Sorority & Rush Information Sessions for High School Seniors

[GPhiBLtColonel]

Are these sessions helpful? Are they needed? Can they be more helpful, esp given the comments we all see so frequently here on GC like "I just did not know etc" or I was so mis-informed, etc"

How can we help to make potential rushees better informed about rush and sororities BEFORE they get to college?
What can we do to stimulate more interest in high school girls about sororities and rush?

[33girl]

I think it depends on the area. Around here, people can go to big state-related schools like Pitt or Penn State, state system schools like Clarion or Slippery Rock, or private colleges like W&J or Westminster. Rush is TOTALLY different at these three types of schools and from school to school. In other words, what I might tell someone to do from my experience might be completely off for the school they are going to. This isn't even taking into account women who leave western PA.

[Jen]

Being from Canada, I learned NOTHING about sororities or rush in high school. I didn't even know there were sororities in my city when I got to college.

Luckily I then found this place, and learned so much I decided to rush. I was so lucky I'd had Greekchat way before I rushed, I felt like I knew much more of what to expect than anyone else. I was surprised at how little everyone knew, but in Canada Greek Life isn't as huge as it is in some parts of the US.

I think it would be awesome if Panhellenic reps from each sorority were allowed to go into the high schools and meet with graduating seniors (as opposed to making them come to you...since if word doesn't get out, not everyone will know), tell them about Greek life, and what rush is like, not only to make them aware of Greek life, but what they're in for if they decide to rush. I think once they get to college, they'd be so much more prepared, more people would be interested, and numbers would go up. Or so I'd like to think=)

I am just glad I had a Greekchat Info Session lol.

[adduncan]

I don't know how successful you would be getting high school administrators to allow GLOs to distribute information directly, but there may be another avenue.

One of the kinds of work I do for my alma mater is act as an AAV: Alumni Admissions Volunteer. We are groups of alumni who volunteer for Boston U in our home towns--manning a booth during "college night", giving presentations to HS seniors who've expressed an interest in applying, and once in a while do field interviews as part of the application process. This is not a unique thing to BU: most colleges/universities have either pros and or alumni handling these jobs.

If you could get some organized info into the hands of whoever does outreach to potential applicants, you'd achieve the same goal. You could fit it in the section under "Student Activities" or "Campus Life". Then, during "College Night", or what have you, you can introduce your GLOs and Greek life along w/ the school.

IMHO, it's a good idea. I helped staff a presentation in the fall to about 300 HS kids in the Houston area, and recently conducted an interview for an applicant. BOTH TIMES the FIRST questions I got were, "Is there a Greek system?" "Do you have a chapter of XYZ?" "Is there anything I can do now to prepare for rush?" Thank God I was up to date on our current Greek system and how it works--a lot of kids (esp in the South <g>) are really eager to hear it.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
:)

[adduncan]

I don't know how successful you would be getting high school administrators to allow GLOs to distribute information directly, but there may be another avenue.

One of the kinds of work I do for my alma mater is act as an AAV: Alumni Admissions Volunteer. We are groups of alumni who volunteer for Boston U in our home towns--manning a booth during "college night", giving presentations to HS seniors who've expressed an interest in applying, and once in a while do field interviews as part of the application process. This is not a unique thing to BU: most colleges/universities have either pros and or alumni handling these jobs.

If you could get some organized info into the hands of whoever does outreach to potential applicants, you'd achieve the same goal. You could fit it in the section under "Student Activities" or "Campus Life". Then, during "College Night", or what have you, you can introduce your GLOs and Greek life along w/ the school.

IMHO, it's a good idea. I helped staff a presentation in the fall to about 300 HS kids in the Houston area, and recently conducted an interview for an applicant. BOTH TIMES the FIRST questions I got were, "Is there a Greek system?" "Do you have a chapter of XYZ?" "Is there anything I can do now to prepare for rush?" Thank God I was up to date on our current Greek system and how it works--a lot of kids (esp in the South <g>) are really eager to hear it.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
:)

[Blue Violet]

At the highschool where I student teach, it is in our dress code that students are not allowed to wear greek lettered paraphenalia. Highschool is so cruel and cliquey that inviting sororities would make it so much worse. I can hear it now. "I'm gonna be a AD!" and then the fat girls are already shoved in to "rattle rattle hear comes the cattle...omega moooooo!" It would be horrible. I also think that it would totally turn off some of the wonderful PNM's that aren't in those cliques. I'd hate for plain Jane to think she has to be Barbie to rush...and no matter what the colleg girls looked like, it'd be the highschool girls setting the tone. Anyway, jsut my .02. We have Civinettes and Anchor club here and jeeeez, it's not supposed to be a popularity contest but the girls that get in and aren't "popular" end up dropping usually. it's so sad! Anyway, just me. i think they need that summer to get some distance and mature before rushing. Persoanlly i think should fall freshman should not rush anyway. Wait for grades.

[FuzzieAlum]

Depends where you're talking about ... in a big city where lots of girls are likely to go Greek, great. The problem is that the girls who know at that point they want to go Greek are the ones who need the least help!

I am from a smallish town (60,000 people), and believe it or not it is the biggest metropolitan area for three hours any direction! At my high school, I am aware of two other women and two men who went Greek from my class - out of 400 graduates - although there may be a few I don't know about. I don't think there are any individual sorority or Panhellenic alumnae groups in the valley. So the ROI for a Panhellenic to drive down and do a presentation would be poor. And yet this is the biggest goldmine - clearly this is a part of the country where Greek life has not yet reached its full potential. Most of our regional state schools have no GLOs at all.

[curlyagd]

Well.. let me preface this by saying I went to a huge school in Alabama where the vast majority of the girls went to Alabama and Auburn and ended up in very strong chapters on those campuses. Our high school counselors held an info session for senior girls one day after school. During that time, they passed out a book with "rush terms" like ice water tea parties.. just random stuff that people might have never heard of. They also had schedules of the rush events and I think even the applications for Alabama and Auburn. Beyond that, they listed all of our teachers (who were willing to write recs) and their affiliation in college so we could get recommendations. While I know this is not the norm, maybe a booklet like this could be helpful at some of the schools. I know I wasn't able to go to the meeting (golf practice) so I just went to the office the next day and picked up a book. If you have any other questions about my school atmosphere, or what else was in the book, just ask me! I can try to remember a little more.

[GPhiBLtColonel]

...that booklet idea curlyagd! Thanks!

[Shark In Skirt]

To be honest, I DON'T think it's a good idea to make special efforts to inform girls about rush, rush terms, etc.

"I just didn't know" isn't a good excuse for anything. Rush meant ALOT to me and so I went out there and researched it... that's how I ended up here at GC!

