nice, but she was really pushing sorority life. It felt like I was being fed a pitch by a sales(wo)man instead of having a conversation.

Enchanted - Don't worry guys, I was nice this time. I got the same girl as last time but she didn't remember me. I was triple rushed and the seating arrangement was very physically uncomfortable. In the beginning I asked a few questions and the sister took off. Eventually she started naturally talking with the other two girls because they were responding to each other more. I really don't want to be in this one.

Aladdin - I actually knew the girl that rushed me but she didn't remember me I guess. Conversation started off really average but it got better as the went on. Someone almost saw me that I knew but she didn't, which I think is good. I wouldn't mind this chapter.

My bottom two were:
1. Hercules
2. Enchanted

Pref night you can get back a maximum of 3.

I just got my list back and I have a break before my first party (which is why I'm typing this now haha).

I got back:
Hercules
Enchanted
Toy Story

I wasn't surprised, but I was really relieved to get Toy Story. Wish me luck! I'm so exhausted haha.

- Nittanyville

[MTSUGURL]

I understand your disappointment. It sounds like you've pulled yourself together and have been able to reconsider things. I hope you end up somewhere that you end up loving! Hugs and cheers!

[nittanyalum]

Fingers crossed for a good Pref night, nittany. I have a good feeling about Toy Story!

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by als463

I can appreciate what you are saying about taking pride in your sorority. I agree with 100% on this but, it's as if you are insinuating that these young women in these "weak" chapters do not already do some of this stuff. I know that some of these "weak" chapters at Penn State-University Park, have girls just like your sister that you talked about. I know this for a fact. You have to also remember that your frame of reference is different from what may be going on at other schools. A branch campus sorority recruitment is vastly different to what goes on at University Park. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Thankfully, there aren't any websites that "rank" the tiers at branch campuses of PSU. Girls really should take pride in their organization but, you don't know what these chapters are doing for PR. You can't really compare the two.

Whether we like it or not, there will always be "tier" talk--which is stupid. Girls just have to remember that what may be TOP on their campus is actually BOTTOM on another campus, even nearby. Sorority reputation changes from campus to campus and region to region. Certain chapters that are top at PSU struggle or have struggled at both my graduate school alma maters. One of the "bottom" chapters at PSU is actually the "top" chapter at the school I am attending now. You can't let tier talk get to you because, at the end of the day, if you look like a hot mess walking around in your letters and you don't take pride in your appearance--people are going to judge you (and unfortunately) and your organization.

There are definitely places where people ranked our sorority chapters, so I'm not sure what you mean in that regard.

You're talking to me as though I've never been on GC, haven't witnessed a larger recruitment, and can't understand that different chapters of different sororities are.. different. I understand all of this.

My point was more so that many weak recruiting chapters go though recruitment, it ends, and the thought of anything having to do with recruitment or befriending non-members goes straight out the window. And this also happens with stronger chapters. IMO, it shouldn't.

My one sister didn't completely turn things around for my chapter all by herself, but it was a start. Perceptions of chapters can obviously change. It's sometimes a struggle, but you need the attitudes of members to align and people have to want to work for it. I'm not saying that the chapters that are weak are filled with apathetic members who don't care about their sorority. Sorry if that's how you interpreted it.

[TiareNoire]

Good luck, Nittanyville! I hope it will end up great for you!

[als463]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

There are definitely places where people ranked our sorority chapters, so I'm not sure what you mean in that regard.

You're talking to me as though I've never been on GC, haven't witnessed a larger recruitment, and can't understand that different chapters of different sororities are.. different. I understand all of this.

My point was more so that many weak recruiting chapters go though recruitment, it ends, and the thought of anything having to do with recruitment or befriending non-members goes straight out the window. And this also happens with stronger chapters. IMO, it shouldn't.

My one sister didn't completely turn things around for my chapter all by herself, but it was a start. Perceptions of chapters can obviously change. It's sometimes a struggle, but you need the attitudes of members to align and people have to want to work for it. I'm not saying that the chapters that are weak are filled with apathetic members who don't care about their sorority. Sorry if that's how you interpreted it.

