Yet to be Themed Re-recruitment Story

[1964Alum]

To repeat: If the NATIONAL sorority requires a recommendation in order to get a bid, that PNM MUST have a rec regardless of the individual campus culture.

Many chapters with that national policy will cut a PNM right after the first round if she doesn't already have a rec with them in order to concentrate on those who do as well as not to string along the PNM in hopes that a rec might be forthcoming.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by 33girl

There are 3 ways a chapter can get recs: 1) rushee does legwork and secures them on her own 2) sorority alumna who knows the rushee (relative, mom's bff, whatever) sends them to the chapter without telling the rushee 3) chapter obtains recs for the rushees they are interested in on their own.

If a sorority's national policy is that all women pledged have recs, they get those recs somehow.

HOWEVER, if this is a campus where they do use recs, the chapter needs to really, really, really want the PNM who is putting through this!

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Here's the one reason I think getting recs would be a very good idea. Last year you were cut by most chapters. Having an alumna send in a rec this time might encourage a group to give you another look this year, because "once cut, always cut" is a valid concern, especially on a small campus where people know each other's business. Seriously, be completely open to all groups this time and value every invitation!

So much truth.

Originally Posted by BGKdLady

I believe, and this was WAY back in the day, we used to have a group of Alumni on hand before pref writing recs for every girl who did not have one that was invited to pref. Kind of a stupid way around the rule, but.... I would totally agree with everyone. Why wouldn't you at least try to get them?

I've been in that pool of alumnae. Should you get a bid, you will be known as "the PNM who didn't have anyone to write a rec for her". It is not a fun place to be.

OP, so many people would not have encouraged you to put some effort into recs if they didn't think they would help you. Not getting the recs even makes you look a little elitist.

With that said, I wish you a good experience in Recruitment.

[robinseggblue]

Originally Posted by 1964Alum

To repeat: If the NATIONAL sorority requires a recommendation in order to get a bid, that PNM MUST have a rec regardless of the individual campus culture.

Many chapters with that national policy will cut a PNM right after the first round if she doesn't already have a rec with them in order to concentrate on those who do as well as not to string along the PNM in hopes that a rec might be forthcoming.

It does still depend on campus culture though doesn't it? If it didn't, how would BGKdLady's post be true? At my campus...if you didn't have recs you'd be cut completely. Not so true at other campuses...

My bio sister went through recruitment at a lax campus without any recs and pledged a group that requires recs. I know because she told me this and did the same things you are doing of emphasizing it before my recruitment. Like I said I went to a much more competitive Greek school so I needed recs anyway. On her campus 99% of PNMs wouldn't have any recs. If the chapter didn't do the alum writing thing, they wouldn't have a pledge class.

I wish that national organizations were forthcoming about any rec requirements because it gets confusing for PNMs who don't have Greek family members to advise them.

[navane]

Here's the thing - last year, after being cut heavily, the OP reports that her insensitive Rho Chi told her, “Well, that’s what you get for going through recruitment without recs and legacies.”

Logically speaking, I don't think that Rho Chi would have said that unless recs were of some kind of importance on her campus. Right?

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by robinseggblue

It does still depend on campus culture though doesn't it? If it didn't, how would BGKdLady's post be true? At my campus...if you didn't have recs you'd be cut completely. Not so true at other campuses...

Christ Almighty.... how many times and in how many ways do we have to say this?

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. If the policy of a sorority states that a rec is required, it is required on ALL CAMPUSES, no matter what the "culture" might be.

Whether or not that rec is written in advance by an alumnae that knows you or by some poor woman frantically scribbling out recs for girls that she has never met in a back room, A REC WAS REQUIRED.

[33girl]

A rec was required for a bid to be given, not to invite the girl back to parties which is what I think robinseggblue meant.

The girls at the OP's school have no idea if recs were sent in for them without their knowledge. If the school is near larger flagship schools where recs are de rigueur and sorority alumnae are writing lots of them, I think it would be likely.

[1964Alum]

Originally Posted by 33girl

A rec was required for a bid to be given, not to invite the girl back to parties which is what I think robinseggblue meant.

The girls at the OP's school have no idea if recs were sent in for them without their knowledge. If the school is near larger flagship schools where recs are de rigueur and sorority alumnae are writing lots of them, I think it would be likely.