I think rush is, for the most part, an accurate process that eliminates the girls who really "want it" from the girls who are indifferent. The former will research the process of their own intiative whereas the latter won't!

XOXO,
Annie.

[Ginger]

I wish we had had something like this at our high school. I had 400 people in my entire high school (grades 7-12) and I think only about 10 kids per year went to college. Those who did rarely came back. I don't think any of us even knew sororities existed before we got to college. I didn't.

Because of that, I was at a COMPLETE loss when Rush happened freshman year. I honestly thought that "Greeks" were special clubs for people of Greek ethnicity, and didn't pay it any more mind. It wasn't until much later (and too late for me to rush again) that I figured out what was going on.

Maybe in bigger cities or southern areas kids know about going greek, but in smaller towns... it's a total mystery to most of us. And with Recruitment getting earlier and earlier, I think too many girls miss out.

[justamom]

I'm not exactly sure how long ago it was...over 5 years for certain.
Our Panhellenic Alum Assoc. Was allowed to set up a table at the High Schools and had little pamphlets and reps from SOME of the sororities (Here we go again.) ANYway, they stopped doing it. When I brought it up to one of the officers, I was told it really wasn't a good idea. WHY??? Get ready...
First, these sororities were NPC. There are 2 High Schools in our area the ladies would consider visiting, the other HSs did not have the same "interest" level...
Second, they really didn't have the "manpower" to write recs for girls they didn't know and who perhaps, "weren't cut out for sorority."
Third, with all the discrimination suits, they felt they were opening themselves up if they didn't visit all the HSs.
Fourth, they want the girls who represent OUR area to be of the "highest caliber" so a rec from their association carries some weight.


They now drop of fliers at the offices, an announcement is made, anyone interested picks up the application and turns it into the association.

[adduncan]

Originally posted by justamom
I'm not exactly sure how long ago it was...over 5 years for certain.
Our Panhellenic Alum Assoc. Was allowed to set up a table at the High Schools and had little pamphlets and reps from SOME of the sororities (Here we go again.) ANYway, they stopped doing it. When I brought it up to one of the officers, I was told it really wasn't a good idea. WHY??? Get ready...
First, these sororities were NPC. There are 2 High Schools in our area the ladies would consider visiting, the other HSs did not have the same "interest" level...
Second, they really didn't have the "manpower" to write recs for girls they didn't know and who perhaps, "weren't cut out for sorority."
Third, with all the discrimination suits, they felt they were opening themselves up if they didn't visit all the HSs.
Fourth, they want the girls who represent OUR area to be of the "highest caliber" so a rec from their association carries some weight.


They now drop of fliers at the offices, an announcement is made, anyone interested picks up the application and turns it into the association.

This is why, IMHO, information about Greek life should come from the **colleges** not from the GLOs themselves. Along with the fact that Greek life is different in almost every school you attend--according to dozens of threads on GC.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
:)

[adduncan]

Here's an online example from my own alma mater. When we have information nights or Summer Send-Off, I'm going to try to get the Student Activities Office to send me a boatload of the print version:

http://people.bu.edu/gogreek/viewbook/cover.html

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
:D

[Coramoor]

I was actually thinking about this today.

I brought it up to a few guys in my chapter and they liked the idea. I think I'm going to find out when the next college fair is at the local highschools and set up a booth there.

[kateshort]

Originally posted by Shark In Skirt

I think rush is, for the most part, an accurate process that eliminates the girls who really "want it" from the girls who are indifferent. The former will research the process of their own intiative whereas the latter won't!


This might sound dumb, but how do you know if you really "want it" if you've never heard about it? :confused:

I mean, yeah, there are some schools who send out fliers of rush information to all incoming women, because they have fall recruitment and have it before school starts, necessitating women moving in to dorms early... but not all schools do that. And let's face it, while many schools have web sites, not all of them have panhellenic pages, and many that *do* have greek sites haven't updated them recently.

(I keep a list of chapters, with links to chapter, panhel/greek, and school sites for each school that had an ADPi chapter, and trust me when I say that some sites have not been updated with recruitment information since 2000 or so.)

Not to mention that while it's easy to hear about recruitment at State U if you live near State U and all of your older siblings' friends go to State U, but it isn't so easy if you're going to school out of state.

Just like not all sororities have the same "personality" on every campus, not every campus has their recruitment or even "we have a greek system" info out there. If I ever become a Valpo Guild member and host a get-together for incoming freshmen, I'll be darned sure to tell them that there's greek life there!

[Munchkin03]

I attended one of these when I was a senior in High School. Basically, it was a"dos and don'ts" session for creating our recommendation information forms to send our recommenders. The women were alumnae of different sororities, and they all wore their NPC "Go Greek!" buttons. They were there to answer any questions we had and it was very informative.

Maybe it's the "South thing." I grew up in Northern Florida--more "gentility" southern than a lot of the traditional South. :P

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by Shark In Skirt
To be honest, I DON'T think it's a good idea to make special efforts to inform girls about rush, rush terms, etc.

"I just didn't know" isn't a good excuse for anything. Rush meant ALOT to me and so I went out there and researched it... that's how I ended up here at GC!

I think rush is, for the most part, an accurate process that eliminates the girls who really "want it" from the girls who are indifferent. The former will research the process of their own intiative whereas the latter won't!

XOXO,
Annie.

I think this would be ridiculous -- the Greek system would be missing out on a lot of great girls if they went by this idea.

As pointed out, a lot of girls in small towns know nothing about the Greek system. Girls from all kinds of backgrounds may never be exposed to anything other than the sorority girl stereotypes until they get to college. I was lucky enough to have had a camp counselor who was the epitome of everything I wanted to be, incredibly sweet, motivated and talented, nothing like the stereotypical sorority girl -- and the member of a sorority at the University of Minnesota. This experience definitely reshaped the opinions I held up until then of sororities, and she was a major factor in my decision to research the Greek system and eventually rush. But without this kind of exposure, I never would have realized that being in a sorority was the kind of thing I wanted to do.

I think it's important to maximize high school girls' interaction with sorority members (especially outside of the South, where Greek life is less of an expected course of action) in order to minimize the stereotypes -- this will definitely encourage more girls to rush. Leaving rush only to the girls who KNOW they want to be Greek and are motivated enough to do their own research is a bad idea, because there are so many girls who would make great sorority members but just don't know enough about it to know it yet.

[aopinthesky]

>>>"I just didn't know" isn't a good excuse for anything. Rush meant ALOT to me and so I went out there and researched it... that's how I ended up here at GC!

