Another rec question!

IliniGrkHopeful · #1 07-09-2009, 11:47 AM

Hi, I'm so sorry if this has been asked before, but I tried searching the site and didn't find it, so I figured I'd ask real quick.

I'm going to be rushing at the University of Illinois @Champaign this coming fall. I rushed last year, but as an out-of-state student who didn't know anyone, didn't get any recs, etc. I wasn't prepared for rush at all and ended up dropping out early.

Anyway, this year I'm planning on being much more prepared! I've looked into getting more recs, and have emailed my local alumnae organization (although they haven't emailed me back yet- should I try giving them a call?) I was talking to a very good friend of mine whose sister was a DG and she said that one of the best recommendation letters her sister got was written by someone who wasn't Greek at all. Is this even possible nowadays or do you have to be Greek to write a rec?

Thanks so much, and I really appreciate everyone who reads or replies to this!

lovespink88 · #2 07-09-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IliniGrkHopeful

Hi, I'm so sorry if this has been asked before, but I tried searching the site and didn't find it, so I figured I'd ask real quick.

I'm going to be rushing at the University of Illinois @Champaign this coming fall. I rushed last year, but as an out-of-state student who didn't know anyone, didn't get any recs, etc. I wasn't prepared for rush at all and ended up dropping out early.

Anyway, this year I'm planning on being much more prepared! I've looked into getting more recs, and have emailed my local alumnae organization (although they haven't emailed me back yet- should I try giving them a call?) I was talking to a very good friend of mine whose sister was a DG and she said that one of the best recommendation letters her sister got was written by someone who wasn't Greek at all. Is this even possible nowadays or do you have to be Greek to write a rec?

Thanks so much, and I really appreciate everyone who reads or replies to this!

This may be a dumb question, but are you sure your friend understood that you were talking about a recommendation for a sorority, and not a job or something else?

I've never heard of sororities accepting recommendation letters from people who were not a member of their organization.

IliniGrkHopeful · #3 07-09-2009, 12:29 PM

Yep, but her sister does go to a different school in a totally different area, so maybe that's why it's different. Also, it was a long time ago, so it might have been different back then I suppose.

PeppyGPhiB · #4 07-09-2009, 12:37 PM

Recs are forms provided by sororities' headquarters to be filled out by members and submitted directly to the chapter on the PNM's campus. Sororities are looking for recommendations from other sisters, since it's only sisters that know the qualifications for membership.

Your friend's sister most likely wouldn't have even seen any recommendations sent to the chapter on her behalf, so I would take what she told you with a grain of salt. The recs you need are ones from members, not just people that know you well. Preferably they're recs from members who do know you well.

IliniGrkHopeful · #5 07-09-2009, 12:41 PM

Great, that's what I thought. Thanks PeppGPhiB and lovespink88! As far as getting in touch with the alumnae group and chapter, any advice?

LAblondeGPhi · #6 07-09-2009, 01:36 PM

Sometimes the local Panhellenic Alumnae chapter isn't particularly active. It can vary widely by location. I'd say that you should give the Panhell group another call - kindly - and ask for their help again.

Additional thoughts would be to look for alumnae groups of individual chapters that are at your school. For example, if sorority XYZ is on your campus, try finding the local alumnae chapter for that organization in both the Champaign area and the area where you live. Introduce yourself and explain that you're looking for letters of rec for this year's recruitment, and you'd like the opportunity to meet some of the alumnae. See if there are upcoming alumnae chapter events where you can introduce yourself and drop off some of your resumes, headshots, school transcript, etc.

Others on here might give further insight as to whether that's a faux pas, but I don't see anything wrong with it.

Good luck!

ThetaDancer · #7 07-09-2009, 01:43 PM

It wouldn't hurt to call if contact information is available. In the summer, sometimes alum groups are less active so it's not abnormal for contact to take a little longer.

I agree with seeing if you can find information for a specific chapter's local alum group, instead of the general alumnae panhel. I don't know if I would ask to meet with members and pass out resumes and headshots though. Perhaps just explain that you're looking for information about letters of recommendation. I can only speak for my own group, but I know we have members who take on the responsibility of meeting with PNMs seeking recs and then taking it from there.

irishpipes · #8 07-10-2009, 03:30 PM

At this point I would be very proactive in securing your recs (without stalking). I wouldn't rely on alumnae panhellenic. I just this week finally got a stack of resumes from our local alumnae panhellenic. I have some chapters that want recs by mid-July and getting resumes the second week of July makes that very difficult. I know U of I has gone to a September recruitment, but you want to give your rec writers enough time to work on your rec.