Too much knowledge?

[APhiAnna]

Originally Posted by Ch2tf

I get why in NPC realm it would come off as "weird". What I guess I don't get about this story is that since there was significant "BUZZ" about her in your chapter and it seemed like she was a desired PNM, why it would then be off putting that she was as interested in your organization?
(I'm not counting that she did this for all orgs, since from your story it doesn't seem you knew that before you released her).

Stepping back out of NPC realm, if there was an aspirant that we were "highly interested in" and during the process of speaking to her she showed this level of interest in an appropriate manner, I don't think I'd remove her from consideration.

Fair enough question. We had received a rec for the woman and a couple sisters knew her from high school, so she was on our watch list for sure. But when heavier cuts had to be made, the "obsessiveness" and the fact that she hadn't given us a clue to her personality (simply talked about how she loved us) was called into question. The majority of the women in our chapter were very hesitant about releasing women whose accomplishments were still good (maybe not as good as hers, but still strong) and who had shown their personality to be the right fit and hadn't creeped out their rushers in place of this woman.

In NPC (well, at least my chapter), you see these amazing girls on paper and are very interested, BUT their personality has to fit too. But if it does, then she's definitely a keeper. I think in this case it was one of those situations where we knew her grades and accomplishments were good. From what we had heard about her from her rec and the girls that knew her we assumed her personality was going to be great too, and of course that would make it a no brainer and she would have had a very good chance of getting a bid. In turned out that she came off very poorly in person due to the fact that she would only talked about how she loved all these little obscure things we did, and nobody really knew what she was about. So I think she might have screwed herself over...I think even just pleasant conversation might have worked in her favor, but the recitation of facts just turned everybody off and nobody could see themselves wanting to spend time with her.

[APhiAnna]

Also, as a last point, I think in NPC interest in a GLO is good, but it's mostly about women that fit in with a chapters personality. Every year we have women that we are very interested in due to their resumes and recs and there is buzz about them. However, when they step through the door we struggle to find anything in common with them. This goes the other way too...maybe a woman had an average resume (still making all the GPA qualifications and such) and no rec, but she has the best personality and everybody is in love with her. In this PNMs case, she created a lot of buzz but the personality failed to match/work for us, and I think it is primarily because she only wanted to talk about us, not her. It made many women very skeptical about her intentions for researching these facts...was it because she loved us genuinely, loved us with an unhealthy obsession or was trying to trick herself in?

[APhiAnna]

I am a nerd, I know, but here is my last analogy:
Say you are hiring a nanny for your daughter Petunia. On paper, Nancy Nanny has worked with Madonna's children, solved world hunger and invented the baby monitor. She's clearly going to be the first one you interview and if the personality is right you are going to pick her. The whole time she talks about researched facts about Petunia ("I love that she is the most liked girl in her preschool!" or "I heard she got five gold star stickers in her kindergarten class!") and gives you NOTHING about how her personality is as a person. Those accomplishments no longer matter, because the second woman you interview has such an outstanding personality that she will be the perfect match for taking care of Petunia. Nancy's qualifications were wasted because she gave you no indications she was a match. That's how I guess you could explain NPC rush sometimes.

[Ch2tf]

I get what you're saying about the fit thing I guess, although I think the Nannie analogy didn't quite work :P.

I guess it's the differing structures, speaking specifically for my org (but it's similar elsewhere), we have a much longer time to "feel the woman out" before we extend an offer of membership.

[APhiAnna]

Originally Posted by Ch2tf

I guess it's the differing structures, speaking specifically for my org (but it's similar elsewhere), we have a much longer time to "feel the woman out" before we extend an offer of membership.

Yeah, I thing the longer time period probably helps. We often have to make snap decisions based on very little conversation, which is not the ideal way but for NPC rush there really is no way to make it longer.

[lilzetakitten]

I would find D to be a bit wierd, and F to be flat out creepy. I was a chapter founder, and I can't even name every girl in my class. Granted, there were 65 of us, but I think that's what would make F even more creepy.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by naraht

Is there such a thing as too much knowledge about a group known by a rushee? In most cases would the following show positively that the person had show interest or negatively a creepy level of interest? (Assume the person is not a legacy of the National or chapter)

a) Knowing when the National was formed
b) Knowing where the National was formed
c) Knowing when the chapter at that school was formed
d) Knowing that the chapter had been rechartered at the school (after being inactive)
e) Knowing the names of all of the National founders I recognized (sort of knew/remembered) some of the founders, but doubt that I could name any of them during rush if I had been asked to do so.
f) Knowing the names of all of the Chapter founders (presuming it is not the first chapter)
g) Knowing the fact that the chapter had the best GPA in the greek system last year.
h) Knowing the National organization's special service project (like helping the deaf) I knew about Derby Days.
i) Knowing the symbols such as the flower...