I think rush is, for the most part, an accurate process that eliminates the girls who really "want it" from the girls who are indifferent. The former will research the process of their own intiative whereas the latter won't!<<<

While my daughter is more like you, Shark, and researched things and asked around so she would have all the information and recs she needed before recruitment, not everyone knows to do that. She had my influence and we knew what to do to make things work for her. However, not everyone's mom was greek and they may not know how to even start the process. That doesn't mean they don't "really want it" or that they wouldn't make good GLO members.
My town has a loosely organized city Panhellenic Assn. made up of any interested NPC alum groups (or just individuals if their GLO has no local alum group). We hold an ice water tea after high school graduation each year (mostly publicized by word of mouth) and give the PNM's information about sororities, recruitment, etc. We also have them bring a picture and information packet for each NPC group at the school they will be attending. We then divide the packets up by GLO and get recs written for the girls. It works well for our local girls and gives them a good start.

[aopinthesky]

>>>(especially in the South, where Greek life is less of an expected course of action)<<<

I would have thought the opposite. Greek life is very much alive and well in the South. Almost everyone in my daughter's peer group (and mine for that matter) expected to join a GLO in college.

[Shark In Skirt]

Originally posted by kateshort
This might sound dumb, but how do you know if you really "want it" if you've never heard about it? :confused:

Not to mention that while it's easy to hear about recruitment at State U if you live near State U and all of your older siblings' friends go to State U, but it isn't so easy if you're going to school out of state.

Just like not all sororities have the same "personality" on every campus, not every campus has their recruitment or even "we have a greek system" info out there.

Maybe it's a west-coast thing... but I don't see how one could NOT know that sororities and the Greek system is out there are nearly all Califiornia's schools. With either a UC or a state school about two or three hours from nearly every city in California, if not much less, how hard is it to expect a potential rushee to call ahead, ask for brochures, check out websites, etc.?

Also regarding your comment about going to school out of state, if you are going to a college not in your home-state, would that school really send representatives to your highschool to get information out about rush? That sounds difficult to accomplish.

Originally posted by apininthesky
However, not everyone's mom was greek and they may not know how to even start the process. That doesn't mean they don't "really want it" or that they wouldn't make good GLO members.


My mother was not Greek and in fact did not go to college in the United States. Surely if a girl got into college, she could research the rush process for herself!

Perhaps girls who are for the most part uninformed about rush would make great GLO members, but I would much rather take the girl who, of her own intiative, went through rush well informed rather than the one who didn't know what a sorority truly is up until a few days before rush.

Maybe this attitude goes along with the fact that the Greek system at my school seems to attract plenty of girls each year without downright aggressive recruitment.

XOXO,
Annie.

Editted for typos

[aopinthesky]

>>>Maybe this attitude goes along with the fact that the Greek system at my school seems to attract plenty of girls each year without downright aggressive recruitment.<<<

And it sounds as if you do not realize much about how other colleges may operate, outside of what your experience has been. There are many, many colleges in the United States that are in rural areas and their students are from small high schools. A lot of the time, these students are first generation college students. Just because they don't go into the process with all the information that they need to get into the sorority that they have chosen for themselves, does not mean that they should be immediately discounted for lack of preparation. It is fortunate for your campus that you don't have to deal with uninformed PNM's. I doubt that is the norm.

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by aopinthesky
>>>(especially in the South, where Greek life is less of an expected course of action)<<<

I would have thought the opposite. Greek life is very much alive and well in the South. Almost everyone in my daughter's peer group (and mine for that matter) expected to join a GLO in college.

Oops -- that was a typo -- I meant to say "especially OUTSIDE of the South, where Greek life is less of an expected course" of action. :)

[adduncan]

Annie--

Some of us posting are writing from a perspective of having experienced college/GLOs/alumni/etc from way outside where they were born. It sounds like you know the California system pretty well. However, how about New England, the Mid-Atlantic East Coast, Mid-West/rural, Mid-West/urban, Texas, and SouthEast? Those are the types of colleges and school systems I've communicated with personally over the past 12 years as a college alum. Let me tell you, they are as different from each other as red is from green. I can guarantee that the Greek system at Boston U (the one I've had the most experience with personally) is extremely different from yours in California.

As far as schools or groups going into high schools to talk about rush: scroll up for my post on the subject. Yes, they do--as part of "Campus Life" in introducing their programs to potential applicants. I know, because I'm one of those people who does it on a regular basis.

No one is really arguing here--it's just that those of us pointing out the differences may have had a few more trips around the sun to see them.

;)

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
:)

[33girl]

Annie, I think a lot of it does have to do with where you are. Here in PA we have state schools too, but the Greek system isn't always well publicized. Not to mention we still have a lot of very rural areas and first generation college students - I wouldn't be surprised if there are some people just in the past year who are the first in their school to go Greek at all.

[Ginger]

Originally posted by aopinthesky
There are many, many colleges in the United States that are in rural areas and their students are from small high schools. A lot of the time, these students are first generation college students. Just because they don't go into the process with all the information that they need to get into the sorority that they have chosen for themselves, does not mean that they should be immediately discounted for lack of preparation.

Thank you!! This is what I was trying to say. My parents and the majority of my friends' parents (both in high school and college) didn't even graduate high school, much less go to college. I find it rather offensive that I am not worth having simply because I wasn't born and bred knowing how the Greek system worked.

Originally posted by Shark In Skirt
how hard is it to expect a potential rushee to call ahead, ask for brochures, check out websites, etc.?

Very hard, if the Rushee doesn't know such a thing as greek life EXISTS. My friends and I should have called the school and said "hey, tell me about that thing I've never heard of"? Please. That would be the whole reason for the Sorority and Rush information sessions that we are discussing...

[justamom]

I think we all tend to form opinions based on personal experiences. Even being Greek didn't prepare me OR my daughter for what she would experience during rush, GC did. Yet, every OTHER Mom (in my circle) seemed to know. I really do think young women without information are at a disadvantage, IN SOME INSTANCES, definitely not ALL instances.

I can't buy the argument that some girls don't know what a sorority is or does...I will say that their image may be tainted
by movies, TV or Miss America Pageants. (That is where some REAL work needs to be done-breaking the stereotypes.)

aopinthesky-My town has a loosely organized city Panhellenic Assn. made up of any interested NPC alum groups (or just individuals if their GLO has no local alum group). We hold an ice water tea after high school graduation each year (mostly publicized by word of mouth) and give the PNM's information about sororities, recruitment, etc. We also have them bring a picture and information packet for each NPC group at the school they will be attending. We then divide the packets up by GLO and get recs written for the girls. It works well for our local girls and gives them a good start. I wish our town did this...

