"Forced" prefs?

[KSUViolet06]

Thank you!

[alexandra92]

We don't operate on NPC, we're an all local campus. Sorry, I should have prefaced with that.

[IUHoosiergirl88]

My school does the 'forced prefs' method of recruitment. No matter what round, you have to attend either all invites (if less than the maximum number that round) or the maximum number that round.

Thus, you can attend up to 14 parties during second round, up to 8 parties during third round, and up to 3 parties during pref.

[KSUViolet06]

Random, are there still schools doing 3 party prefs. Since I've been working with chapters (like 2009ish) I've seen a lot of their Panhellenics moving toward 2 party prefs.

The rationale for the switch is that when you have 3, there is usually one you like the best, another you kind of like, and a 3rd that you're not very interested in at all but are going because it's on your schedule and you're required to, not realizing that there's a very real chance you could get a bid to your #3 because you preffed them. So you get a bid to your 3rd choice and drop out.

Only preffing 2 eliminates that awkward 3rd choice issue.

I've found that there's a downside to it though. In many cases you have to go from 4 parties to 2 instead of 4 to 3. Choosing a top 2 and bottom 2 from 4 is not always easy.

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Random, are there still schools doing 3 party prefs. Since I've been working with chapters (like 2009ish) I've seen a lot of their Panhellenics moving toward 2 party prefs.

The rationale for the switch is that when you have 3, there is usually one you like the best, another you kind of like, and a 3rd that you're not very interested in at all but are going because it's on your schedule and you're required to, not realizing that there's a very real chance you could get a bid to your #3 because you preffed them. So you get a bid to your 3rd choice and drop out.

Only preffing 2 eliminates that awkward 3rd choice issue.

I've found that there's a downside to it though. In many cases you have to go from 4 parties to 2 instead of 4 to 3. Choosing a top 2 and bottom 2 from 4 is not always easy.

Interestingly enough University of Oregon went up to three prefs this year or last year, I believe. We had added a third round for chapters three years ago, but have added two more chapters since then and went to three prefs because of the expansion.

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Random, are there still schools doing 3 party prefs. Since I've been working with chapters (like 2009ish) I've seen a lot of their Panhellenics moving toward 2 party prefs.

The rationale for the switch is that when you have 3, there is usually one you like the best, another you kind of like, and a 3rd that you're not very interested in at all but are going because it's on your schedule and you're required to, not realizing that there's a very real chance you could get a bid to your #3 because you preffed them. So you get a bid to your 3rd choice and drop out.

Only preffing 2 eliminates that awkward 3rd choice issue.

I've found that there's a downside to it though. In many cases you have to go from 4 parties to 2 instead of 4 to 3. Choosing a top 2 and bottom 2 from 4 is not always easy.

I can't imagine IU doing only 2 prefs. We already go from 8 to 3, which seems really drastic to me. And based on this year's recruitment data, it looks like only 2% of women recieved their 3rd choice.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Random, are there still schools doing 3 party prefs. Since I've been working with chapters (like 2009ish) I've seen a lot of their Panhellenics moving toward 2 party prefs.

The rationale for the switch is that when you have 3, there is usually one you like the best, another you kind of like, and a 3rd that you're not very interested in at all but are going because it's on your schedule and you're required to, not realizing that there's a very real chance you could get a bid to your #3 because you preffed them. So you get a bid to your 3rd choice and drop out.

Only preffing 2 eliminates that awkward 3rd choice issue.

I've found that there's a downside to it though. In many cases you have to go from 4 parties to 2 instead of 4 to 3. Choosing a top 2 and bottom 2 from 4 is not always easy.

maybe it has to do with the number of chapters at a college and the # of pnms. As Shirley pointed out, Texas and Bama have 3 prefs, as does FSU, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, and I am sure many more that I can't think of right now.

[AlphaXi_Husky]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

maybe it has to do with the number of chapters at a college and the # of pnms. As Shirley pointed out, Texas and Bama have 3 prefs, as does FSU, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, and I am sure many more that I can't think of right now.

I know U.Washington has three prefs, which has been the case for many years. I thought there was some sort of formula or recommendation to be followed regarding how many pref parties a campus should have, based on how the schedule from the rest of the week is - maybe from the MOI? Does anyone know more (or have any clue what I'm thinking of)?

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by AlphaXi_Husky

I know U.Washington has three prefs, which has been the case for many years. I thought there was some sort of formula or recommendation to be followed regarding how many pref parties a campus should have, based on how the schedule from the rest of the week is - maybe from the MOI? Does anyone know more (or have any clue what I'm thinking of)?

NPC does have recommended formats for use with RFM:

http://www.npcwomen.org/resources/pd...20-%202009.pdf

Either 2 or 3 prefs is okay for any system with more than 4 groups.

I got the PDF link from here:
http://www.npcwomen.org/college-panh...urces/rfm.aspx

[Mevara]

Originally Posted by KDCat

NPC does have recommended formats for use with RFM:

http://www.npcwomen.org/resources/pd...20-%202009.pdf

Either 2 or 3 prefs is okay for any system with more than 4 groups

I noticed from that doc that it only lists up to 21 groups and 3 invitational rounds. Is 21 groups the max any one campus has? Seems rough to squeeze that into 3 invitational rounds, why not extend it to 4?

[AlphaXi_Husky]

Originally Posted by KDCat

NPC does have recommended formats for use with RFM:

http://www.npcwomen.org/resources/pd...20-%202009.pdf

Either 2 or 3 prefs is okay for any system with more than 4 groups.

I got the PDF link from here:
http://www.npcwomen.org/college-panh...urces/rfm.aspx

Interesting - I didn't realize the 2 or 3 pref option was available in so many cases. Thanks for the links.

[shirley1929]

I believe that schools like Texas and Alabama are still doing three party prefs. I'm assuming that when there are SO many women going through, they need to have more choices (particularly when guaranteed placement is involved).

[DubaiSis]

Iowa does 3 and I wouldn't recommend any differently. Sometime between when I graduated 24 years ago and now they cut a day out of rush. I can see the positives and negatives of that, but for the small group of campuses with 15+ sororities, I do think adding another round could be very beneficial to all parties concerned. We called it Welcome, Welcome back, Panorama, RSVP and Preference. Welcome back was house tours, Panorama was skit day, and RSVP was sort of a pre-preference where you start to lay it on thick.

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Like others have mentioned, I think three parties are more common in the south as well as the really competitive schools, especially those with guaranteed placement. If you moved to two parties at those types of schools, chances are many PNMs would get one choice they liked then the one they felt like they'd been stuck with throughout recruitment . . . and possibly two they're not so excited about. Unhappy PNMs either way, but at least with three parties there are theoretically more options.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek?

Like others have mentioned, I think three parties are more common in the south as well as the really competitive schools, especially those with guaranteed placement. If you moved to two parties at those types of schools, chances are many PNMs would get one choice they liked then the one they felt like they'd been stuck with throughout recruitment . . . and possibly two they're not so excited about. Unhappy PNMs either way, but at least with three parties there are theoretically more options.

Makes sense, if you're guaranteeing placement.

For those at larger 3 party pref schools, do you find that PNMs feel okay with getting a bid to any of their 3? Or is it an "I like these 2, but I for SURE don't want #3" kind of thing? Do a lot of women who receive bids to their #3 stick it out? Or do they drop out?