RFM question

Ace23 · #1 08-20-2019, 08:15 PM

Hello everyone-

I posted earlier about my daughter going through University of Arizona recruitment. Unfortunately, there did not seem to be any experts regarding their recruitment. But I know many of you are experts about the recruitment process and might be able to give me a general answer to my question.

Arizona has 12 sororities and today was the first round of cuts to 8 chapters.then there is a round of 6 and preference which is two houses. My daughter Was cut by some but was left with enough for a full slate ( 8 houses ).
Some houses she loves(including my legacy house), some are ok and a few she is not connecting with as much. I have stressed about keeping an open mind to all chapters in the process.

So I know with rfm, chapters with high returns rates have huge cuts in the first rounds. I believe there were 1600-1700 Pnms. I am wondering what would be the cut rates stereotypically for the other rounds for chapters with high return rates? Mid return rates? Low return rates?

Also, if anyone knows in a general sense. In these large pledge classes we see, how many legacies do chapters typically carry 1-5,5-10,10-15. I know it varies but wondered what has been seen lately in a general sense.

Thank you for any info. It is stressful

Julie

KSUViolet06 · #2 08-20-2019, 08:45 PM

I don't know anything about this school, but on campuses I've worked with I've seen the strongest chapters having to release anywhere from 60%
to 70%. It varies by school.

Titchou · #3 08-20-2019, 08:46 PM

First of all, take a deep breath. Then open the bottle of wine and take a long swig.

Now, we can't really answer any of these questions because they are specific to each and every chapter. A chapter's release figure for any round is based on its historic return rates. As for how many legacies per chapter-it's as many as they want to risk taking. Some groups have rules about legacies returning to certain rounds. i suggest you find out what that is -if anything -for your group. Mine requires a chapter to put any legacies attending pref on the first bid list...but not all groups do that.

Now open that second bottle and chill. She had a full card and so she's going to be fine -and so will you!

KSUViolet06 · #4 08-20-2019, 08:54 PM

Honesty post::

RFM runs on historical data. It gets complicated and is not cut and dry.

There is a reason the Panhellenics bring in the RFM specialist to work with these numbers.

The average member doesn't even understand it. I only understand it due to my work with chapters and am far from an expert. I know it well, but not as well (example) as my friend who works with an entire region.

I can't imagine a parent trying to make sense of it.

You will stress less and stress your child less if you take a step back and not worry about the numbers. Worry about what she can control.

Ace23 · #5 08-20-2019, 09:02 PM

Oh, my daughter knows nothing about RFM or any part of that equation in recruitment. The only message I have been giving her is do your best and keep an open mind. I am just a mathematical person by nature and and like this type of thing. So “crunching numbers” per se helps ease my anxiety. But my daughter is blissfully unaware

sigmagirl2000 · #6 08-20-2019, 09:51 PM

Ha. RFM and number crunching is so fun! Unfortunately I don’t have any historical insight on this school!

Sororitysock · #7 08-21-2019, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace23

Hello everyone-

I posted earlier about my daughter going through University of Arizona recruitment. Unfortunately, there did not seem to be any experts regarding their recruitment. But I know many of you are experts about the recruitment process and might be able to give me a general answer to my question.

Arizona has 12 sororities and today was the first round of cuts to 8 chapters.then there is a round of 6 and preference which is two houses. My daughter Was cut by some but was left with enough for a full slate ( 8 houses ).
Some houses she loves(including my legacy house), some are ok and a few she is not connecting with as much. I have stressed about keeping an open mind to all chapters in the process.

So I know with rfm, chapters with high returns rates have huge cuts in the first rounds. I believe there were 1600-1700 Pnms. I am wondering what would be the cut rates stereotypically for the other rounds for chapters with high return rates? Mid return rates? Low return rates?

Also, if anyone knows in a general sense. In these large pledge classes we see, how many legacies do chapters typically carry 1-5,5-10,10-15. I know it varies but wondered what has been seen lately in a general sense.