You still don't reach the smallest of communities and if these young women attend a campus with a very competitive system,
they won't have the knowledge about recs or the ramifications should they decide to rush their Sophomore year and a host of other unwritten "rules". Maybe the answer lies in a stronger
campus Panhellenic that gets the info out there with the college
brochure. My son received a TON of literature from numerous colleges. ALL plainly listed the fraternities and sororities on campus. It also listed every other organization. So, you see both sides have a point in this discussion. Ultimately though, it really is up to the individual to go to the web site, do a little research and find out what they can. Right or wrong, I don't see any other real solution. (Perhaps deferred rush???)

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

I just have to say this..............

I didn't know anything about greek life when I went away to college (live here in WA, went to school in St. Louis). No one in my family's greek, I led a very sheltered life and I went to a school where I knew no one. I just signed up for Rush, tried it out and found a home. No knowledge ahead of time.

Considering I have helped found an alumnae chapter, am now an International Officer, the Chair of a Task Force, and I support our locl collegiate chapter I think I have turned into a pretty good GLO member.

Sorry, but that just rubbed the wrong way.

[Manda03]

Hi! My name is Amanda!I am high school senior, and I am going to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the fall. No one in my family has ever been in a sorority let alone knows anything about it. I am really intrested in joining though. I have looked at tons of web sites talking about rush etc, but I still feel confused. My main concern is there are only three sororities on the campus I am going to. I want to distinguish myself so I get in the one thats "right for me", but im not sure how. Since I dont know anyone who has been in a sorority a recomendation is a little out of the question. Also, I don't know anything that I should do before I get to college. This is something that means a lot to me. Being apart of a group of friends you can relate to and share with voulenteer with laugh and cry together that sounds awesome! Going into college is already pretty stressful as all of you know im sure..not knowing anyone..worried about your classes..and money..and all that. I really want to know more about going Greek and rush etc but I just dont know who to ask. I have posted on a few boards like this. I have emailed a director at my campus, but their Greek websites arent really updated. I hope that someone will read this who can help. Thanks so much for your time!

[justamom]

Manda-There is a wealth of information strewn about on GC.
There is a big difference between a "Southern Rush" or a huge Greek systemn like Indiana, Oklahoma etc... compared to A&M in Corpus. Not to say it isn't competative. Just kind of sift through things that may not apply. These links will take you to some threads about tips. You can also refine your search and try to find more. Don't disregard a thread because it is dated 2000 or 2001. Good advice is good advice no matter how "aged" it is.
Good luck and KEEP POSTING!


http://130.94.21.174/gcforums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2363&highlight=rush+tips

http://130.94.21.174/gcforums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2336&highlight=rush+tips

http://130.94.21.174/gcforums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2321&highlight=rush+tips

[kateshort]

Originally posted by Shark In Skirt
Maybe it's a west-coast thing... but I don't see how one could NOT know that sororities and the Greek system is out there are nearly all Califiornia's schools. With either a UC or a state school about two or three hours from nearly every city in California, if not much less, how hard is it to expect a potential rushee to call ahead, ask for brochures, check out websites, etc.?

Also regarding your comment about going to school out of state, if you are going to a college not in your home-state, would that school really send representatives to your highschool to get information out about rush? That sounds difficult to accomplish.

My point exactly! (Though I probably didn't state it well.)

If you're going to a school out of state, or one that isn't the usual pick, you *won't* get a bunch of people telling you what its campus greek life is like, or even that they have one. Sure, many campuses send out info *listing* that they have greek orgs, often buried among other campus orgs and activity groups, but that doesn't mean that a person knows what a sorority truly is. Or especially what greek life at that campus is like-- strong or dwindling, party-heavy or service-oriented, cooperative or competitive, etc.

Not all campuses send out info on recruitment. Many do, if the recruitment is in fall, but many don't if it occurs in spring. How many times do we hear people saying that they didn't know they *had* to rush as a freshman to get a chance, that they *had* to solicit their own recs, that they could find a local alum panhel org to make contacts to get those recs, etc.


Originally posted by Shark In Skirt
Perhaps girls who are for the most part uninformed about rush would make great GLO members, but I would much rather take the girl who, of her own intiative, went through rush well informed rather than the one who didn't know what a sorority truly is up until a few days before rush.

Possibly, but I'd rather have someone who was the *right fit* for my org and didn't know much about the sorority system before she signed up, than someone who researched the whole thing, thought she'd be a perfect fit for our group, and *wasn't* a good fit at all. Rec or no rec.

As for knowing what a sorority truly is? I'd wager that many of us didn't *really* know what a sorority truly is until we'd finished our pledge periods, been initiated, and been a dedicated and loyal sister for a few years. I was in a local sorority, and while it was nice, I don't keep in touch with most of those women. OTOH, having been alum-initiated into ADPi a few years ago when that chapter went national, and having been involved with the chapter during the past year, I see the whole system with different and new eyes, and find myself excited to be a sister to those collegians.

Yeah, maybe your greek system at your school attracts a lot of women to recruitment, but that doesn't mean that it works at other kinds of schools in other parts of the country with other greek systems. And I think we'd get a lot of great women if it was better advertised to those who don't just want to be the traditional sorority-girl stereotype, or those whose families went greek in school, or those who are great campus leaders but who were turned off by the stereotypical frat-mat image. I really think we're missing out on some quality people. Sure, at some schools, these are the women that you get through COB, but how nice it would be to have them rush in the first place!

[justamom]

You know what Kate, I don't think there's a real disagreement here at all. What started out as one topic has evolved into another. A few general statements were made and somehow, it got all out of whack!

I think one of the best statements you made was loosely about not knowing what a sorority was until you finished pledgeship and had some time as an active. I would venture a guess, based on my own Greek experience, many may NEVER really know...

No one in their right mind would argue that some girls who are so indoctrinated with the "system" make HORRID sisters while others who "stumbled" into the process may be the next National Officer. Yet, I think we all can agree that there IS a system and yes, it does differ from campus to campus. Most of us too would agree that for girls IN GENERAL, it is beneficial to know as much as they can about their campus and THEIR system.

I guess I feel
Knowledge is power.
Everyone has seen either Legally Blond, Animal House or Sorority Life:rolleyes: (This REALLY is sarcasm!)
Those who WANT it bad enough will seek out information.
It would be nice if everyone found a spot...but they don't.
Bottom line, IF someone really DESIRES to be in a sorority, it is because they have some concept of what a sorority is, or at the very least, what they THINK it is.

