Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Go ahead and name names. This is unpanhellenic, and if it's my own group, I'll happily express my displeasure to the higher-ups.

Seconded.

[Iu mom]

Sorry for what may be a long first post....my daughter was a casualty of yesterday's bid day... In high school she was Homecoming court and prom princess as well as varsity dance captain and class secretary- and with a friend from home created an foundation that single handedly raised a quarter of a million dollars for a cancer family center after her friends dad passed from a brain tumor... She got a 3.5 gpa first semester at IU and participated at several campus philanthropic events- here's the thing ..she's a kinesiology AND dance major- as a dance major she was in a show during 12 party so prior to even 21 party she had to indicate that she had one major rehearsal for the show and the actual Saturday show...conflict forms and she Hoped not to be penalized but in reading here and her ONLY other friend that did NOT get a bid was a dancer too- so? What am I to think as her mom?
She was told at a house during 3 she was a perfect fit. During 12 another house said she felt like she was a sister already and get this she's a legacy at another house and wasn't asked to 3 party. My daughter had an open mind and comes from a family that is still involved in their greek organizations - she is registered for informal but I know it's not going to happen because no house will have not have met quota. She would love to get a "snap" bid but said how would they know she exists to want to give her one... We knew the process was a tough one which is why she worked her butt off to get a great gpa and be involved on campus in the fall. If any of you are in houses and have a snap bid to give - she's an awesome candidate. She has spent her life developing and working with philanthropies in fact her life goal is dance therapy to help girls who have to deal with emotional and physical issues. But the dancer thing still doesn't seem to make sense .... Thanks for listening and congrats to all those that were successful!

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by Iu mom

Sorry for what may be a long first post....my daughter was a casualty of yesterday's bid day... In high school she was Homecoming court and prom princess as well as varsity dance captain and class secretary- and with a friend from home created an foundation that single handedly raised a quarter of a million dollars for a cancer family center after her friends dad passed from a brain tumor... She got a 3.5 gpa first semester at IU and participated at several campus philanthropic events- here's the thing ..she's a kinesiology AND dance major- as a dance major she was in a show during 12 party so prior to even 21 party she had to indicate that she had one major rehearsal for the show and the actual Saturday show...conflict forms and she Hoped not to be penalized but in reading here and her ONLY other friend that did NOT get a bid was a dancer too- so? What am I to think as her mom?
She was told at a house during 3 she was a perfect fit. During 12 another house said she felt like she was a sister already and get this she's a legacy at another house and wasn't asked to 3 party. My daughter had an open mind and comes from a family that is still involved in their greek organizations - she is registered for informal but I know it's not going to happen because no house will have not have met quota. She would love to get a "snap" bid but said how would they know she exists to want to give her one... We knew the process was a tough one which is why she worked her butt off to get a great gpa and be involved on campus in the fall. If any of you are in houses and have a snap bid to give - she's an awesome candidate. She has spent her life developing and working with philanthropies in fact her life goal is dance therapy to help girls who have to deal with emotional and physical issues. But the dancer thing still doesn't seem to make sense .... Thanks for listening and congrats to all those that were successful!

Snap bids are only given out on Bid Day and the PNM would not know she got one. It's blended in with the others. So that boat has sailed for her. Is she registering for the colonization process?

[Iu mom]

I'm not sure she will register for colonization as and I know I will get comments about this--- she wants to live in a house. She is a dance major and every friend outside of dance got a bid. All the dance girls have already committed to roommates for the fall.
I was a founding sister on my campus and did it without ever living in a house and although I loved founding (as a junior) it was not the same experience as housed girls get. I turned down local non-nationally affiliated houses at the time because I wanted the national connection and although I'm still close to my sisters and active as an alum I missed and regret the non-housed decision. In fact I'm closer to some if those "local" girls even today.
It is sad that the process didn't work for her but if no houses turn up with possible spots after yesterday then she will have to wait til next recruitment. She discussed transferring last night but truth is she auditioned and earned a competitive spot in the dance department so it would be a shame to transfer.
So still discussing d phi e but not sure what she'll choose.

