|
Here we are. I wrote this for my university's recruitment parents Facebook page. You read that right - one of the moms set up a Facebook page for parents of the school's PNMs. It proved very, very helpful!
Some of the moms are sorority alumnae and they helped answer questions from the non-sorority alumnae moms, but very very few were familiar with the University of Alabama's sorority recruitment. A few of us were/are, so we answer questions as best we can.
This is tailored for the University of Alabama, but every school has something similar. Feel free to adapt it for your purpose.
"What happens if your daughter is released from sorority recruitment? No invitations...just a phone call from her counselor saying, 'I'm sorry, but you have been released by all sororities from Panhellenic recruitment.'
First - breathe.
Second - cry if you like. Uncontrollably, beating your fists on the wall. Go ahead and let it out.
Third - go outside and take a deep breath. Look around.
THERE IS LIFE AFTER SORORITY RECRUITMENT. I promise!
Remember that while we moms will be a wreck for weeks, daughters will bounce back pretty quickly - despite their protests that they want to come home NOW. They need lots of sympathy, a shoulder to cry on and...encouragement that yes, they'll still love college and will do well and WILL STILL have lots of friends.
This weekend, all the rest of the kids are moving in - including the boys - and that alone is pretty exciting, especially when you go to a meal and the place has filled up!
While it seems like the entire campus has pledged and you haven't, less than 1/3 - 30% - are members of Greek societies. When everyone has moved in, she'll see that she is part of a majority.
If her roommate pledges, she will need to make some friends beyond the roommate. When I wanted company in the dorm, I'd leave my door open to passersby. Encourage her to do the same, AND stop to chat with women whose door is open to visitors.
In a few days, there will be an event called "Get on Board Day." All the clubs and organizations at the university will have tables set up in a central place to recruit new members. There is something for just about any interest - politics, sports, sports fans, art, drama - there's something for everybody. It's also a great way to try something new - water skiing? Snow skiing? Video games? Skydiving?
Encourage her to go and explore. Joining a group is another way to make new friends.
If she still feels that she belongs in a sorority, there will be another opportunity. I will say that if her grades are under a 3.0, it's going to be very difficult to pledge unless she has close friends inside the chapter or is extremely - extremely - outstanding in some other area. But if they are 3.0 or above, there is something called Continuous Open Bidding after formal recruitment is done.
In a week or so, UA Panhellenic will post notices that COB is now open. She can go to the UA Panhellenic office to sign up. Only a few sororities participate, and there are no formal parties. She might get a phone call inviting her to come to lunch, or come over to the house and watch a movie, or meet some sisters for coffee. There is no bid Bid Day. After a few of these meetings, she may get a call or a visit inviting her to pledge.
This also happens in January, because sororities lose members due to graduation, transfers, and, sometimes, resignations. Or she could go through formal recruitment next year. LOTS of sophomores and even a few juniors do this.
But by then, she may have made lots of friends doing her other activities and decide she has no need for a sorority!
So - being released from sorority recruitment is NOT the end of the world. It's just another new beginning!"
|
Hybrid Mode
