Indiana University Recruitment

[DubaiSis]

AGDee, I thought with RFM, more (most) campuses were doing it. I do think it's an excellent idea to minimize the dreaded ISP. It appears to only send chapters a couple over quota, and would seem to alleviate a lot of worries among the PNMs about putting their heart and soul into this, just to have the rug pulled out from under them. If I'm wrong, I hope it's a trend in that direction. I think I'll start a thread...

[CookiesNCream]

Soooooo after these past couple of days, cuts from houses I thought I loved, and mental and physical exhaustion, I've narrowed down my houses for preference round. One of them is a house that's oftentimes unpopular with PNMs, and despite all the tent talk and stereotypes of the houses, it just felt SO WEIRD not putting them in my top 3. I've loved them all along but was always hesitant to go forth with them because of their reputation, but something changed in me today.

I feel like I grew up a lot today by the simple action of picking houses and I'm really happy.

[KSUViolet06]

^^^Good for you.

When you're hanging out in groups and spending so much time talking about recruitment, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that you need to make decisions based on YOU, not what other PNMs in your group think.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by CookiesNCream

Soooooo after these past couple of days, cuts from houses I thought I loved, and mental and physical exhaustion, I've narrowed down my houses for preference round. One of them is a house that's oftentimes unpopular with PNMs, and despite all the tent talk and stereotypes of the houses, it just felt SO WEIRD not putting them in my top 3. I've loved them all along but was always hesitant to go forth with them because of their reputation, but something changed in me today.

I feel like I grew up a lot today by the simple action of picking houses and I'm really happy.

Oh, this warms my heart (and it's farking cold in Chicago right now). I promise, promise, promise you that you will not regret the decision.

[fourleafed]

Originally Posted by CookiesNCream

Soooooo after these past couple of days, cuts from houses I thought I loved, and mental and physical exhaustion, I've narrowed down my houses for preference round. One of them is a house that's oftentimes unpopular with PNMs, and despite all the tent talk and stereotypes of the houses, it just felt SO WEIRD not putting them in my top 3. I've loved them all along but was always hesitant to go forth with them because of their reputation, but something changed in me today.

I feel like I grew up a lot today by the simple action of picking houses and I'm really happy.

That is really awesome. I know the tent talk can be impossible to avoid during IU recruitment, especially overhearing things on the bus, but ignoring it is absolutely the best way to try to find a house that could become your home.

I went into recruitment bring so shallow and so stuck on stereotypes but during 8 party (well, 6 party for me) round I just could not deny feeling so much more comfortable in "lower tier" houses and I shocked myself when I listed those for pref. I certainly think I grew up too and learned a lot about myself in that one week of recruitment. Good luck tomorrow!

[kirkwood]

Originally Posted by CookiesNCream

Soooooo after these past couple of days, cuts from houses I thought I loved, and mental and physical exhaustion, I've narrowed down my houses for preference round. One of them is a house that's oftentimes unpopular with PNMs, and despite all the tent talk and stereotypes of the houses, it just felt SO WEIRD not putting them in my top 3. I've loved them all along but was always hesitant to go forth with them because of their reputation, but something changed in me today.

I feel like I grew up a lot today by the simple action of picking houses and I'm really happy.

I feel like you are just all around a good person after reading this.

[I<3Starbucks!]

Cookies- YAYAYAYAYA I'm am soooo excited for you!! I hope you had an amazing bid night! Cherish all your time in your house, it flies by

Kirkwood- Definitely do informal recruitment!!! It's a really great way to get to know the houses REALLY well because you are out of the traditional "recruitment" setting, and hopefully you can also get a bid!! Good luck!! I'm hoping it will all work out and let us know how it goes!!!!

[IUGreekGirl]

Good luck tomorrow. I don't know who you are, I don't know if you're coming to my chapter-- but regardless, good luck. Keep following your heart, that's the only way to go!

[PhoenixAzul]

I'm going to write what I did in another thread...

The "best" sorority is always YOUR sorority. The "best" sisters are always YOUR sisters. If you've got an open heart and mind, you'll be welcomed and happy in any of the chapters.

Good luck at pref, don't stress, and try to sleep!

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by IUGreekGirl

Good luck tomorrow. I don't know who you are, I don't know if you're coming to my chapter-- but regardless, good luck. Keep following your heart, that's the only way to go!

Excellent advice! and seconded here.

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

I'm going to write what I did in another thread...

The "best" sorority is always YOUR sorority. The "best" sisters are always YOUR sisters. If you've got an open heart and mind, you'll be welcomed and happy in any of the chapters.

Good luck at pref, don't stress, and try to sleep!

More excellent advice! Remember, what's "bottom" at Indiana may well be "top" at Connecticut or any other school.

It's STUPID, folks, STUPID, this whole tier business. It's meaningless when we consider the deeper purpose of sorority membership. You will, I hope, find a home, and, if you want, it will be for a lifetime. When bad things happen in your life, your Panhellenic sisters from every GLO will step in and hold your hand and help you through the hard times. They'll be there when you're having fun and they'll help you celebrate your triumphs as well.

Believe me, I know this is true. I am especially grateful for my Alpha Xi/AOII/Kappa sisters, in addition to all my Theta sisters, and all my other GLO sisters, this morning. Thank you all.

Now, Indiana PNMs, please, come back and share with us when you're finished with recruitment. May you find your home!

[Rubberduckie]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

I'm going to write what I did in another thread...

The "best" sorority is always YOUR sorority. The "best" sisters are always YOUR sisters. If you've got an open heart and mind, you'll be welcomed and happy in any of the chapters.

Good luck at pref, don't stress, and try to sleep!