Are we all arguing if a girl should go out there and search for information OR, should it be spoon fed???
I've kind of lost what it is we are all talking about!:confused:

[GPhiBLtColonel]

...just returned from our regional leadership conference and while there I asked some of the collegians what they thought about high school info sessions for passing on sorority information and they all thought it was a great idea -- only one of the collegains I talked to (out of a total of just 8) had known anything about sororities beforehand. The others wished they had known something while in high school.
I then asked the girls what was the best way to get high school senior girls to COME to one of these sessions? To wit -- Our brand-new alum Panhel association did one session last year -- our first -- but it was poorly attended -- okay sure we did not deconflict the date with the high school prom calendar and our session was the day after the prom! (dumb I know)
But thanks to word of mouth we had other girls who were not there download our forms from the website and get them to us by our deadline to get recs etc...the girls who did come and/or who did get their paperwork to us -- we had 9 total -- all got into sororities except one (since this girl seemed to be a HUGE partier and was not much into studying -- this was a blessing methinks;) )
Anyways, the collegians I asked about this said they thought I had a good idea to advertise our info session in the high school newspapers and they all said the ads should emphasize what is available once you become a member of a sorority -- particularly scholarships...
So I guess we will try that approach this year -- we DID deconflict the date of our session with the area proms -- ;) and we shall see what increase -- if any -- we get in interest and attendance...I do like the idea of creating a booklet as someone posted earlier on this thread though I think that will have to wait til next year...
I think we will keep doing these sessions and we will continue to strive for good local publicity so more young women will see the Panhel name out there and realize it can be a good thing to join a sorority!

[kateshort]

Originally posted by justamom
Everyone has seen either Legally Blond, Animal House or Sorority Life:rolleyes: (This REALLY is sarcasm!)
Those who WANT it bad enough will seek out information.
It would be nice if everyone found a spot...but they don't.
Bottom line, IF someone really DESIRES to be in a sorority, it is because they have some concept of what a sorority is, or at the very least, what they THINK it is.


That's part of the problem.

I think a lot of those who seek it out seek it out because of what can be stereotypical portrayals. Those who "really want it" may have a totally different perception of greek life if they've only seen the above portrayals. I'm not saying that they'd make horrid sisters, not at all! But the fact that someone *wants* it because she wants to live in a house like the "Delta Nu's" in Legally Blonde is going to get a huge culture shock if she thinks that Valpo sorority life is going to be like that! (I wish we all had over a hundred members and a house to live in!)

The other thing is, stuff like MTV sorority life may actively *turn away* quality women, because they get the idea that all sororities on all campuses are like that. If I thought that I needed to look like the girls of Delta Nu to get into a sorority, I'd never go through formal rush. Why bother researching the sororities if you feel that you don't have a chance against a bunch of rich, long-haired party girls? Again, it doesn't mean that they'd be great sisters, but how can you find out if they don't get interested in rush? By the time some women realize that sorority life isn't that stereotype, and *want* to rush, it may be too late for them since all of the houses are at quota and only want freshmen.

I think that we as individual sororities, and as GLOs in general, need to think about marketing. We want to attract many different kinds of women, not just one stereotype of women.

It's kind of like me going to college. I never would have thought about Valparaiso University if they hadn't done a "Valpo Sunday" at church with alumnae speakers and displays and flyers about what Valpo had to offer. *Because* I saw that information, and heard about the good qualities of the school, I did want to know more. But I would have never "done the research" into Valpo if my church hadn't had a Valpo Sunday. Similarly, I think there are women who won't research what greek life has to offer until they are given *some* information about what NPC sororities are really like (both in general and on specific campuses).

So no, I don't think that women need to be totally spoon-fed, but if you want to have a more diverse, quality group of women to choose from, you need to market a broader and more accurate picture of sorority life to women. Again, not that that applies to every campus, but it needs to apply to some.

Valpo has seven sororities, and had less than ninety women go through recruitment. Sixty-five received and accepted bids (snap or otherwise) on bid day. That's *fewer* than some sororities take for ONE PLEDGE CLASS!

Like I said, if your campus doesn't have a problem attracting a diverse group of women, you may be fine... but GC has often had stories of women asking if they can get a bid as a sophomore. Wouldn't it be nice if they had known enough to decide whether to rush as freshmen, and decide to investigate sorority life on their campuses before it's "too late"?

[gphiangel624]

Originally posted by kateshort


Yeah, maybe your greek system at your school attracts a lot of women to recruitment, but that doesn't mean that it works at other kinds of schools in other parts of the country with other greek systems. And I think we'd get a lot of great women if it was better advertised to those who don't just want to be the traditional sorority-girl stereotype, or those whose families went greek in school, or those who are great campus leaders but who were turned off by the stereotypical frat-mat image. I really think we're missing out on some quality people. Sure, at some schools, these are the women that you get through COB, but how nice it would be to have them rush in the first place!

Just as a little addition to this, Annie is a member of my chapter and although it sounds as if a lot of women come through recruitment at UCR with knowledge about sororities, there really aren't a lot of women that come through recruitment, sadly. For those who are actually interested and informed, it's because they, as PNMs, are willing to get the information on their own (such as Annie did through GC). Formal recruitment at UCR really only consists of about 150-185 PNMs, at least over the past few years. Our Greek system is not really growing because of these numbers- it is thriving on the same numbers (most houses hit total of 70 probably once during a year, but then are down to 40 or 50 once people graduate... and we start over again with the same problem).

Although I somewhat agree with Annie about how it's usually easier and sometimes better for a chapter to take girls who are more informed than others (i.e. they know what they're getting into in the areas of dues, time management, etc), I also think that part of UCR's problem is weak publicity of the Greek system. We aren't really allowed to do much (no more dorm-storming, can't talk to PNMs over the summer anymore, etc.) and our local high schools don't really feed in many students. We're a commuter school, but people from up to an hour away from campus will commute, which leaves little time for social life.

Sad to say, but I just don't think if our particular school advertised to local high schools, it wouldn't get even 2% of the graduating seniors interested in recruitment at ANY school.

[Manda03]

hey speaking of this if anyone knows about an information session in my area please email me or post on here..im from Dallas,Tx. thanks!!

[justamom]

Well, it sounds like you (Kate) and I are on the same page, because I too think the concept of marketing is a good one. In fact, I am of the belief that half of the strength of a sorority on any given campus has a LOT to do with the way they "market" themselves.

We just have a whole different problem with our location because
instead of helping, I really believe OUR Pan. Alum Assoc. closes doors to many girls. As an individual, I know I try my hardest to stir up interest in Greek life, but since AXO doesn't have a chapter at LSU, the best I can do is help them locate people to write a rec, make them aware of deadlines and such and share a few tips from GC along the way. Just like each campus is different, so is the mindset of the ones in control of the information. Here, it would appear they don't WANT to market rush...they would like to hand pick it.:(

Maybe if enough of YOU guys bang the drums, we will see some changes. Sad to say, or area is going backward rather than forward.