No, actually I wasn't talking to you like that. I was explaining that your one sister wearing letters in a chapter of 10 people on a branch campus to help your PR is much different than how things go at University Park. I'm not sure where you are all ranked but, I know on various sites where they take pride in ranking (which is stupid to do), University Park gets ranked and branch campuses do not. I won't mention the name of the site but, I'm sure you understand which one I mean. My point wasn't that you didn't understand that different chapters of different sororities are different. My point was that changing a chapter's reputation at a branch campus with 2-3 sororities where chapters are much smaller is MUCH DIFFERENT than changing the reputation of a chapter at University Park where there are something like 19-20 chapters. It's apples and oranges. Your idea was like me saying, "Well, I know how Penn State recruitment goes and how things change there so, I definitely know how things work in all Big Ten recruitments or schools in the SEC." That was my point.

I will share that I did interpret your statement as thinking members in weak recruiting chapters were apathetic. I'm not mad, though. I know you wouldn't intentionally imply something like that.

[ladybug12]

Am hoping for a positive outcome for Nittanyville.
But, I have to go back to her first post, when she says that she did not see herself as a "typical sorority girl". But, she was focusing on groups that had typical sorority girls because they were top tier. Her words, not mine.
Reality check time. Frequently PNMs look to pledge a group that they would like to become, not who they are.

[*winter*]

I'm so excited about this story! I'm glad you decide To see it through to the end...don't allow tier talk to deny you of the amazing experience you can have as a Greek at University Park! It will be the time of your life...the chapters aren't huge, but they aren't small either. You will certainly find girls there who are like you! Good luck and hopefully...enjoy!!!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by ladybug12

Frequently PNMs look to pledge a group that they would like to become, not who they are.

I firmly believe that a lot of the PNMs who are disappointed become so because they want to reinvent themselves when they go to college, not find sisters who are the same as they.

But I do hope that Nittanyview finds her home, and that she's happy!

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by als463

No, actually I wasn't talking to you like that. I was explaining that your one sister wearing letters in a chapter of 10 people on a branch campus to help your PR is much different than how things go at University Park. I'm not sure where you are all ranked but, I know on various sites where they take pride in ranking (which is stupid to do), University Park gets ranked and branch campuses do not. I won't mention the name of the site but, I'm sure you understand which one I mean. My point wasn't that you didn't understand that different chapters of different sororities are different. My point was that changing a chapter's reputation at a branch campus with 2-3 sororities where chapters are much smaller is MUCH DIFFERENT than changing the reputation of a chapter at University Park where there are something like 19-20 chapters. It's apples and oranges. Your idea was like me saying, "Well, I know how Penn State recruitment goes and how things change there so, I definitely know how things work in all Big Ten recruitments or schools in the SEC." That was my point.

Again, you're missing my point, but we'll leave it at that. I don't want to derail this thread.

[AOII Angel]

I'm worried about nittanyville. Are you an introvert, sweetie? You keep mentioning how your rushers don't remember you. I want to caution you not to discount the groups you have left. Formal recruitment doesn't allow all women to shine their best...on either side. It is a very artificial environment in which to make friends. People that aren't in your face bubbly and talkative don't always make the best impressions in the fast paced, high pressure world of recruitment. BUT, the truth is, those impressions don't lead to the long term friendships that people remember. Those relationships take time and need introspection and an environment not provided by recruitment. For some women, those relationships can't be fostered until they are in a laid back situation with no pressure.

Honestly, would you refuse to be friends with women in these groups if you met them in class one on one? Probably not. It's more the idea of them as a group compared to the other groups. So...stop comparing them to the other groups. Just think of them as normal everyday people. Do they have something that with time could benefit you? If the answer is yes, give them a chance and see if a little time out of the pressure of recruitment will change how these you and these women interact.