I can assure you that at some schools in some chapters a rec is required and received in hand before recruitment even starts in order to be invited back after round one. The "heavy cuts" after round one we read about here are not always about cuts for grades.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by 1964Alum

I can assure you that at some schools in some chapters a rec is required and received in hand before recruitment even starts in order to be invited back after round one. The "heavy cuts" after round one we read about here are not always about cuts for grades.

Yes. No one is doubting that. But there are campuses at the other end of the spectrum where if a chapter, even one with a "must have rec to be bid" policy, cut all the girls that didn't have recs at any time in the rush process, they would have zero girls to choose from.

There are sororities who have a "must have rec to be bid" policy. There are schools where very few rushees have recs before rush starts. Sometimes these two things overlap. How and when those chapters obtain recs is strictly their affair. The main difference of opinion in this thread is whether recs are needed at OP's school - she says they're not because laid back, and mostly everyone else says they are, because rerushing in the south.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by thetalady

Christ Almighty.... how many times and in how many ways do we have to say this?

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. If the policy of a sorority states that a rec is required, it is required on ALL CAMPUSES, no matter what the "culture" might be.

The campus culture mention reminded me -- I have been meaning to ask about some wording I saw on Belmont University's site:

Do I need letters of recommendation?

Though it is common practice across the country that for membership in Panhellenic Association (PA) or Interfraternity Council (IFC) organizations students are required or encouraged to seek out recommendation letters from current members in those groups, Belmont’s PA and IFC groups made the intentional decision to not support this practice in an effort to be inclusive so that all students have an equal opportunity to join. Though we allow our students to set their own high standards for membership (GPA requirements, service requirements, personal conduct requirements…etc.), it is the goal of Belmont that any student who wants to be a member of a fraternity or sorority has the opportunity to do so. Due to the personal nature of membership intake into a National Pan-Hellenic Council organization, recommendation letters may be requested for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. http://www.belmont.edu/organizations/greek/faq.html

Yet on 3 of the 4 Belmont chapters' websites (AGD, Theta, and Phi Mu) instructions/addresses for sending recs for PNMs are included.
Gotta wonder about that "campus culture" statement on the Belmont Greek Life site, as well as how much PA agreement or commitment there is regarding not supporting this "practice."

It seems like erring on the side of caution (obtaining recs in advance) might be a good idea.

[33girl]

That sounds like yet another chapter in the "jeans are ok for rush per the website (but if you wear them you get cut)" novel.

ETA: there are more than a few things on that Greek Life website that I really wonder if the people who they pertain to were actually consulted.

[TexanHootie]

My younger sister and a few other family members have gone through rush at schools were recs are rarely written, and sign up for recruitment ends literally HOURS before the first parties start. It isn't uncommon for my chapter at the school to have alumna on hand to go and greet a girl mid conversation just so they can get a feel and write that rec nationals requires if one isn't secured somehow beforehand.

[Happy Alum]

Originally Posted by TexanHootie

My younger sister and a few other family members have gone through rush at schools were recs are rarely written, and sign up for recruitment ends literally HOURS before the first parties start. It isn't uncommon for my chapter at the school to have alumna on hand to go and greet a girl mid conversation just so they can get a feel and write that rec nationals requires if one isn't secured somehow beforehand.

Bingo!

[BlueCarnation]

Originally Posted by TexanHootie

My younger sister and a few other family members have gone through rush at schools were recs are rarely written, and sign up for recruitment ends literally HOURS before the first parties start. It isn't uncommon for my chapter at the school to have alumna on hand to go and greet a girl mid conversation just so they can get a feel and write that rec nationals requires if one isn't secured somehow beforehand.

The alum comes out into the rush party and starts talking to the PNM? Really? I didn't know you could do that.

I've learned a lot on this thread. KC 96, really, please come back!

[TexanHootie]

Originally Posted by BlueCarnation

The alum comes out into the rush party and starts talking to the PNM? Really? I didn't know you could do that.

I've learned a lot on this thread. KC 96, really, please come back!

She doesn't talk per say, it's more of a stop to listen when handing out a cookie thing, and introducing herself type of thing! That way they can say they've met the girl.

[BlueCarnation]

Originally Posted by TexanHootie

She doesn't talk per say, it's more of a stop to listen when handing out a cookie thing, and introducing herself type of thing! That way they can say they've met the girl.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure we can't do that.

KC 96, come back!!!