"I'm rushing 'for' a certain chapter"

[BlueBayou]

I have to say - the Panhellenic where my daughter is going through deals with references very well. And by all accounts it is not a competitive Greek system. I do not understand why SEC schools would not say something similar:

"A potential new member recommendation form, also known as a rec, reference or RIF, is a form that a sorority alumna completes for a potential new member introducing her to a chapter.

Recs do not guarantee that you will receive a bid from a chapter. Panhellenic does not have rec forms available and cannot obtain them for potential new members. An alumna may find a rec form in her respective sorority’s magazine, or on the national organization’s website. She can also call the headquarters of her sorority to obtain the form.

Recs are not mandatory for every sorority. However, potential new members are encouraged to secure a rec for each of the chapters participating in recruitment. Recs for each sorority should be sent directly to the chapter, unless otherwise specified on the recommendation form.

All rec letters/forms can be sent to the address below. Please specify to which sorority it should to be delivered."

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by BlueBayou

I have to say - the Panhellenic where my daughter is going through deals with references very well. And by all accounts it is not a competitive Greek system. I do not understand why SEC schools would not say something similar:

"A potential new member recommendation form, also known as a rec, reference or RIF, is a form that a sorority alumna completes for a potential new member introducing her to a chapter.

Recs do not guarantee that you will receive a bid from a chapter. Panhellenic does not have rec forms available and cannot obtain them for potential new members. An alumna may find a rec form in her respective sorority’s magazine, or on the national organization’s website. She can also call the headquarters of her sorority to obtain the form.

Recs are not mandatory for every sorority. However, potential new members are encouraged to secure a rec for each of the chapters participating in recruitment. Recs for each sorority should be sent directly to the chapter, unless otherwise specified on the recommendation form.

All rec letters/forms can be sent to the address below. Please specify to which sorority it should to be delivered."

Obviously you haven't checked out any SEC schools. Alabama's Greek Chic is excellent on this topic and all things Alabama recruitment. Please see page 24. http://www.uapanhellenic.com/greek-c...ruitment-guide

[BlueBayou]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Obviously you haven't checked out any SEC schools. [/url]

Sorry - I didn't mean to offend. I was talking about some of the conversation earlier on this thread, like here http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...=134607&page=7

And my niece's experience when she went through at USC several years ago, prior to deferred recruitment. So my knowledge was dated. But they are still downplaying references.
​
From: https://www.uscpanhellenic.com/2020-spring-recruitment
Do you need them?

No! They aren’t necessary, and not having them isn’t a problem. They are intended just a way for chapters to get to know you a little better before they meet you!

​So I did look at one SEC school.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by BlueBayou

Sorry - I didn't mean to offend. I was talking about some of the conversation earlier on this thread, like here http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...=134607&page=7

And my niece's experience when she went through at USC several years ago, prior to deferred recruitment. So my knowledge was dated. But they are still downplaying references.
​
From: https://www.uscpanhellenic.com/2020-spring-recruitment
Do you need them?

No! They aren’t necessary, and not having them isn’t a problem. They are intended just a way for chapters to get to know you a little better before they meet you!

​So I did look at one SEC school.

Hmmmm...this link is to the University of Southern California (USC) not the University of South Carolina (also USC)....

[SWTXBelle]

Fortunately, (FOR HER), she did get a bid to A D Pi but THAT IN NO WAY MEANS YOU, PRECIOUS PNM OR MOM OF A PNM, SHOULD COUNT ON NOT NEEDING RECS!

[BlueBayou]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Hmmmm...this link is to Southern California University(USC) not the University of South Carolina (also USC)....

Yikes. Sorry about that. https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and...ylifeuofsc.pdf

Here is South Carolina- I don’t see any mention of references. Eight or so years ago the brochure (printed) I saw at my in-laws house specifically said references were not needed - I was SHOCKED. I was reading it right before my niece was heading off to USC.... with only one reference. Once home, I wrote one for my sorority and secured two more sororities for her. Less than a month before recruitment.

You can guess how her recruitment went. Heavy cuts. Did not pledge. Later her freshman year she pledged COB and had a wonderful Greek experience. The girls were super sweet when we went to graduation.