Thank you for any info. It is stressful

Julie

No one replied to you because your question does not have an answer. RFM works at Arizona the very same way it works at other schools.

Even if you knew the return rates for each chapter, there would be no way to predict a PNM's chances anywhere because every PNM is different. Some may know half the chapter from high school. Some may be YouTube "stars" (God help me.) Some may be a triple legacy with a sitting sister. Some might be celebrispawn. Some might have looks that equal a supermodel. Some may have cured cancer. Some are plain. Some are extra brainy. Each chapter has a specific idea of what it believes makes the best member for their group. A PNM has no control over that, or how she compares to others. The only thing she can do is honestly show her best self and keep an open mind.

From my understanding, Arizona is one of the most competitive recruitments outside the SEC, but it has the same high placement rates other schools have with RFM as long as a PNM keeps an open mind and stays through the end. I am also under the impression that legacy status is not much of a factor and many PNMs are released from their legacy chapter by the first round it's allowed and definitely before preference if the chapter doesn't see a fit. Getting too attached to a legacy chapter is dangerous at most schools now. There are just too many of them.

I would be a tad concerned that your daughter has so many "only ok" and "not connecting" chapters left after just the first round. This doesn't sound like much of an open mind to me, and she will definitely need it there.

Now go drink some wine and relax. This is all out of your control. I'm sure you don't plan to be this legacy mom, but I'm going to say this for those in the cheap seats in the back: Don't be that legacy mom. Don't contact the chapter, headquarters, Alumnae group, office of Greek life or any other entity if Legacy is dropped. Yes, it happens, and probably more often than you'd believe in this day and age. Trust your younger sisters to make the best decision for both their chapter and your daughter.

chi-o_cat · #8 08-21-2019, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sororitysock

Some may be YouTube "stars" (God help me.) .

I had to smile at this part. The cover of the most recent Chi Omega magazine features a pair of identical twin collegiate members who are, in fact, You Tube stars.

amIblue? · #9 08-21-2019, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi-o_cat

I had to smile at this part. The cover of the most recent Chi Omega magazine features a pair of identical twin collegiate members who are, in fact, You Tube stars.

OMG - My daughter loves these girls.

carnation · #10 08-21-2019, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amIblue?

OMG - My daughter loves these girls.

Our Thai exchange student gets home from school and first thing, she watches their latest.

Sororitysock · #11 08-21-2019, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi-o_cat

I had to smile at this part. The cover of the most recent Chi Omega magazine features a pair of identical twin collegiate members who are, in fact, You Tube stars.

Was that the Baylor girls?

ChioLu · #12 08-22-2019, 03:22 AM

Yes, Brooklyn and Bailey McKnight. They were millionaires before they got to college. It all started with their mom doing YouTube videos of girls hairstyles, so they’ve been doing this since they were kids. They have branched out into a fashion line and even a hit music video.

Their recruitment video is entertaining as the twins didn’t tell each other what chapters they were going back to, so (maybe) a coincidence that they both ended up at Chi O.

SigmaCat · #13 08-22-2019, 03:32 PM

I kinda like them. They did a video with some of their non-ChiO friends and team members promoting panhellenism and encouraging people to rush with an open mind. One girl was in an NPHC group, another was an AOII, and another was DDD. /OT

Ace23 · #14 08-24-2019, 05:37 PM

Thank you for the replies. Today is preference and my daughter received invitations from her top two houses all week which includes her legacy house. Since my sorority does place legacies at the top of their bid list it makes for an easy night. Once it is official, I will let you know where she went.

NYCMS · #15 08-24-2019, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace23

Thank you for the replies. Today is preference and my daughter received invitations from her top two houses all week which includes her legacy house. Since my sorority does place legacies at the top of their bid list it makes for an easy night. Once it is official, I will let you know where she went.

Very best to her! I'm an alumnae of the Gamma Phi chapter there and have such wonderful memories of my entire rush, especially pref night which was magical. So many great chapters, one of my Gamma Phi sisters has daughters in a house there now, so I'm a bit more up to date on sorority life at Arizona than I used to be (I pledged in the late 70's).