Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[BlueCarnation]

Originally Posted by silver_blue

I agree, and I would encourage high school ladies lurking around GOMI to go somewhere other than IU if sorority membership is crucial for their college experience (nothing wrong with that, that's how I felt and still feel, hence why I transferred).

However, I don't think that IU gets a free pass on never changing their stupid bed quota system. First of all, I don't think a lot of potential freshmen know just how competitive it is or they are typical 18 year olds who know that THEY can get into a sorority. Unfortunately the numbers aren't on their side.

Sort of beating a dead horse in this thread at this point, but the only way things will ever change is if the IU administration makes panehl change things, and I just don't see that happening.

Agreed. It's interesting...the administration here is trying to force some changes to recruitment that we don't think we're going to want. Maybe we can convince them to go down and work with IU instead?

[shadokat]

Let's just all admit one thing. The most important reason everyone is going to or has gone to college was to get an education. If IU offers an amazing education at a great rate for in-state students, be thankful for THAT! If sorority membership defines where you want to go to college, and not the education that you're receiving, or even what you can afford to spend, then you need to seriously re-evaluate some things.

Yes, Delta Phi Epsilon is colonizing right now. I hope that women who go through this process really want to be a part of a new sorority experience, and are not going through because it's a fall back for the disappointment of not getting a bid during recruitment. Remember that sorority letters aren't just a status symbol, but values and traditions that help us define the way we want to live life. If you are interested in Delta Phi Epsilon, see their facebook page for the entire schedule.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by WhiteRose1912

They're cutting girls they invited to pref. They DO want these girls, they just don't want to lose the reputation of exclusivity.

This is what it boils down to for me.

No chapter should be required to take girls they don't want. I don't think anyone here is advocating that.

But it is flat out wrong and rude to allow women to complete the entire process and even have a FULL schedule for pref and end up with NOTHING. It's WRONG. It's rude. It's completely contrary to the most basic of human kindness such as the Golden Rule which I'm sure is stated in some form or another in the values we all espouse to hold.

If chapters don't want those women, then drop them beforehand. I have no problem with that. If a woman is released completely before preference, it is sad and unfortunate, but it is part of the selection process. But there is NO WAY women should play by the rules and do everything asked of them and then get nothing after attending pref and listing all the groups on their cards.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by shadokat

Let's just all admit one thing. The most important reason everyone is going to or has gone to college was to get an education. If IU offers an amazing education at a great rate for in-state students, be thankful for THAT! If sorority membership defines where you want to go to college, and not the education that you're receiving, or even what you can afford to spend, then you need to seriously re-evaluate some things.

Yes and no. Education is about more than just the classes. Frankly, I learned more about being a well-rounded person in my sorority and other activities than I did in the classroom. My degree was a way to be qualified for what I wanted to do. But what made me a better person and a better professional was what I learned outside of the classroom.

I didn't have being in a sorority on my radar when I went to college, but I can see for many people why it would weigh heavily into the equation.

Desire for a family away from home.
Desire for a home away from home.
To continue a family tradition of being Greek.
Because friends are Greek.
Looking for sisters that you don't have naturally.

I can see why some women would factor this in heavily to their decision and I don't think it it wrong. College is about way more than just classes and getting a degree. The people best prepared for life after college IMHO are those who benefit from all aspects of college and not just focus on the degree.

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by ZTAIUalum

I am sorry, but Silver Blue...you had a BAD experience, it is QUITE obvious. But you transferred, you need to let it go. Every system is competitive...I have friends who rushed at Bama, Purdue etc, and they are all tough and leave MANY with no fate. It needs to be improved no doubt, but to say that without Greek you are nothing is so untrue. I had so many friends who went to all our parties, and are living great lives, happy with families, successful careers etc, who weren't Greek. I get you had a bad time, but to say don't go to IU if you want Greek?? That is just a bad idea.

Unfortunately, this is life, this is the world. You win some you lose some. You get a great job, you lose a job, you get a promotion, you get overlooked. This is all life. LET IT GO...you obviously transferred for a reason, Greek cannot be the only reason. I am so sorry for those that didn't get in who wanted to, I was on pins and needles for friends going through this year.

I wonder, did you accept all your bids?? What house did you get into eventually at this "transfer" school.

Many girls are great girls, in a sorority or not, my best friend didn't get in her freshman year. So you know what I did...I invited her to everything! She knew everyone and got in sophomore year. Today she is still like a sister to me...

But the way you talk you have unresolved issues that are not going to be resolved by you taking it out on this thread!

And you had a charmed experience and therefore cannot understand what it's like to be in my shoes. It should be obvious based on my username that I am a Pi Beta Phi, but I'm not sure how that matters to the topics discussed on this thread.

I would absolutely say don't go to IU if you want to go greek. Bully for you that you had a successful recruitment and ended up in a highly sought after house. But how sad for you that you lack the empathy and reading comprehension to grasp that IU's recruitment is UNIQUE. I'm sure your friends at Bama and Purdue did have competitive recruitments, nobody disputes that. Do you even understand that IU's bed quota system is NOT the norm? Can you explain how traditional quota works? I can, I served as Vice President of Recruitment.

How nice that you were able to get ONE girl in that you knew as a sophomore. At any other school, a girl who gets into a chapter as a sophomore at IU would have gotten into one as a freshmen at any other school.

I have "unresolved issues" because it breaks my heart to see this happen to PNMs year after year after year, because I was once in their shoes. YOU have no idea what it's like to be on the losing end of IU hunger games recruitment.

Sit in your ivory IU sorority tower all you want and claim it's just as competitive at other schools, but while you're up there you might want to take a look at placement statistics at every other school.

