University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign Recruitment

[33girl]

Originally Posted by IndianaSigKap

Wow, I had no idea that Penn State quotas were so small. I assumed they would be huge. The chapters are smaller there than I guessed they would be. IU quotas fluctuate because of the bed quota system. Last year the new member classes at Indiana ranged from the mid 30s to the low 90s. Theta Phi Alpha should be colonizing soon at Indiana, I hope someone from TPA will let us know it went.

I think psusue said that total is 90 now. Remember that Penn State also doesn't have sorority houses.

[BlueOwl]

Really enjoying this thread!! Best of luck to all of the Illinois pnm's that we are reading about. I am rooting for an Alpha Phi or Kappa ending!!

[CubbieBlue]

My rec girl is having a blast! She had 13 parties yesterday, and right now has several "favorites"!

[Clara Mom]

Quick question. I have learned that at some houses legacies get an automatic return invite to the first round. Is this ever the case with a non-legacy recommendation? Do girls with recommendations automatically get an invite to the first party? Just want to know if I should be fretting that two houses she might like only invited daughter back because they had to ...

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by Clara Mom

Quick question. I have learned that at some houses legacies get an automatic return invite to the first round. Is this ever the case with a non-legacy recommendation? Do girls with recommendations automatically get an invite to the first party? Just want to know if I should be fretting that two houses she might like only invited daughter back because they had to ...

I think that also depends on the Chapter.

[scrapcat]

My daughter had 5 letters of rec to 5 different houses. If it means anything, she did get invited back to first rounds from all 5. She ended up getting a bid from one of her rec houses.

[FSUZeta]

even if she was invited back due to the chapter's policy, it gives her one more opportunity to shine and impress them.

[IL Anchor Girl]

One of my rec girls checked in and things are going really well so far. She had a conflict and missed one of the two first round sets of parties, so only made it to 9 of 18. (It was a school-related absence, and she notified all the houses by email as directed by her advisors.) She was pleasantly surprised to receive 12 invites back for 2nd round, including 3 from houses she did not make it to first stage. She is keeping an open mind, and has about 6 favorites right now. We'll see how many she gets asked back to for 3rd round, she would be excited if she can max out at 7 for that round.

For the 3 who asked her back when she didn't make it to first round parties, for those who are wondering, she had a rec for one and no rec for the other two. She's relieved she had a rec for the one because it's one of her favorites going in. But again, she is keeping a very open mind.

One surprise she had was how easy it was to make conversation - she had thought talking to essentially strangers would be much more awkward, but she said all the girls she met have been really friendly and easy to talk to. She's having a great time so far. I have my fingers crossed for her that she will have a full dance card for 3rd round.

Good luck to all the other daughters and rec girls as well!

[DubaiSis]

I think back in the day a rec got you a return invitation, but with so many girls knowing about recs and alums "selling" their sorority to the girls in their lives, they couldn't possibly invite back everyone based just on the fact that one was received. HOWEVER, having the rec means they know more about the girl in advance and can have a more directed conversation, which does increase her chances at being invited back. Unfortunately there are lot of girls with stellar credentials who a lot of chapters would love to have, if they only knew!

[psusue]

Originally Posted by IndianaSigKap

Wow, I had no idea that Penn State quotas were so small. I assumed they would be huge. The chapters are smaller there than I guessed they would be.

About 800-950 women start recruitment, but last year I believe only about 450 completed it. A LOT of women drop out because they don't get the invites they want; hence quota is smaller than one would expect.

Originally Posted by IndianaSigKap

So much interesting information in the last few posts! I knew that Penn State didn't have houses for sororities, do the fraternities have houses?

Yep, they do, and sororities used to have houses before WWII, but after that the cost of living rose and space opened up in the new dormitories so that is where they moved.

Originally Posted by 33girl

Yes, they have big, beautiful, gorgeous houses that make me drool just thinking about them. (Although I'm sure there's some shacks that I missed when I was there.) I think Penn State might have the largest number of fraternities of any system, but obviously they are not all the same size.

Most of the prettiest houses downtown are fraternity houses. Some are smaller and maybe less grand, but so many are beautiful in the architecture and proportions. I still remember on my first visit to PSU I kept saying "I like that house, and that one too" and my mom kept saying "they're all fraternity houses". I remember being so mad that I'd never get to live in them, some look really quaint and magical.

I've heard that if four sororities could move off campus at once that we could have off campus housing, however the chances of four houses suitable for sororities to live in being for sale all at once in State College, where housing and land is at a premium, is unlikely. Therefore we're moving toward the Greek Village concept, but again we'll see where it goes.

I think there are about 52 fraternities at Penn State, though I may be making up that number it's definitely more than 50. They range in size like 33girl said but we do have quite a lot.

//back to your regularly scheduled UIUC programming.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by psusue

I've heard that if four sororities could move off campus at once that we could have off campus housing, however the chances of four houses suitable for sororities to live in being for sale all at once in State College, where housing and land is at a premium, is unlikely.

I think Joe Paterno will be wearing an I <3 Pitt shirt before that happens.

While it does kind of suck that Penn State doesn't have sorority houses, I like it in a way because a lot of girls get to be part of Greek life that probably couldn't afford it at other schools.

Originally Posted by pearlalum

I'm relatively new to GC and pledged decades ago in the East Cost. So, please forgive me if this question has already been asked. Why do Illinois and Iowa do their recruitment process over two weekends? It seems like it would add to the stress for the PNMs and certainly for the Moms. Thanks.

I think the thing that adds the stress is postponing when the girls get their invites. IMO it's actually sort of nice to have it spread out so you have some time to think about what's happening and not make rash decisions instead of being (pun intended) rushed.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by 33girl

IMO it's actually sort of nice to have it spread out so you have some time to think about what's happening and not make rash decisions instead of being (pun intended) rushed.

Yes and no. The longer it is drawn out, the more outside influences come into play. I think this works against some chapters.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

Yes and no. The longer it is drawn out, the more outside influences come into play. I think this works against some chapters.

True. But it's my opinion/experience that if girls bow that much to those "outside influences" (tent talk, boyfriends, parents) they're just as likely to bow to them later rather than sooner - i.e. depledge - and then you're stuck halfway through with an open spot.

[scrapinfificat]

Friday feels like a long way off - sorry but I am really enjoying this thread. Not to mention I don't really care for cliffhangers!

[Clara Mom]

The Second Invitational starts at 8:30 am on Saturday. Do the girls get their invites on Friday night or Saturday morning?