This (all of this) is so true. I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I had joined a different chapter. I realize I would have been happy nearly anywhere. Does that make me dislike my circumstances? No. Because my sisters are the best sisters I could ever ask for and my sorority is the best sorority.

If I had ended up somewhere else, this would probably still be true. The important thing is that I have a family who will be there for me no matter what and we share a common, beautiful organization. We all aspire to the same ideals and objectives.

Are there some girls I'm not best friends with? Yes. That would also be true anywhere I pledged.

Good luck, y'all! Keep your minds and hearts open and I hope you find a home.

[iupnm19]

I have been lurking on this thread for the past year and a half. I am a current sophomore at IU. I signed up for rush last year just because it was the “thing to do”. However, I absolutely fell in love with the greek system and all of the fantastic girls that I met. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past getting cut from my absolute favorite chapter after 8 party last year. I went to 3 party but just couldn’t picture myself in either of the chapters I visited.

After a bunch of my friends joined chapters last year, I realized that the IU greek system was absolutely something I wanted to be a part of. I decided to go through rush again this year as a sophomore, despite being nervous about the potential outcome.

I had a blast at 19 party and received 11 invites for 14 party, including 5 of my favorite chapters. I then only received 4 invites for 8 party, with only one I believed I could see myself in. I went to 8 party yesterday with a completely open mind, trying to picture each chapter as my new home. There were two houses that completely surprised me, and I found myself falling in love again. The rounds could not have gone better, and I completely enjoyed myself yesterday.

Unfortunately, this morning, I was released from recruitment. I knew the odds were against me the entire time; however, I really thought that if I went in with a totally open mind, I would find my home. I am upset but not bitter, because I know how many absolutely FANTASTIC women go through recruitment at IU. I do not have a single bad thing to say about any chapter and wish the best of luck to girls still going through.

To anyone reading this, I just wanted to emphasize the fact that IU rush is unlike any in the country. It is not impossible to find a home as a sophomore-I know many who pledged after going through a second time. However, everyone should remember that there isn’t a BAD chapter out of any of the 19 on campus. I’m not exactly sure why I felt compelled to post this…except to urge PNMs to keep an open mind and not to take cuts personally in such a competitive recruitment.

Best of luck to everyone – I truly hope that each of you find a home within one of the wonderful chapters at IU.

[rxavier]

Originally Posted by iupnm19

I have been lurking on this thread for the past year and a half. I am a current sophomore at IU. I signed up for rush last year just because it was the “thing to do”. However, I absolutely fell in love with the greek system and all of the fantastic girls that I met. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past getting cut from my absolute favorite chapter after 8 party last year. I went to 3 party but just couldn’t picture myself in either of the chapters I visited.

After a bunch of my friends joined chapters last year, I realized that the IU greek system was absolutely something I wanted to be a part of. I decided to go through rush again this year as a sophomore, despite being nervous about the potential outcome.

I had a blast at 19 party and received 11 invites for 14 party, including 5 of my favorite chapters. I then only received 4 invites for 8 party, with only one I believed I could see myself in. I went to 8 party yesterday with a completely open mind, trying to picture each chapter as my new home. There were two houses that completely surprised me, and I found myself falling in love again. The rounds could not have gone better, and I completely enjoyed myself yesterday.

Unfortunately, this morning, I was released from recruitment. I knew the odds were against me the entire time; however, I really thought that if I went in with a totally open mind, I would find my home. I am upset but not bitter, because I know how many absolutely FANTASTIC women go through recruitment at IU. I do not have a single bad thing to say about any chapter and wish the best of luck to girls still going through.

To anyone reading this, I just wanted to emphasize the fact that IU rush is unlike any in the country. It is not impossible to find a home as a sophomore-I know many who pledged after going through a second time. However, everyone should remember that there isn’t a BAD chapter out of any of the 19 on campus. I’m not exactly sure why I felt compelled to post this…except to urge PNMs to keep an open mind and not to take cuts personally in such a competitive recruitment.

Best of luck to everyone – I truly hope that each of you find a home within one of the wonderful chapters at IU.

I extend that sentiment as well. Wherever you end up, you will be surrounded by some really amazing women.

Best of luck, PNMS!

[CookiesNCream]

IU PNM, I'm really sorry to hear about your situation. You seem to have handled yourself very well and kept an open mind; I'm sorry things didn't work out for you. Apparently, this year there are so many girls at preference round that there are 4 rounds of parties except for 3. PNMs can still only attend up to 3 parties this round, but some houses have invited more girls back than they can accommodate in only 3 parties.

I have no idea if this has happened in the past, but if this is the first year, I guess it's really showing the sheer volume of girls going through recruitment at IU. For some that I know, recruitment has been absolutely fabulous so far and they've continuously received invites back to their favorite houses. But for many others, myself included, it's been lots of brutal cuts. Many girls have dropped out and a girl I was talking to yesterday said that her rho gamma told their group that over 50% of PNMs attending 8 party had 3 or less houses back.

I have 2 houses for preference round, one of which I really like, so I guess I can consider myself pretty lucky. I'm actually about to leave for my first party right now. I hope all goes well and I wish any other PNM at IU good luck.

[iupnm19]

Thanks cookiesncream! Have a great time at your pref parties and I hope you end up at home

I didn't realize that some houses were having 4 rounds of parties. I've never heard to that in the past. My rho gam said the same thing about 50% of PNMs only getting 3 or less houses back. The cuts seem significantly more brutal than they were last year.

I'm glad to hear that IU is open for expansion; however, I'm not sure if one more chapter (and a houseless one at that!) is enough to combat this situation. I SOOO wish panhel would consider a better quota system..