[aephi alum]

I wish I'd had the opportunity to attend an information session. Rush is stressful enough when you -do- know what to expect.

However - even if such a session had been offered in my area, my parents would never have permitted me to attend. My father in particular is vehemently anti-greek. Kate and JAM, I'm with you on the marketing idea, but it has to be directed at parents as well as at PNMs.

I think an information session would be most beneficial if it (a) stuck to general descriptions of how formal and informal rush works - things like what a rho chi is, what snap bids are, etc.; (b) didn't mislead PNMs into thinking that everyone gets a bid, you don't need recs (at some schools), fill in your favorite myth here...; (c) was open to all NPC groups; (d) was open to all HS senior women and their parents.

[AnchorAlum]

MANDA! Call the Panhellenic Office at SMU right away, they may be able to give you the dates of the Dallas Rush Forum OR the Richardson/Plano Rush Forum held at the University of Texas at Dallas, which you could call as well. Try the Student Life office. Both are held usually in the month of February, so get moving!!!
I was the Rush Coordinator for Richardson Panhellenic for a few years back in the late 90's and we usually had over 400 girls and their moms attend.
There was a sign in/register process, with a general session for all the girls. Then you broke up into groups according to where you were going to school - UT, A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, as well as out of state schools like OU and LSU. Then there was a group for "far away" schools. The in-states had an active/RhoChi from their schools to answer questions.
One thing for sure - the sheets they filled out were copied, given to each Alumnae Chapter's Rush Chairman so that these girls could get their recs no matter where they were going. The girls were also given a list of each sorority's alumnae contacts/Sponsorship chairs to contact about rush questions, rec requirements, etc.
Texas schools are very specific about photos, etc. while some schools in the North and Midwest tell the freshmen they don't even need a rec.
I will tell you this, however. If it is 1 a.m. and they like you, you're from out of state but have no rec, and Mary Sue from in state has one and they like her too - they take the path of least resistance. I always told the rushees to get recs and many times their Mother would call me when rush was over and say "Oh, boy were you right!"
I think it is important to have as much info as you can get, and to see girls from different groups. Understand that group ABC at Texas is very different than ABC at say, Indiana. Throw out preconceived notions, keep your eyes open and have fun!

[GPhiBLtColonel]

...encourage parents to come to our sorority info sessions as well -- last year even though we only had a handful of girls show up, all of them brought their moms -- none of whom had been in sororities! We had three collegiate sorority girls speak too (disguised as vanilla sorority girls -- no letters etc) and they emphasized what a great enviroment it was for girls who are away from home for the first time --what they said allayed some parents' fears...

I guess what I hope to hear from GC is how to get more girls who would typically not even consider sorority membership to attend our info sessions....is there a magic phrase? And I sure hope the newspaper ads in the H.S. papers work!

[Manda03]

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIVE THIS..that meeting was yesterday...talk about discuraging. I wish there were someway i could just mail a resume and have an interview with someone and they could write me a rec..this is very complicated. Anyone have any suggestions..thanks again guys...

[FuzzieAlum]

Kateshort, you're right on. We know - but just the stereotypes - until we get up-close, first-hand experience. And depending on where you go, that experience may come too late.

Before college, of course I had heard of fraternities and sororities. And I "knew" they were for rich, popular types of girls, snobs and sluts and dumb blondes. That wasn't exactly an incentive for me.

When I started visiting schools as a senior, and my best friend started getting excited about rush, I changed my mind to some extent. OK, sorority girls were nice people and not snobby, but they still weren't "like me." I wasn't homecoming queen or rich, or even a cheerleader like my best friend - I wouldn't fit in.

No, none of the schools I applied to sent me rush info - although Greek orgs were visible in the glossy pamphlets. At the school I ended up at, I got no info on rush, period. Then that fall I started meeting Greek women, like my wonderful RA, and my friends who were planning to rush, and that got me interested. Luckily for me, formal rush was second semester, and anyway upperclassmen did get bids. But "luck" is the key - what if rush had been before classes? How would I have known I wanted Greek life, since, to my knowledge, I didn't know well a single GLO member?

For GLOs to maintain numbers and continue to exist, we must rush more than just those women steeped in Greek life from an early age. And if we don't want to be vilified or mocked in the forum of public opinion, we need to inform the general public that GLOs are not all Animal House and Sorority Life. You might not care if first-generation Sally from that small town goes Greek - but what about when she grows up to be university president? You had better hope she thinks well of the Greek system when the next Greek scandal goes down on campus, or she'll start closing your system down.

[33girl]

I totally agree with kate & fuzziealum and of course, I am going to take another opportunity to proselytize for deferred rush. :) I don't mean this silliness where the freshmen are segregated from Greeks for a semester, but the women get a chance to know the sororities as real people, and get their bearings as well.

If I would have gone to a "pledge first semester or nothing" school, I never would have. I had just spent the last few years putting up with the "A Group" (those of you who have seen Romy & Michelle's HS Reunion will understand :D) and the last thing I felt confident enough to do was go through rush. Luckily, I got to spend my first year hanging out with sorority members and getting to know them on my floor. It made me realize this was something I wanted to be a part of and COULD be a part of because all that high school bullshit was over and done with.

I think there are a lot of women out there like me, who want time to figure out who they are and realize they are no longer just someone's sister or daughter or whatever they did in 7th grade. When you don't give them time to do that, you are shutting out a lot of people.

[Ginger]

Out of curiousity... for those of you who didn't have Greek friends or family before college... how did you hear about sororities and fraternities?

I keep hearing people say "of course I knew what fraternities and sororities were..." how?

I'm just curious, because as I stated before, I had never heard of it before college (and my school didn't send out anything about ANY student orgs, much less greeks)

[adduncan]

Originally posted by 33girl
I think there are a lot of women out there like me, who want time to figure out who they are and realize they are no longer just someone's sister or daughter or whatever they did in 7th grade. When you don't give them time to do that, you are shutting out a lot of people.

AMEN TO THAT!

One of the things I like about the BU Rush/Recruitment system is that freshmen rush 2nd semester (formal only) w/ COB/Informal reserved for sophomores/juniors during the 1st semester. So not only do freshmen get to settle in, "find themselves" (to paraphrase 33girl) and get to know the school, they can actually learn about what GLO they might fit into best, and maybe hear some rush stories first-hand from the COBers. (No, it isn't the same, but it isn't walking in blind, either.)
Part of the reason this works may be because there is no dedicated Greek housing, so those logistics do not factor into the equation of when new members need to be decided upon.

