Alabama Rush and First Cuts: Predetermined?

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by KyKKGviaFlorida

In one of the articles posted upthread, the Panhellenic office for Alabama reports that 85% of women going through Rush get a bid. Of course, that means 15% or close to 250-300 PNM's will not get bids. Again, this number is much higher than what I saw at UK. Any thoughts on why such a high number of PNM's end up bid less on bid day? Do the majority of the 15% simply "fail to maximize their options" and drop out in the middle of the week? Suicide Bidding? Or "cross-cutting'?

A little late I realize -- but thought this chart was interesting in terms of PMNs, bids received, and withdrawals/releases after each party (including pref). The 2012 stats have not yet been posted.

Apologies in advance for the format (if it is a hassle, I'll remove it). The chart can also be downloaded from this page:

http://greekaffairs.ua.edu/resources.cfm

[alphapimommy]

It was actually 79% during formal recruitment last year. They changed it to 85% after DG's colonized. Just my opinion but I think that many OOS girls have no idea what going through recruitment at a competitive recruitment school is like. They come in under prepared (they don't have multiple recs..or even just 1 for every house) and end up overwhelmed (where then they don't maximize their options,suicide or drop). That doesn't account for all that end up bid less but I believe it encompasses a good size group.

[Titchou]

From what I know there, more withdraw than are released. But it probably isn't overwhelmingly so. But I don't think 85% placement is all that bad. Consider that a percentage sign up even when they don't have the grades nor the recs. And the upperclassmen who don't get placed as well. I've already seen rec requests for several Juniors. They are going to have a tough time.

[AnchorAlumna]

As of tonight, roughly 13% have UNDER a 3.0.
Many of them will be released first.
A hefty percentage - I'm not going to guess - withdraw after the second releases (for skit day) when they don't have the "select" 5 or 6 on their list.
A small percentage get fed up by the process and drop out. An even smaller percentage withdraws due to boyfriend pressure, or conflicting schedules, or decide it's not for them, or don't like the stress etc.
There is also a small percentage who don't like their bid and don't even show up at their sorority on bid day, but I don't think that's included in the figures.

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

As of tonight, roughly 13% have UNDER a 3.0.
Many of them will be released first.
A hefty percentage - I'm not going to guess - withdraw after the second releases (for skit day) when they don't have the "select" 5 or 6 on their list.
A small percentage get fed up by the process and drop out. An even smaller percentage withdraws due to boyfriend pressure, or conflicting schedules, or decide it's not for them, or don't like the stress etc.
There is also a small percentage who don't like their bid and don't even show up at their sorority on bid day, but I don't think that's included in the figures.

Perhaps it's because the majority of the recs I write are for schools that have more competitive admissions standards, but it floors me that in this age of obscene high school grade inflation that such a large percentage of incoming college freshmen would have sub-3.0 GPAs. I can't even remember the last time I saw a rec request for a PNM with a GPA under 3.5 unweighted. Don't get me started on the weighted ones!

[Titchou]

Thanks for slamming our school!

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Thanks for slamming our school!

Who's slamming your school? 15% of your PNMs are under a 3.0 high school GPA. That's Alabama's admissions standards which are different from those I see.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek?

Who's slamming your school? 15% of your PNMs are under a 3.0 high school GPA. That's Alabama's admissions standards which are different from those I see.

Which could just as easily be less grade inflation in the high schools that feed into Alabama. I think class rank is an interesting thing to look at, but GPA is pretty much meaningless.

[28StGreek]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

GPA is pretty much meaningless.

YES! If stellar high school GPAs really translated to college success, mandatory study hours would not exist :-P

That being said, the All-NPC average at USC is well above the All-Women's and All-Undergraduate averages.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by 28StGreek

YES! If stellar high school GPAs really translated to college success, mandatory study hours would not exist :-P

That being said, the All-NPC average at USC is well above the All-Women's and All-Undergraduate averages.

And why is that a meaningful statistic? Any attempt to claim that sororities make your GPA higher is clearly a joke; I'm pretty sure that's clear.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Which could just as easily be less grade inflation in the high schools that feed into Alabama. I think class rank is an interesting thing to look at, but GPA is pretty much meaningless.

Most of our high schools here have eliminated class rank. I guess it hurts too many students' feelings.

[sigmadiva]

/swerve/

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Most of our high schools here have eliminated class rank. I guess it hurts too many students' feelings.

How does the school determine the valedictorian, or did they eliminate that too?

/back to thread/

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Most of our high schools here have eliminated class rank. I guess it hurts too many students' feelings.

This made me giggle. Do they all get trophies for graduating

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Which could just as easily be less grade inflation in the high schools that feed into Alabama. I think class rank is an interesting thing to look at, but GPA is pretty much meaningless.

Not when, according to actual Alabama people here, the other 87% of the PNMs have GPAs above 3.0 and for the most part the sororities will drop those who don't. I don't believe that the 13% would represent the only high schools on planet Earth that don't inflate grades.

[catfan]

I hate it when people compare the admission standards of private and public schools. Public schools, especially land-grant universities, are chartered to serve the residents of the state where they reside. The Morrill Act of 1862, enacted by Congress, established institutions "so that members of the working class could obtain a liberal, practical education." Private universities serve those who can afford to attend, which is great for those that choose that route. I'm not knocking private schools.
Happy 150th Birthday to the Morrill Act, and our public universities!