Sophomore Recruitment at UT-Austin

[33girl]

Can someone link to the explanation of the difference between recommendations and reference letters? (I'm pretty sure I didn't get that right)

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Can someone link to the explanation of the difference between recommendations and reference letters? (I'm pretty sure I didn't get that right)

The interpretation of those terms may depend on the recruitment "culture" or customs, for lack of a better word, of the campus or region in question. (LINK to full article)

Recommendation, and Letters of Support

This may be one of the most confusing parts of recruitment—trying to tell the difference between reference forms, letters of recommendation (recs), and letters of support. At some schools, the terms “reference forms” and “recs” are interchangeable and considered to be the same thing, with letters of support being personal letters written by sorority alumnae on behalf of a potential new member. Elsewhere, these terms stand for three separate types of information or may not all be used when discussing recruitment.

Reference forms are just that—forms provided by a sorority for their alumnae members to fill out on behalf of potential new members. These forms are unique to each sorority, but basically encapsulate the PNM’s resume into a standardized one-page document. There’s also space on the form for the alumna to indicate whether she knows the PNM or her family, and whether the alumna feels that this PMN will uphold the standards and responsibilities associated with membership in her sorority. Most NPC sororities require this form to be filed for any PNM before issuing a membership bid for that PNM; however, if the sorority wishes to issue a bid and does not have a reference form on file, an alumna advisor is usually available to fill out this form. In other words, if a sorority really wants a particular PNM, they will make sure they have everything they need to offer her an invitation to join.

Letters of recommendation are more confusing. In some places, letters of recommendation (or recs) are synonymous with reference forms (also sometimes called recs). In other places, these letters are just that—personal letters written on stationery by alumnae recommending a PMN whom they know personally for membership into the sorority. Letters of support are the same as personal letters of recommendation. The term is used predominantly in Texas to differentiate them from reference forms (which are often called recs).

Clear as mud? The most important thing to remember about these terms is that you only need to know how YOUR school, YOUR collegiate Panhellenic Board, and YOUR campus sororities define these terms, and which of these they require for registration and/or suggest for the greatest success during Recruitment Week. It is also important to know whether your alumnae Panhellenic association provides reference forms, letters of recommendation/support, or both, depending on what your collegiate Panhellenic council advises. Most collegiate Panhellenic websites and many local alumnae Panhellenic associations have an entire section devoted to recruitment, and this information is usually available there; if not, contact the collegiate Panhellenic council and ask them to clarify what will need to be submitted on your behalf.

Most collegiate Panhellenic councils do not require reference forms/recs from sorority alumnae in order to register for recruitment. However, at many schools (particularly throughout the South) there are so many girls going through recruitment that in order to whittle down the invitation lists, some sororities must automatically drop any PNM without reference forms/recs. It can be nearly impossible to receive invitations to recruitment beyond the first round of open houses without additional information submitted by an alumna on your behalf, so getting references/recs are crucial to success at many schools.