Out of curiousity... for those of you who didn't have Greek friends or family before college... how did you hear about sororities and fraternities?

You're going to hate this but.........
My first/primary impressions were made by popular media. You know, those God-awful made-for-TV movies in the 70s, not to mention sitcoms w/ a teenage-girl demographic. Which is probably why I waited til sophomore year to rush. After I got to school, I had the opportunity to meet people in GLOs and get a more accurate impression.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
:)

[PhiMuLady150]

I grew up in Ohio so I didn't hear anything about greek life until my 2nd summer at Camp Greystone in Tuxedo, Nc. The majority of girls who attend this camp are from the south and generally have greek life in their heads by the time high school rolls around. Also, the majority of female counselors at this camp were in sororities. My counselor that year was a Kappa Kappa Gamma and she had Kappa Kappa Gamma EVERYTHING around her bed! Frames, pillowcases. pictures etc etc.

I didn't think much of it until my mother told me that she was against sororities and that she didn't want me in one. Being a "good girl", I was set on my guns no to join GLO. However, all my friends began rushing and I felt I was missing something. My best friend Cate is a Kappa Alpha Theta at SMU and we talked daily during her rush week, I have never talked to someone so excited about rush! Her mother even purchased the book, "Ready to Rush" for her prior. Also, she had extra pressure because of potentially being chosen to debut in Nashville(hometown). She was a legacy to Pi Beta Phi but knew that if she didn't go THETA or TRI-DELT, she wouldn't be invited to debut. Basically because the committee that choses the girls is made up of THETA and TRI-DELT alums. Anyhow, she was in love with THETA from the start and she got her wish. SMU has a pretty compitative greek system and I believe THETA, KKG and Pi Phi are the top houses.

Anyhow Spring of 2000, I was invited to informal parties for Alpha Phi, Sigma Kappa and Phi Mu. Alpha Phi never called back, Sigma Kappa called on Bid Day and told me they couldn't offer me a bid because of my GPA and long story short, I was a Phi Mu by the next week! My college experience with Phi Mu wasn't long due to transfering to UNCC but I am enjoying alumnae status!

But really, if it hadn't been for camp or my best friend, I probably wouldn't have joined a sorority.

[AnchorAlum]

Manda-
So Sorry to hear you missed it by 'that' much! Did you miss both forums? The Panhellenic office at SMU might be able to give you the PO box of the Dallas Panhellenic and you could send them a note asking for a sign up sheet and info on contacts.
Red Oak is south of Dallas, right? Or is it Fort Worth?
Where are you planning to go to school? Many of the larger schools in TX have Panhellenic offices and they can give you local contacts as well.

[Manda03]

Hi! Yes, Red Oak is south of Dallas. I am going to school at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. I called the school and they said the regisration forms arent even available until summer and they didnt really have the information I needed. I havent been able to get a hold of the SMU office I keep getting a voicemail, but I did do something. There was a website for the Dallas Panhellenic Council, and I registered through them. They are suppose to set you up with someone in your area who can help you more,so basically I am just counting on that. Thanks again for all your help!

[AnchorAlum]

Good for you Manda!! Your persistence and determination paid off. I wish you the very best in Rush - please don't forget to come on here during recruitment at TAMCC and share your experiences!

[BSUPhiSig'92]

Manda:

I'm a Greek advisor at Southern Illinois, but I happen to be friends with the advisor at Corpus Christi. Her name is JoAnna Franke. You can reach her office at 361-825-2706 or at franke@falcon.tamucc.edu . Tell her that John Davenport at Southern Illinois Edwardsville referred you to her. She will be totally freaked out! From what I know from JoAnna, the Greek community at Corpus Christi is fairly new and a lot smaller than at other Texas schools, so probably not as dependent on recommendations, but it never hurts to have them. I hope this helps. If you have any questions, you can email me at jdavenp@siue.edu. :D

[texas*princess]

I used to live near A&M Corpus Christi and I have a friend there who is involved with the Greek system! I believe the sororities they have are Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Gamma Delta and Gamma Phi Beta.

Best of luck with your recruitment!

[SigmAtl]

Well, I can honestly say that "I just didn't know" because I didn't. I'm sure it is common to see and hear about sororities in the US, but I went to high school overseas. I don't recall there being any sororities on the military base.

I came back to the states and automatically started college and rush or recruitment was the very next day. I didn't know anything about recommendations, clothing or anything about sororities, but I guess it was because " I didn't want it enough?" I think it would've been great when I was in high school to be informed, but than again the sorority members would've all needed military IDs to get onto the base. =)


Greekchat would also have been helpful, just as long as I could have pluged my computer into a European outlet without it blowing up =D

[vandy_violet]

I definitely agree with informing people...someone mentioned the fact that someone might end up at a really competitive school and then decide to rush as a sophomore w/o recs and everything. That's definitely what happened to me. I wouldn't have made it through rush if friends I'd made who were already in houses hadn't pulled for me. I grew up w/o knowing anyone Greek, and I was a little intrigued by it, but for many reasons thought I wouldn't be able to do it. For one thing, I not only didn't know people in GLO's, but friends I had stigmatized it, and then after I got to college, some of my new friends also bombarded me with negative views about rushing(and then half of them took COB's, I think they were in denial like me about wanting to be in one). I didn't know anything about "Southern rush" and jokingly thought if I were going to be in a sorority I'd pick the one with the letters I liked the best...I had no clue about the local/national reputations of groups. Even though Greek life isn't a huge thing in the Midwest, where I'm from, if the local PanHel(I wonder if there is an active one!), had an information session at my high school, it really would have helped out a lot. I remember girls here mentioning how their mothers and grandmothers got them recs for every house, and there was no way I could have done that. I think the idea at the high school in Alabama where the teachers indicated if they could write recs was excellent. They're already writing your school application recs, why not just have them write your rush recs too? Some of you all have mentioned that people don't often know how the Greek system works outside of the South...but also if one isn't raised in the South and then jumps into "Southern rush", it isn't exactly easy.

[LeslieAGD]

I think it would be helpful to have panels of college students go talk to high schoolers so they are better aware. Besides Greeks, other people that could participate are scholars, athletes, student government officers, campus job reps, etc.

[GPhiBLtColonel]

...for telling local high school senior girls about rush, we always have at least 2 or 3 current sorority collegians give some remarks-- of course these girls are not identified with any GLO in particular -- like Rho Chis -- but the attendees do like to see and can more readily identify with younger faces...
;)

[honeychile]

I'm very much in favor of handling this type of information session as panhellenically as possible. I just doubt that a lot of high schools outside of the traditional South would allow any Go Greek forums - especially with the MTV nonsense being shown. I ran into a high school teacher of mine after I pledged, and she saw my lavalier & hugged me, crying, "We're sisters!" The school board wouldn't allow the teachers to wear any greek symbols.

