Schools where you absolutely positively need recs

[CougADPi]

Ok, coming from people actually involved with the chapters at WSU right now (several different chapters), recommendations are a nice thing to have, but are no way required. Most people may have one or two, but it sounds like it would be fairly rare for someone to have one to every chapter.

[Socalparent]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Let's start the list. I'll compile on this first post by continuously editing. Carnation, could you sticky this?

You Must Have Recs If You Are Attending Any Of These Schools:
All SEC schools (no exceptions!): Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, Miss State, Arkansas, Vandy, LSU, Texas A&M
Big XII: Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Missouri, Texas Christian
ACC: Florida State, Clemson
Pac 10: USC, Arizona
Big 10: Indiana
Southern Methodist
Southern Miss

My daughter and I recently visited OSU. Our tour guide was in a sorority so we asked about recruitment and specifically letters of rec. She said they weren't necessary but then I thought to double check here. I don't want to say the young lady didn't know but I'd rather err on the side of caution and get the recs.

I have a friend who is an alumnae of a sorority at USC so she's going to start the rec process and reach out to her friends too. She's a great believer in Greek life and has been very encouraging and positive. My daughter has also contacted the local Alumnae Panhellenic who is starting the process too. Thanks for the tips here on who, what, where to look.

[AOT767]

Originally Posted by Socalparent

My daughter and I recently visited OSU. Our tour guide was in a sorority so we asked about recruitment and specifically letters of rec. She said they weren't necessary but then I thought to double check here. I don't want to say the young lady didn't know but I'd rather err on the side of caution and get the recs.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, as my school truly does not require them (and probably wouldn't know what to do with one if we got it!), but I feel like a lot of schools say recs aren't required, when in reality it's kind of hard to get through the first round without them. This may not be true of OSU, I have no idea about them specifically, but this is the general feeling I've gotten by reading through threads about bigger schools.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AOT767

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, as my school truly does not require them (and probably wouldn't know what to do with one if we got it!), but I feel like a lot of schools say recs aren't required, when in reality it's kind of hard to get through the first round without them. This may not be true of OSU, I have no idea about them specifically, but this is the general feeling I've gotten by reading through threads about bigger schools.

Yes.

Basically, Panhellenic is its own entity, and formal rush is run by Panhellenic. They can't come out and say "you need recs to get past round 1" because Panhellenic doesn't know the specific membership selection policies of its member groups. It's true that you do not need recs at all to PARTICIPATE in rush.

And sororities don't want to put on their web pages "you can't pledge without a rec" because at some schools, that would hurt the number of interested women considerably. They also don't want anyone to misunderstand and think rec = guaranteed bid.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Yes.

Basically, Panhellenic is its own entity, and formal rush is run by Panhellenic. They can't come out and say "you need recs to get past round 1" because Panhellenic doesn't know the specific membership selection policies of its member groups. It's true that you do not need recs at all to PARTICIPATE in rush.

And sororities don't want to put on their web pages "you can't pledge without a rec" because at some schools, that would hurt the number of interested women considerably. They also don't want anyone to misunderstand and think rec = guaranteed bid.

Further, if you are Suzy Awesome from the city with 8,000 XYZ alumnae, XYZ will find you a rec. It's just that the vast, vast, vast majority of PNMS are not Suzy Awesome, even if they think they are.

[Socalparent]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Further, if you are Suzy Awesome from the city with 8,000 XYZ alumnae, XYZ will find you a rec. It's just that the vast, vast, vast majority of PNMS are not Suzy Awesome, even if they think they are.

My PNM is Suzy sometimes Awesome. Glad we're in an area where there are alumnae left and right. And glad I found this site so I could look around and try to educate myself.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by Socalparent

My daughter and I recently visited OSU. Our tour guide was in a sorority so we asked about recruitment and specifically letters of rec. She said they weren't necessary but then I thought to double check here. I don't want to say the young lady didn't know but I'd rather err on the side of caution and get the recs.

Certain chapters at OSU most definitely require recs.

[SWTXBelle]

Certain sororities require recs - period. I am sometimes surprised when a member of a sorority which requires recs states "My chapter didn't get recs/didn't require them." In those cases, it was the alumnae working behind the scenes who probably secured the necessary recomendations. I think some sororities may need to educate their members a little more on the necessity of recs.

Bottom line - always get a rec.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Certain sororities require recs - period. I am sometimes surprised when a member of a sorority which requires recs states "My chapter didn't get recs/didn't require them." In those cases, it was the alumnae working behind the scenes who probably secured the necessary recomendations. I think some sororities may need to educate their members a little more on the necessity of recs.

Bottom line - always get a rec.

I would guess that, in many chapters, unless you are the president or the recruitment chair, or another role closely involved with MS, you have no idea what recs do/don't do behind the scenes.

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I would guess that, in many chapters, unless you are the president or the recruitment chair, or another role closely involved with MS, you have no idea what recs do/don't do behind the scenes.

This ^

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I would guess that, in many chapters, unless you are the president or the recruitment chair, or another role closely involved with MS, you have no idea what recs do/don't do behind the scenes.

Without treading into membership selection territory, I am confused by this and find myself in need of enlightenment, especially since I have a HS senior daughter that I'm currently helping get recs. for a "good to have them" southern school. I live in "rec desert" land where no one has them. I don't think any of the sororities on the campus where I advise expects or requires them. If only the president or recruitment/membership chair knows what they say or who has them, what's the purpose? It seems that many of the sororities we're being asked to provide rec. info. for ask for topics of conversation at recruitment, what type of member would be a good match during recruitment, etc. It seems like those sororities are using the recs. for information that would definitely be shared with the chapter, not just during selection procedures, but to more effectively recruit the PNMs.

This is probably an equally ignorant question, but I am sincerely curious. If someone who is fabulous doesn't have a rec., and someone behind the scenes has to secure one because it's mandated by XYZ sorority, what is the value of a rec. secured by an assisting XYZ alum/advisor who doesn't know the PNM, from someone from her hometown (?) who doesn't know the PNM well, either?

[Socalparent]

I was reading the Ok State 2012 Recruitment Guide for dates, etc. so I can schedule flights. I found this regarding recs:

"Recommendations may be considered in the membership selection process. The Panhellenic Council highly suggests that each PNM have a recommendation letter for each of our twelve chapters; however, this is not required. The Panhellenic Council recommends you contact your local Alumnae Panhellenic Association or any sorority alumna you know to request a letter of recommendation for any of our 12 chapters."

[SWTXBelle]

Not to mention the policy was probably written years ago - when fewer women went through recruitment and would be more likely to have an alumna write a personal rec.

The answer to the question of the value of the rec - some are more valuable than others. Also, bear in mind that if, for example, a girl from Katy were to go through recruitment without recs all the alumna in charge of recruitment would have to do is call the Katy chapter to get someone from the area who either 1.) knows her or 2.) can find someone who does.

[wildcass]

I'm at an SEC school and we've never discussed recs. Makes me wonder which chapters do and which chapters don't? Definitely not 100% necessary though or I wouldn't have gotten a bid.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by wildcass

I'm at an SEC school and we've never discussed recs. Makes me wonder which chapters do and which chapters don't? Definitely not 100% necessary though or I wouldn't have gotten a bid.

Where do you go to school? There are a couple like maybe UK where they're very much encouraged, but you may have a chance to get a bid without them. Definitely not so for all of them though. For example, I'd NEVER tell a PNM at say, Ole Miss that they weren't needed.