[hopeful mom]

Originally Posted by Iu mom

Sorry for what may be a long first post....my daughter was a casualty of yesterday's bid day... In high school she was Homecoming court and prom princess as well as varsity dance captain and class secretary- and with a friend from home created an foundation that single handedly raised a quarter of a million dollars for a cancer family center after her friends dad passed from a brain tumor... She got a 3.5 gpa first semester at IU and participated at several campus philanthropic events- here's the thing ..she's a kinesiology AND dance major- as a dance major she was in a show during 12 party so prior to even 21 party she had to indicate that she had one major rehearsal for the show and the actual Saturday show...conflict forms and she Hoped not to be penalized but in reading here and her ONLY other friend that did NOT get a bid was a dancer too- so? What am I to think as her mom?
She was told at a house during 3 she was a perfect fit. During 12 another house said she felt like she was a sister already and get this she's a legacy at another house and wasn't asked to 3 party. My daughter had an open mind and comes from a family that is still involved in their greek organizations - she is registered for informal but I know it's not going to happen because no house will have not have met quota. She would love to get a "snap" bid but said how would they know she exists to want to give her one... We knew the process was a tough one which is why she worked her butt off to get a great gpa and be involved on campus in the fall. If any of you are in houses and have a snap bid to give - she's an awesome candidate. She has spent her life developing and working with philanthropies in fact her life goal is dance therapy to help girls who have to deal with emotional and physical issues. But the dancer thing still doesn't seem to make sense .... Thanks for listening and congrats to all those that were successful!

My daughter also did not get a bid, she has a very similar past, she was in the honor society , volunteered everyday with special needs all thru high school instead of taking study hall, has done mission work in Africa and The Dominican Republic. Etc. 3 houses for pref. round and got no bid.

I spoke with my daughter this morning and she is going to interview with DphiE, I think it will be an exciting experience for the girls. Have you spoken to your daughter about the DphiE option? They are starting recruitment today!!!
Hopefully she will give them a shot, it sounds like she would make a great addition!!

[Iu mom]

Originally Posted by hopeful mom

My daughter also did not get a bid, she has a very similar past, she was in the honor society , volunteered everyday with special needs all thru high school instead of taking study hall, has done mission work in Africa and The Dominican Republic. Etc. 3 houses for pref. round and got no bid.

I spoke with my daughter this morning and she is going to interview with DphiE, I think it will be an exciting experience for the girls. Have you spoken to your daughter about the DphiE option? They are starting recruitment today!!!
Hopefully she will give them a shot, it sounds like she would make a great addition!!

She's not sure sadly and yet excitedly this is also the week of the department dance auditions for their spring show- this is a mandatory requirement if her major and it's during the interview slot times
We are processing all the info but in the end it's her choice - I can suggest and listen but being 12 hours away that's all I can do

[Xidelt]

Originally Posted by Iu mom

She's not sure sadly and yet excitedly this is also the week of the department dance auditions for their spring show- this is a mandatory requirement if her major and it's during the interview slot times
We are processing all the info but in the end it's her choice - I can suggest and listen but being 12 hours away that's all I can do

Have your daughter talk to some of the DPhiE reps when they are tabling. They may be able to work with her schedule to find an interview time.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by Iu mom

Sorry for what may be a long first post....my daughter was a casualty of yesterday's bid day... In high school she was Homecoming court and prom princess as well as varsity dance captain and class secretary- and with a friend from home created an foundation that single handedly raised a quarter of a million dollars for a cancer family center after her friends dad passed from a brain tumor... She got a 3.5 gpa first semester at IU and participated at several campus philanthropic events- here's the thing ..she's a kinesiology AND dance major- as a dance major she was in a show during 12 party so prior to even 21 party she had to indicate that she had one major rehearsal for the show and the actual Saturday show...conflict forms and she Hoped not to be penalized but in reading here and her ONLY other friend that did NOT get a bid was a dancer too- so? What am I to think as her mom?
She was told at a house during 3 she was a perfect fit. During 12 another house said she felt like she was a sister already and get this she's a legacy at another house and wasn't asked to 3 party. My daughter had an open mind and comes from a family that is still involved in their greek organizations - she is registered for informal but I know it's not going to happen because no house will have not have met quota. She would love to get a "snap" bid but said how would they know she exists to want to give her one... We knew the process was a tough one which is why she worked her butt off to get a great gpa and be involved on campus in the fall. If any of you are in houses and have a snap bid to give - she's an awesome candidate. She has spent her life developing and working with philanthropies in fact her life goal is dance therapy to help girls who have to deal with emotional and physical issues. But the dancer thing still doesn't seem to make sense .... Thanks for listening and congrats to all those that were successful!

Mom, it sounds like all the chapters missed out on an exceptional young woman. After discounting the wacko way recruitment is done at IU, there are some factors that might have occurred that kept your daughter from receiving a bid. First would probably be the parties that she missed. Being excused from those parties did not mean that she would get a pass on to the next round of parties, especially if the next round is prefs. Being excused only meant that she would not be automatically dismissed from recruitment, like someone would who had overslept and missed a party. In my experience as an advisor, missing those parties, missing that opportunity to wow the sorority members, can really hurt a PNM.