Any stories about a rushee who knew "too much" or close to it?

I am a legacy and had helped my older biological brothers study for their pledge exams. As such, I knew some of the Fraternity history (bolded above) before walking into my first rush event. However, I knew nothing of the chapter history since it was a different chapter (campus) then where my brothers pledged.

And for the record, during the rush parties, I did not go around telling members that the White Rose is the flower of Sigma Chi.

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by TSteven

And for the record, during the rush parties, I did not go around telling members that the White Rose is the flower of Sigma Chi.

Really? I would have pegged you as that guy who ran up to the Rush Hostess and belting out "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi." I kid, I kid.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by aopirose

Really? I would have pegged you as that guy who ran up to the Rush Hostess and belting out "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi." I kid, I kid.

Well, that goes without saying. Get the Rush Hostess on your side and you are half way there.

Actually, I sort of/kind of knew the "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" before college. My Mother often served as an unofficial hostess (or House Mother as it were) for some of my brothers' chapter functions when they were undergraduates. More than a few times, the whole chapter would come to our house afterwards (day after or so) and serenade my Mother as part of their appreciation.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by naraht

a) Knowing when the National was formed
b) Knowing where the National was formed
c) Knowing when the chapter at that school was formed
d) Knowing that the chapter had been rechartered at the school (after being inactive)
e) Knowing the names of all of the National founders
f) Knowing the names of all of the Chapter founders (presuming it is not the first chapter)
g) Knowing the fact that the chapter had the best GPA in the greek system last year.
h) Knowing the National organization's special service project (like helping the deaf)
i) Knowing the symbols such as the flower...

A, B, C, E, G, H & I are in the recruitment booklet (given out to PNMs), on our chapter site or HQ website. So it wouldn't surprise me if a PNM knew that info. Honestly, when I went through COB, I knew all of those.

I'm fairly sure that D & F are only found in the Tri Sigma history book or on our charters, so that info isn't readily available to PNMs. So if a PNM knew that (and wasn't a legacy to our chapter), I would be a little surprised.

Knowing this stuff doesn't weird me out. It's when a PNM comes through spouting off facts and acting like a "know-it-all" that it becomes weird.

It's great that a PNM would take the time to learn about the sorority. But when all you do is talk about what you know about us, it tells us NOTHING about you as a person.

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

It's great that a PNM would take the time to learn about the sorority. But when all you do is talk about what you know about us, it tells us NOTHING about you as a person.

Speaking only on an NPC level...
This is where the interviewer can take control a little bit though. The woman may be spouting out facts because she is nervous and doesn't know what to say. Asking open ended personal questions to counter the fact spouting could help. For example, if she is talking about your philanthropy, you could ask about what community service she has done. If she's talking about grades, ask about her major and why she chose it.

[PhoenixAzul]

Knowledge is power...use it wisely! It doesn't hurt to know the information, but it is all in what you do with it. We talk a lot about recruitment as an interview type process, and when you interview, you are expected to have researched the company in some way. While you may have all of those facts and figures, it doesn't mean you have to whip them out at the first instance. Using them to frame questions and then slip into your "resume" (recruitment profile) is fair game.
PNM: "So can you tell me more about your latest event with the Girl Scouts?"
Active: Yes...blah blah blah.
PNM: That sounds like it was a lot of fun! I was a volunteer scout leader for Troop 1337, We went to that same camp, we did this fundraiser, etc etc etc.

[Gusteau]

BUMP for a story.

The other night at rush a guy asked me about different activities we do. While I was talking about alumni events I mentioned Founder's Day and he said, "Oh, that's coming up isn't it?" I was surprised and said, "Yes it's October 13th - somebody's done his research." We kind of laughed it off, but it wasn't really all that awkward. He did however remember my unusual major from the chapter website, and told me that he remembered it - that was a little weird. I have an excellent memory, but I've learned you should sometimes play dumb to things you really shouldn't know or remember. I wouldn't say it hurt his chances, but it probably would have served him better to pretend he didn't know.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

BUMP for a story.

The other night at rush a guy asked me about different activities we do. While I was talking about alumni events I mentioned Founder's Day and he said, "Oh, that's coming up isn't it?" I was surprised and said, "Yes it's October 13th - somebody's done his research." We kind of laughed it off, but it wasn't really all that awkward. He did however remember my unusual major from the chapter website, and told me that he remembered it - that was a little weird. I have an excellent memory, but I've learned you should sometimes play dumb to things you really shouldn't know or remember. I wouldn't say it hurt his chances, but it probably would have served him better to pretend he didn't know.

I hope he didn't send you flowers as a follow-up. That would be strange.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I hope he didn't send you flowers as a follow-up. That would be strange.

Especially if they were white carnations.