But what if Alumnae Panhellenics held Informational Sessions throughout the summer? Maybe a tea or two - something simple like that. Have information on EVERY sorority and fraternity - the standard informational leaflets with the pins, the letters, what they mean, etc., along with which colleges have which sororities (for the women in attendance)? I would certainly be happy to help out with something like that, as long as it was kept strictly panhellenic! And, the closest Panhellenic Councils could be there, too.

I think I've said before that I grew up in a neighborhood where literally everyone who went to college was in a GLO, so I saw copies of GLO magazines as often as Better Homes & Gardens! If being in a GLO looks natural to the women about to go off to college, I think they'd be more likely to give it a chance. Just my 2¢

honeychile

[dzandiloo]

The Lubbock APH puts on a "Greek Peek" in the Spring where they advertise to all high school seniors in Lubbock & the surrounding areas...it's a chance for all of the interested Senior women to come and find out about recruitment, references & the different organizations. The individualy groups don't set up "booths" from what I hear, but come to answer questions & provide information about the national organization, chapters in the state, etc. They also put on a fashion show of things to wear during recruitment, and pass out information packets w/local contact names from each group (I think there are 15 NPC sororities represented).
From what I hear, it is very helpful & a good way to get the word out to high school women... When I was in high school, I wasn't aware of anything like that going on, but I do remember every fall the counselors would put a poster up outside their offices listing the names of all recent grads who had gone Greek, and where they went. I remember seeing the name of someone I thought was "totally normal" on the list, and that was the first time I ever thought about joining a sorority myself.

[GPhiBLtColonel]

The Lubbock APH puts on a "Greek Peek" in the Spring where they advertise to all high school seniors in Lubbock & the surrounding areas...it's a chance for all of the interested Senior women to come and find out about recruitment, references & the different organizations. The individualy groups don't set up "booths" from what I hear, but come to answer questions & provide information about the national organization, chapters in the state, etc. They also put on a fashion show of things to wear during recruitment, and pass out information packets w/local contact names from each group (I think there are 15 NPC sororities represented).

Great ideas dzandiloo!!
Our APH doesn't have time to implement those this year but I think we will copy y'all next year -- the fashion show is an especially great idea!!
Do you have info available from all 26 NPC sororities -- even if there is not a rep present? Our APH only has reps from 19 -- so far ;)
Thanks dzandiloo!

[AGDLynn]

Cele, as long as we get collegians to wear the fashions, lol!;) :D

[dzandiloo]

Originally posted by GPhiBLtColonel
Do you have info available from all 26 NPC sororities -- even if there is not a rep present? Our APH only has reps from 19 -- so far ;)
Thanks dzandiloo!

As far as I know, the information packet includes basic info about all 26 NPC groups, specifically National HQ addresses, but only the 14 groups who have alum members locally & have made their presence known to the APH participate in the event. (There are only 11 groups at Texas Tech-each with a rep, and then 3 groups who do not have local collegiate chapters have alumnae in the area who participate in different degrees with the APH). I guess its fair to say that the seniors get more exposure to the groups who actually have someone at Greek Peek, which is a shame, but it's better than nothing! This will be DZs first year to be represented @ GP, and we have alot of Lubbock seniors who go to West Texas, A&M and Southwest TX, so I expect I will be writing alot of references this summer.

[GPhiBLtColonel]

...are you at the Texas A&M at College Station? If so Gamma Phi is colonizing there in the Fall -- I am sure there is an alum from Gamma Phi who'd love to be represented at the Greek Peek -- unless there already is?

[Betarulz!]

Originally posted by GPhiBLtColonel
Are these sessions helpful? Are they needed? Can they be more helpful, esp given the comments we all see so frequently here on GC like "I just did not know etc" or I was so mis-informed, etc"

How can we help to make potential rushees better informed about rush and sororities BEFORE they get to college?
What can we do to stimulate more interest in high school girls about sororities and rush?

The biggest thing that can be done is that campus tour guides (those people you see walking backwards on campus) must, must, must let people know that Greeks exist. And they must be able to answer some basic questions. Finally, if Greek houses or living units are available for tours, then the HS seniors must be encouraged to check them out.

As one who give tours nearly every possible visit day, I know that even among some tour guides who are Greek there is a tendancy to let the group decide if they want to see Greek Life. I don't give my groups the option, and I always make it a point to tell them all that I know and believe, but some tour guides who aren't greek won't even discuss Greek life and those kids are left on their own.

As for the helpfulness of the sessions I think they do help. My house was the only fraternity shown on campus visit days (b/c it's clean) and I gave tours to probably 95% of the people who came by (yeah that many!). I know that after I gave my information out, I had convinced the guys to at least give a chance, and done the best I could to put parents at ease. For me this was easy b/c here at Nebraska there is a pretty definate stratification of acheivement between the Greek and non-Greek community. At other schools where there isn't that much difference it probably would be more difficult.

The biggest thing I can say is talk to the Office of Admissions as IFC and Panhel and let them know that you want Greek life as part of HS Senior days, so that the kids who are interested have the opportunity to see what is available.

[dzandiloo]

Originally posted by GPhiBLtColonel
...are you at the Texas A&M at College Station? If so Gamma Phi is colonizing there in the Fall -- I am sure there is an alum from Gamma Phi who'd love to be represented at the Greek Peek -- unless there already is?

I heard about your new colony-congrats!
Actually, I'm in Lubbock...and even though there is no Gamma Phi chapter at Tech, I believe their alumnae are still involved in the APH & Greek Peek.

[RockChalk]

Originally posted by Betarulz!
The biggest thing that can be done is that campus tour guides (those people you see walking backwards on campus) must, must, must let people know that Greeks exist. And they must be able to answer some basic questions. Finally, if Greek houses or living units are available for tours, then the HS seniors must be encouraged to check them out.

As one who give tours nearly every possible visit day, I know that even among some tour guides who are Greek there is a tendancy to let the group decide if they want to see Greek Life.
I agree. Knowing the basics about one's school's Greek system is part of being a good tour guide. When I became a tour guide, I made a point of learning about my school's GLOs (and other student orgs, of course). The tour guide should at least know which chapters are on campus, how big they are, when rush is (maybe not exact dates, but they should be able to say if rush is in fall or spring), and point prospective students in the direction of the Greek Life office if they need more info.

Tours of Greek houses were not something that the "regular" tour guides such as myself handled. At my alma mater, prospective students who want to see a fraternity/sorority house have to talk to the Greek Life office to arrange a tour.