But I was left disturbed by the communication coming from The Panhellenic to the PNM. I think her formal recruitment would have gone differently if her family had any idea about securing references.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by BlueBayou

Yikes. Sorry about that. https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and...ylifeuofsc.pdf

Here is South Carolina- I don’t see any mention of references.

That booklet isn’t from Panhellenic- it’s from U of South Carolina Greek life. I hope to goodness that Panhellenic (either the school or the nearby alumnae Panhellenic chapter) puts out one dealing with NPC rush only, because while I applaud their effort to be inclusive and show ALL the Greek organizations, it is also super confusing and not nearly enough specific information for ANY of the councils.

I feel like that was put together by someone who says “we don’t see color at all!” Which of course is a ridiculous and harmful thing to say.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by BlueBayou

Yikes. Sorry about that. https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and...ylifeuofsc.pdf

Here is South Carolina- I don’t see any mention of references. Eight or so years ago the brochure (printed) I saw at my in-laws house specifically said references were not needed - I was SHOCKED. I was reading it right before my niece was heading off to USC.... with only one reference. Once home, I wrote one for my sorority and secured two more sororities for her. Less than a month before recruitment.

You can guess how her recruitment went. Heavy cuts. Did not pledge. Later her freshman year she pledged COB and had a wonderful Greek experience. The girls were super sweet when we went to graduation.

But I was left disturbed by the communication coming from The Panhellenic to the PNM. I think her formal recruitment would have gone differently if her family had any idea about securing references.

Several things I see: the booklet is for ALL Greek councils at Carolina. I can see why they wouldn't put anything there about recs. There is a very cool online tutorial for the women. Since we can't see that because we can't sign up for recruitment, I bet something about recs is covered there. $5 on that one,BB?

[BlueBayou]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Several things I see: the booklet is for ALL Greek councils at Carolina. I can see why they wouldn't put anything there about recs. There is a very cool online tutorial for the women. Since we can't see that because we can't sign up for recruitment, I bet something about recs is covered there. $5 on that one,BB?

I promise you. About 8 years ago, I saw the glossy Panhellenic brochure in my brother-in-law and sister-in-laws home during a summer trip to Tennessee. NPC sororities only.

My niece told me she was going through recruitment. I asked her what references she had, and she only had one from her best friend's mom. Then she and her mom said that you do not need references at South Carolina and pulled the brochure out to show me. It plainly stated that you did not need references to go through recruitment at USC.

This then became a source of a marital argument between my husband and me. I kept whispering to him that they were wrong, that USC was very competitive and references were most likely a must. He said "they wouldn't write that in the pamphlet if it wasn't true." Oh and "things have changed since the 80s when you were in a sorority." And USC is different from the school you went to. Me: "Yeah, USC is COMPETITIVE, my school was not!"

But I asked for my niece's resume - and once we flew home I wrote a reference for my sorority and secured a KKG and I believe a XO. These would have come in about a week or two before recruitment. Way, way late.

Recruitment was brutal - from talking with my non-greek SIL - I don't know if she dropped out after heavy cuts or if she was actually released. My niece is a super outgoing, popular kid with great grades in HS. (She was in the honors program at USC and only made 1 B her entire college career - so grades were not a factor). But she learned most PNM - had tons of references.

My husband then told me "What the hell kind of system tells you one thing and then expects another?"

I know right after formal recruitment - the girls from the chapter she ended up pledging reached out to her and she went through an informal process to join.

[BlueBayou]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Several things I see: the booklet is for ALL Greek councils at Carolina. I can see why they wouldn't put anything there about recs. There is a very cool online tutorial for the women. Since we can't see that because we can't sign up for recruitment, I bet something about recs is covered there. $5 on that one,BB?

I FINALLY found their current wording:
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are not required but if submitted, are strongly encouraged to only be submitted electronically. If you have a coach, teacher, counselor, or mentor interested in writing you a letter of recommendation, they can make their recommendation electronically through the USC Sorority Recruitment Letter of Recommendation form by Aug. 4. The letter of recommendation form will open on May 1 and close on Aug. 4.

https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and...ecruitment.php

It was under the legacy notification and letter of recommendation form section.