University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment 2013

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by Blondie93

Oh, this has set me off!

Where does the campus Panhellenic get off telling the girls what to send to the local Alumnae Panhellenics? I write dozens of recs each year, and am VERY uncomfortable writing a rec without a transcript. You have mentioned some of my reasons, but I also like to see the quality of classes that the PNM has taken and the types of electives. However, mostly I want a school confirmation on their academic ability. I have seen some very generous "roundings" of GPA. I fully understand that the chapters can sniff this out with the Panhellenic transcript but if I am signing my name to a rec then I want to confirm that what I am telling the chapters is true.

I find it very odd, not to mention inappropriate, for a campus Panhellenic to tell the girls not to send the transcripts to the APH's and to their rec writers. If the individual chapters do not want me to pass along the transcript, then I won't. But please don't interfere with the information available to me through the APH.

I also thought that was odd advice. I have always advised girls to include a transcript with the packet passed along to their rec-writers, and appreciate these when I am writing a rec.

The GPA doesn't always reflect what went on academically -- if there was a hardship or a circumstance during high school that should be noted, then this can be included on the rec. If a PNM took a lot of AP courses, then this can be highlighted too.

[HQWest]

If I had to guess its a privacy issue. They have no control over what is done with the transcripts afterwards and so they advise not to send them.

The chapters would obviously prefer a letter from a long time friend or a teacher who could answer those questions about activities or AP classes or a problem outside of class but that is not always possible.

[MaryPoppins]

The 90 number for quota is merely a rumor. And if Panhellenic was to give a number to Chapters to use for planning, I'm sure it would be based on the number of Freshman Women pre-registered and the percentage number that usually enrolls between pre-registration and the start of classes. Remember also that the University has access to the grades of registered Freshman, and knows what percentage would likely be given bids.

In spite of the warnings against going into Recruitment with less than a 3.0 GPA, there are always a number that go through anyway. Some believe they are the exception, and some are doing pre-work for going through their Sophomore year.

[newtoolemiss]

How many recs and are letters of support are recommended for chapters at Ole Miss?

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by newtoolemiss

How many recs and are letters of support are recommended for chapters at Ole Miss?

2 minimum

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

Ole Miss Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment 2013

This is a competitive recruitment campus and Letters of Reference and Recommendations should be considered to be necessary. Some folks suggest two recs per Chapter as a minimum.

Concise advice on how to obtain recommendations:
http://www.uapanhellenic.com/index.p...d=15&Itemid=32
(The advice comes from the Unversity of Alabama but applies to any school.)

[DubaiSis]

If 2 is the minimum, what number would you recommend they actually send? I mean, is 15 too many? It would be more clear if the answer was 2 or 3, or 2 minimum, but 4 is better and 6 is too many.

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

The importance of Letters of Reference, Recommendations, et cetera, is twofold: 1) to check a box that the PNM has one; and 2) to let the chapter know about the PNM. The amount of PNM support a rec/ref provides is dependent on the quality of the rec/ref itself, and therefore dependent on the writer and the PNM. If it's bland or pro forma it will just fulfill that box check requirement.

The crux of the matter comes when the PNM seems attractive to the chapter and the chapter now wants to know more about her. If she is already known to the chapter then the pro forma rec/ref is fine. If she is not well known, or perhaps unknown, then a informational ref/rec is needed. The unknown/less well known PNM needs the additional boost to go beyond the chapters mere interest. Chapters use all information received to study the PNM, they use that information in recruitment to connect with her, and if she is a rush crush to promote her within the chapter.

It is old school to look at the number of ref/recs or letters of support when evaluating an PNM. I cannot speak to how old school any of the chapters here at Ole Miss are as that is clearly a membership selection area. Since recruitment gifts of food and flowers in support of a PNM are no longer permitted, the extra letters and rec/refs may now seem the only avenue available. I cannot know how additional letters and rec/refs would be received at the various chapters at Ole Miss, but I think that I would make certain that there was quality over quantity in any rec/ref, resume', or materials sent in on one of my daughters.

The answer you seek.