What surprised you most on the other side of rush/recruitment?

[thetygerlily]

• How much work goes into orchestrating all of the during party movements: bumping, signals for distress or awesomeness, food/drinks, getting the PNMs to go where they need to go, timing... the list goes on.
• How much it hurts when someone drops you, even if you weren't wowed by her (okay, technically you never really know who dropped who, but sometimes you just know). I should add here that my school was small with only three sororities and not very competitive. It's amazing how personally you take it, especially if you were assigned to that PNM.
  • You start asking: What did I do wrong? Why doesn't she like us? What can we do better? The usability/process improvement part of me thinks it would be awesome if the PNMs could fill out some sort of survey, but I know that is highly unlikely.
  • You realize how much you may have hurt another group that you dropped after first round, ultimately for no good reason. Yep, that was me... someone who could have benefited from the sages of GC because it didn't immediately "click" on night 1.

[aephi alum]

I was surprised by just how much goes on behind the scenes. I kind of figured the sorority members weren't just sitting around with their feet up when there wasn't a party going on, but I didn't quite realize that my sisters and I would be running around like chickens without heads, changing out decorations, making sure snacks and drinks were set, doing membership selection, etc.

I didn't realize how SICK AND TIRED I would be of certain songs by the end of rush!! The songs stuck in the PNMs' heads, which was a good thing, but I did NOT need "Hey Look Us Over" running through my head while desperately trying to get some sleep in the 4 or 5 hours I had.

I surprised myself with my conversation skills. I've always been an introvert, and I had to overcome that during rush and carry on convos with all kinds of different PNMs (including a straight-up psycho) - and I did it! This experience really helped me outside the rush room too.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

I surprised myself with my conversation skills. I've always been an introvert, and I had to overcome that during rush and carry on convos with all kinds of different PNMs (including a straight-up psycho) - and I did it! This experience really helped me outside the rush room too.

THIS.

I am also an introvert and the thought of having to talk to that many strangers about basically anything was so scary at first.

You surprise yourself with how natural it becomes.

I can now talk to anyone about just about anything. lol.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

THIS.

I am also an introvert and the thought of having to talk to that many strangers about basically anything was so scary at first.

You surprise yourself with how natural it becomes.

I can now talk to anyone about just about anything. lol.

I third this. I can add that to the list of things I learned from joining my sorority...how to talk to strangers. It's still not my favorite thing, but I can definitely handle it now.

[angels&angles]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

I third this. I can add that to the list of things I learned from joining my sorority...how to talk to strangers. It's still not my favorite thing, but I can definitely handle it now.

Fourth it. I used to HATE talking to strangers. I would do anything not to be the one to call the pizza delivery place. Now it's no big deal at all.

[Xylochick216]

I agree with the orchestrations behind the scenes. I had no idea how intentional meeting certain people was. From the PNM perspective, I thought we just happened to find sisters who weren't talking to other people or who the rusher thought would have something in common. I was also surprised at how much I learned to trust my recruitment group. We helped each other remember things and were a great support for each other.

[thetygerlily]

Originally Posted by angels&angles

Fourth it. I used to HATE talking to strangers. I would do anything not to be the one to call the pizza delivery place. Now it's no big deal at all.

Ha, I had no choice growing up- my older brother wouldn't make a phone call to save his life, so I was the official phone person. I distinctly recall making a call to inquire about subwoofers at age 10. However- phone's always been easy, in person is another story!

I was also surprised at how much harder it was to talk to people when I was an active. When you're a clueless PNM, it's not as big of a deal. But when you are an active, everything you do & say is being evaluated (or so you think), you have to share information about the chapter without crossing any lines, you have to steer the conversation away from the Bs, you have to get to know the person, form a quick personal rapport... There's just so much that goes into every single aspect of recruitment from the active's point of view.

[KSUViolet06]

Just how confusing and hard it is to try and REMEMBER all those PNMs.

We had a relatively small FR (maybe 120-150 PNMs max) so I figured it would be no big deal. Wrong.

Things get really confusing when you're meeting 20 Jens, 15 Brittany's, 20 Megans, and 30 Jessicas and have to try and keep them straight.

Add in all the different names that sound the same like Kyla, Kayla, Kara, Kyley and you get really confused.

My favorite was when someone would say, "Jessica who?" then another person would say "You know, the one with the blonde hair."

That really doesn't narrow it down much. lol.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Just how confusing and hard it is to try and REMEMBER all those PNMs.

We had a relatively small FR (maybe 120-150 PNMs max) so I figured it would be no big deal. Wrong.

Things get really confusing when you're meeting 20 Jens, 15 Brittany's, 20 Megans, and 30 Jessicas and have to try and keep them straight.

Add in all the different names that sound the same like Kyla, Kayla, Kara, Kyley and you get really confused.

My favorite was when someone would say, "Jessica who?" then another person would say "You know, the one with the blonde hair."

That really doesn't narrow it down much. lol.

120 is around our max, and I couldn't remember them all even as a RC. I would know everyone in my group by name and then we'd change it up for Theme and Pref and I'd have to start all over.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

I wish we could do bullets and sub-bullets here

In the "Reply to Thread" box, there are number and bullet list buttons available.

1. Do
2. Re
3. Mi

and

• Fa
• So
• La

I'm not savvy enough for sub-bullets though.

/great big hijack

[thetygerlily]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

In the "Reply to Thread" box, there are number and bullet list buttons available.

Doh! I was replying in the regular view and obviously it didn't even occur to me to check the advanced view. Which, now that I'm in it, the bullet part looks way too familiar and I'm sure I've used them before. Ha. Chalk that up to a brain fart. Thanks I'm going to fix the post so it's prettier then...

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I'm not savvy enough for sub-bullets though.

ETA, just so I don't feel like a complete failure today... to do sub-bullets indent the tab using that little icon. Now everyone is savvy enough for sub-bullets!

[wazzuAPhi]

As a Recruitment Counselor I was surprised at how many PNMs were straight up bitches.

Oh my gosh yes! I remember girls like this all 3 years coming int oour house like they owned the place. Crazy!

[lovespink88]

LOL I was one of those people that didn't realized bumping was a planned thing!!

[KSUViolet06]

I really didn't realize how rude people could be. lol.

I figured that every PNM was going to be super nice (you know, seeing as you were a complete STRANGER and that they wanted to be part of something you're already in, you're older than they are for the most part, and they want to make a good impression.)

Boy was I wrong. I seriously couldn't believe it.

I also learned how to attempt a conversation with someone who isn't the least bit interested in talking to you. lol.