Another factor is what I call the Russian roulette factor. While the sororities are whittling down their invitation lists, the PNMs are too. Sometimes there is smooth sailing, and the chapters the PNM is invited to return to match perfectly with her list. Often times it doesn't work out as well. Then you have a PNM who may have a full list of invitations, but only really likes one or two out of her returns. Then too, she might not have received the maximum number of invitations,and that reduces her choices going in to the next round.
The position the PNM appears on the chapter's invitation list, or when the chapter chooses not to invite her back, factors in to what invitations she receives. Her placement of the sororities she would like to return to, also factors in. The computer is trying to match the PNMs top choices with the sorority's list. If the PNM placed ABC sorority as her first choice, but ABC either didn't invite her back, or she was at the bottom of the list, she will not be going back to ABC. The computer would then go to her #2 choice and the same process would happen all over again. Hopefully she would be high on the list of #2 so there would be a match. If not, the computer continues on until it does have as many matches as it can give the PNM.

One more thing I can think of off the top of my head is knowing girls in the sororities. Even if she was each of her hostesses rush crush, if there were PNMs that were BFFs with a chapter member, those chapter members are going to be pushing for their hometown friend/schoolmate to be asked back. BFF might have spent several weekends at the sorority house with her sorority member friend.I am sure that the members who told your daughter that they just loved her and that they could really see her as an ABC were sincere. They probably truly felt what they were saying. But they have an entire chapter to convince and that is often difficult if few people know her. Then too, I would imagine that some majors that take up an extraordinary amount of non-class time, might have few women receiving bids, because the sorority members understand that those majors will be missing many sorority events.

I would urge your daughter to go find out what Delta Phi Epsilon has to offer. Hopefully there would be some time that she could schedule an interview. Ordinarily a colonizing sorority has many, many time slots to accommodate everyones busy schedules.

[Iu mom]

We knew all these factors going into rush at IU- but doesn't make it easier. Not only did all her IU friends get bids but her non IU ones too. She may just pray for a good sophomore rush next year and stay active in other organizations this year.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by Iu mom

We knew all these factors going into rush at IU- but doesn't make it easier. Not only did all her IU friends get bids but her non IU ones too. She may just pray for a good sophomore rush next year and stay active in other organizations this year.

Her IU friends who are new members can invite her to the sorority house for lunch or dinner. They can introduce her to their new pledge sisters as well as initiated sisters. They can invite her to participate with their chapters in open activities. She has the perfect opportunity to network through her friends.

[stbemtpynest]

I have a friend whose daughter is seriously considering IU in the fall. She is interested in joining a sorority. I don't want to discourage her from attending IU because I think it is an incredible university. But I will point my friend to this forum so she can be prepared for what may lie ahead.

One thing that's been mentioned here is that since IU does deferred recruitment, PNMs should be spending their first semester making or strengthening contacts with sorority women, especially by getting involved in activities. My daughter was involved in several activities first semester, but she didn't meet any sorority women. This may be a silly question, but what are the best types of activities to meet sorority women? Not that someone should join an activity just to meet sorority women, but maybe it's an activity they were already thinking about, and that would simply be more incentive.

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by stbemtpynest

I have a friend whose daughter is seriously considering IU in the fall. She is interested in joining a sorority. I don't want to discourage her from attending IU because I think it is an incredible university. But I will point my friend to this forum so she can be prepared for what may lie ahead.

One thing that's been mentioned here is that since IU does deferred recruitment, PNMs should be spending their first semester making or strengthening contacts with sorority women, especially by getting involved in activities. My daughter was involved in several activities first semester, but she didn't meet any sorority women. This may be a silly question, but what are the best types of activities to meet sorority women? Not that someone should join an activity just to meet sorority women, but maybe it's an activity they were already thinking about, and that would simply be more incentive.

I was heavily involved with Union Board (what they call student activities board at other schools) and there were sorority women there, though not a ton. It didn't help. Since they no longer have pre-rush dinners/events, the only way to get a leg up beyond knowing sorority members in classes is to know them from hometowns/high schools. Even then, it's a crap shoot.

[hopeful mom]

I just talked with my daughter and she is going to schedule an interview for DphiE, I am so excited!! I'm not getting my hopes up yet but at least she has another option!!! I know the system at IU does not seem fair but thank God they are bringing in these new chapters!!! It's going to give a lot of girls another opportunity!

[pinksequins]

Houses that did not heed the Panhellenic call for larger classes underscore that the collegians do have significant control over the process. Rhomom's protestations fall flat.

[pinksequins]

Hopeful Mom -- that is wondeful news. Your daughter sounds positive, level-headed and resilient (as do you!). There are interviews which hopefully will give your daughter a chance to shine in a way that formal recruitment does not permit. Very best wishes to you both!