Legacy disclosure - Page 2

Auburnmom23 · #1 08-13-2015, 03:13 PM

I agree with you now that I'm much better informed, KDCat. I believe that sharing legacy status, other than with legacy chapters, is never a positive and more often than not is a very significant negative. It gives chapters with historically strong recruitment another reason to cut a PNM, as they don't want to assume any known risk linked to the bids they send out at the end of the day. With PMN groups that are 1000 -2500 girls strong, they'll have multiple girls that look fabulous for each coveted spot. If one of those great PNMs is known to be a legacy at one or more houses (or worse, a double or triple legacy), they are the great girl who is going to get cut.

It makes sense from a practical perspective. Even with PNMs who have an open mind, chapters know that if the girl prefs two or three houses inclusive of the legacy house, there is a good chance that the girl will be at the top of the legacy chapters list resulting in a likely match, even if the PNM didn't rank them first. Others that know this process better than I, please correct me if I'm off base here.

This is a bit of a generalization, of course, but something to keep in mind. I was happy to honor requests not to include legacy info on recs. I often leave SAT and ACT info off as well, if that is not provided to me.

sigmagirl2000 · #2 08-13-2015, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auburnmom23

It makes sense from a practical perspective. Even with PNMs who have an open mind, chapters know that if the girl prefs two or three houses inclusive of the legacy house, there is a good chance that the girl will be at the top of the legacy chapters list resulting in a likely match, even if the PNM didn't rank them first. Others that know this process better than I, please correct me if I'm off base here.

That's not how bid matching works. If a PNM ranks a group first and they are high enough on that group's list, they go to their first choice. If they are not high enough on the first group's list, they would go to another group or be a QA in some cases.

Titchou · #3 08-13-2015, 06:30 PM

Yes, the PNM is matched to her choices not the chapter to the woman.

Auburnmom23 · #4 08-13-2015, 07:06 PM

Understood, thanks.

DGTess · #5 08-13-2015, 07:25 PM

Is this really even an issue outside of a dozen or so campuses that are steeped in tradition? It is so totally outside my frame of reference I am having a hard time even imagining it.

I know our form asks for greek affiliation of parents, but so far I've never written for a woman who comes from a strong greek family.

texasprincess · #6 08-13-2015, 08:05 PM

I know at least at my smaller, less competitive, West Coast school it's kind of a "thing" to see who can "steal" legacies - all in good fun, of course, but a girl's legacy status wouldn't count against her - if we wanted her, we might fight even harder.

9194Mom · #7 08-14-2015, 10:10 AM

I am torn on the topic. We disclosed all legacies for both DD's and I think I would still do it again but I think having a sitting sister at the same school (a mildly competitive school) was actually more challenging for my younger DD. Sisters of sitting sisters/recent grads almost exclusive pledge their sister's house. In my younger DD case it did turn out to be a good fit in the long run but how awkward is it to be asked at a non-legacy house that has been at the top of your list "So are you and your sister friends?" That's a no win question. Yes translates to some as I want to pledge her house and No can mark you as a girl with all kinds of potential drama.

KDCat · #8 08-13-2015, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen

Do groups not want to try and snag legacies from other groups lol?

Our legacy forms actually ask if there are legacies, other relatives that are Alpha Phis (that don't count directly as legacies) and if there are relatives in another fraternal organization (sorority or fraternity). So if I knew, I'd list it because the form asks.
.

If your PNM pool is so full of your own legacies that you have to cut some, you don't really care about other people's legacies.

As a parent or a PNM, I'd just leave that space on the form blank. If I am writing an alumna rec, I list all the legacies of a PNM, but state whether or not she is open minded.