It's cute that you tell people "win some lose some" and to "let it go" while you get to prance around in your letters at IU. Again, empathy. You don't know me, but I LOVED IU, but I couldn't stay at a school that had dealt me nothing but heartbreak. Every girl I knew as a freshmen joined a sorority and being in other clubs and groups couldn't replace that.

[TennisMom]

I would like to publicly thank silver_blue for her posts on this topic. She has walked in the shoes of my daughter (an IU sophomore twice disappointed) and can also speak to a much more positive recruitment experience. I do not read her posts as "not being able to let go" but rather as someone who would like to spare others unnecessary hurt and disappointment. And, ZTAIUalum, I believe it was your post which started the personal attack.

One final note, there are many, many sorority sisters and hurting moms on this forum who have helped me to process through the sadness and disappointment I feel for my daughter by recognizing the flaws in the IU recruitment process. Thank you!!!

[Titchou]

OK, folks, let's not get this one shut down. Everyone play nice. Let's be Panhellenic.

[pinkmama]

Some girls are appear to look the part and on papar are the total package but then they get to rush and are quiet or can't get into good conversations that intrigue chapter members. It happens quite a lot. Some women just don't have that gift to talk random conversations. I didn't enjoy talking to pnms who just asked the basic questions of philanthropy, major, sisterhood events etc. one thing I alwaYs asked every pnm what to tell me th most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you or a family member.

Some of these girls who who bidless just didn't "girl flirt" well. They may get invites back for further look at them or just how the numbers played out.

And the cold dorm- best sleep I ever had for three years!!! We only had beds in cold dorm and warm dorm. Windows open all year dark quiet. Lots of blankets. My sisters and I still talk about that when we meet as a huge group at IU every three years.

[pinkmama]

Ignore my spelling error. Ugh doing it on phone sitting in car line

[als463]

Originally Posted by TennisMom

I would like to publicly thank silver_blue for her posts on this topic. She has walked in the shoes of my daughter (an IU sophomore twice disappointed) and can also speak to a much more positive recruitment experience. I do not read her posts as "not being able to let go" but rather as someone who would like to spare others unnecessary hurt and disappointment. And, ZTAIUalum, I believe it was your post which started the personal attack.

One final note, there are many, many sorority sisters and hurting moms on this forum who have helped me to process through the sadness and disappointment I feel for my daughter by recognizing the flaws in the IU recruitment process. Thank you!!!

I agree with ZTAIUalum and no, it was not her post that started the personal attacks. It was the mother of someone coming on here and claiming that every single girl in an IU sorority must be rich, beautiful, and have ice-water running through her veins (looking to hurt PNMs and not living by her creed) that started the personal attacks. The IU system is not the best. I agree with you and the other moms on here. I say this as someone who, like TrideltaSallie, feels like her sorority membership has enhanced her life to a degree that simply getting an education never could but, really? Are we really going to bash the ladies who got bids or handed out bids because someone was upset. I am all for Greek life but, if a person came to my office wanting a job and I saw she was Greek at random-bumblescum-U and I saw she transferred from IU, even if IU had the same program (because, I would ask why she transferred), I wouldn't hire her. At the end of the day, the name on my degree is what has helped open doors---though I am a proud member of my sorority. So, please just STOP!

[Xidelt]

Quit being so dramatic and playing the blame game.

[blueiumom]

I have a new question related to IU's recruitment this year, and I thought maybe a change of focus might be in order. I feel like panhel's decision to deal with the weather issues by eliminating one round of rush parties - thus going 21 to 12 to 3 - really added to the brutality of IU's already emotionally-charged recruitment process. Since the second weekend of rush was already taking place on a 3-day weekend due to the MLK holiday, I thought it was the perfect opportunity simply to use that Monday to adjust the schedule and still have the normal round of parties. Instead, the girls had their first invitational /12 party on Saturday, preference round/3 party on Sunday, and nothing on Monday. Bids were delivered (or not) on Tuesday. Does anyone know why panhel didn't or couldn't take advantage of that Monday? Just curious.

[als463]

Originally Posted by Xidelt

Quit being so dramatic and playing the blame game.

Who are you talking to? Was that directed at me? You really need to get over yourself. I'm not being dramatic. Women who are crying that the system is unfair and that MY SISTERS (and the sisters of every other organization on that campus) are HORRIBLE women. You need to quit being so dramatic and playing the blame game. Now, please go elsewhere with your need to always have something to say to me. It's cute but, really annoying.

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by blueiumom

I have a new question related to IU's recruitment this year, and I thought maybe a change of focus might be in order. I feel like panhel's decision to deal with the weather issues by eliminating one round of rush parties - thus going 21 to 12 to 3 - really added to the brutality of IU's already emotionally-charged recruitment process. Since the second weekend of rush was already taking place on a 3-day weekend due to the MLK holiday, I thought it was the perfect opportunity simply to use that Monday to adjust the schedule and still have the normal round of parties. Instead, the girls had their first invitational /12 party on Saturday, preference round/3 party on Sunday, and nothing on Monday. Bids were delivered (or not) on Tuesday. Does anyone know why panhel didn't or couldn't take advantage of that Monday? Just curious.

Please see post #119.

Having 4 rounds wouldn't have changed the final number of women getting bids. It might have shaken up who got bids a bit, but I don't think the number of rounds would have changed the final outcome of many women going bidless.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by als463

I am all for Greek life but, if a person came to my office wanting a job and I saw she was Greek at random-bumblescum-U and I saw she transferred from IU, even if IU had the same program (because, I would ask why she transferred), I wouldn't hire her. At the end of the day, the name on my degree is what has helped open doors---though I am a proud member of my sorority. So, please just STOP!

Maybe I'm misinterpreting what you're trying to say here, and I don't want to derail this thread, but why would you not hire someone because they transferred from IU?