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  #1  
Old 08-01-2009, 12:12 AM
texasgirl09 texasgirl09 is offline
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my recruitment starts in a couple weeks and im CONFUSED!!

So i think i've probably waited a little too late for this, but i thought i was all set and prepared for rush week untill yesterday and i started getting confused. In May i went to my Area Alumnae luncheon and got recs for all of the sororities, but yesterday my room mate said somthing about those are not the same as actual letters of recommendation or somthing like that? I only know two people personally that wrote letters for me. Im not sure if it is important to have both types , recs and letters of recommendation or if they are one in the same. Im seriously confused
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  #2  
Old 08-01-2009, 02:19 AM
KSUViolet06 KSUViolet06 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by texasgirl09 View Post
So i think i've probably waited a little too late for this, but i thought i was all set and prepared for rush week untill yesterday and i started getting confused. In May i went to my Area Alumnae luncheon and got recs for all of the sororities, but yesterday my room mate said somthing about those are not the same as actual letters of recommendation or somthing like that? I only know two people personally that wrote letters for me. Im not sure if it is important to have both types , recs and letters of recommendation or if they are one in the same. Im seriously confused
Well there are recs, and then there are letters of support/recommendation that are meant to supplemeny recs.

If you're going through recruitment at a school where all the girls will have recs, letters of support are important because they offer a more personal look at who you are (moreso than the rec does).
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  #3  
Old 08-01-2009, 03:38 AM
tld221 tld221 is offline
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Whoa, back up the truck!

So recs are like form letters and from the alumnae chapter/association and letters of support are personalized from a specific member?

If that's the case, why do I feel like that's never come up in any recruitment thread? Am I interpreting this right?
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Do you know people? Have you interacted with them? Because this is pretty standard no-brainer stuff. -33girl
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  #4  
Old 08-01-2009, 07:34 AM
circlet circlet is offline
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I would appreciated a bit of clarification too. The women that have agreed to support me are writing a letter of recommendation. Then they are filling out a RIF from their national's website, attaching the letter and sending both to the local chapter. Do I have my bases covered? Or do I need to get an additional letter of recommendation/support for each sorority?

We were told by the Greek Life office that they strongly encourage no more than one recommendation. They said the sororities are overwelmed with paperwork and one is all we need. Any feedback?

Thank you.
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  #5  
Old 08-01-2009, 09:13 AM
FSUZeta FSUZeta is offline
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when we refer to recommendations, we are referring to the form that our international headquarters require us to fill out for a potential new member. some sororities refer to them as RIF(i am assuming this stands for recruitment information form) while my sorority refers to them as MIS(membership information forms). support letters or letters of recommendation are supplemental and personal information usually sent in for a pnm when she is a family member or has a close relationship with the alumna who offers to write one for her. really all the sorority needs is the recommendation form-think of the letters as icing on the cake.
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  #6  
Old 08-01-2009, 09:14 AM
Zillini Zillini is offline
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Over recent years the University of Alabama has increased its out of state recruiting with significant efforts in Texas. This has translated in far more PNMs from TX, thus more Recs from TX alums. In my experience TX alums do their Rec writing a bit differently than most any where else, and let me say I truly appreciate how organized they are. There is an obvious game plan.

We typically receive a packet of info on a PNM that includes a resume, transcript, pix, 1 completed Rec form, and then additional alum letters of support. We have even received support letters with notes attached saying something along the lines of "Please add this to Patty PNM's packet because I was unable to complete it before the mailing deadline." For a chapter that is inundated with Rec info, this is great because it simply cuts down on the quantity of paper we have to deal with. We really don't need 20 copies of a resume.

As for how personal the Rec or letter is, as in the "strength" of the recommendation based on personal knowledge of the PNM, well that depends. Some Rec forms are incredibly strong, personal, and detailed. Some letters are pretty darned generic and it's obvious the alum doesn't know this PNM. Or vice versa. It's a case by case basis. Yes, we read every single thing we receive and yes, it's incredibly time consuming.

Last edited by Zillini; 08-01-2009 at 09:35 AM.
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  #7  
Old 08-01-2009, 10:01 AM
gee_ess gee_ess is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zillini View Post
Over recent years the University of Alabama has increased its out of state recruiting with significant efforts in Texas. This has translated in far more PNMs from TX, thus more Recs from TX alums. In my experience TX alums do their Rec writing a bit differently than most any where else, and let me say I truly appreciate how organized they are. There is an obvious game plan.

We typically receive a packet of info on a PNM that includes a resume, transcript, pix, 1 completed Rec form, and then additional alum letters of support. We have even received support letters with notes attached saying something along the lines of "Please add this to Patty PNM's packet because I was unable to complete it before the mailing deadline." For a chapter that is inundated with Rec info, this is great because it simply cuts down on the quantity of paper we have to deal with. We really don't need 20 copies of a resume.

As for how personal the Rec or letter is, as in the "strength" of the recommendation based on personal knowledge of the PNM, well that depends. Some Rec forms are incredibly strong, personal, and detailed. Some letters are pretty darned generic and it's obvious the alum doesn't know this PNM. Or vice versa. It's a case by case basis. Yes, we read every single thing we receive and yes, it's incredibly time consuming.

Yes

I, too, applaud the organizational effort of the Texas alums. The Texas info sent to the U of Arkansas is exactly as Zilllini explains. So, if your alum panhel group took care of it, I'd say you are covered.

In my experience, asking someone for a rec means that often a personal letter is attached. In fact, my GLO form notes that it is appropriate to attach a letter. PNMs should let the alums worry about this and follow the general advice given here, at their local alum panhellenic, online, etc by simply securing the suggested number of recs/letters. Many orgs utilize either as the official recommendation. The alum will do her part. PNMs just need to ask for the number (3 recs or letters suggested = 4 alums; someone may drop the ball) and let the alum do the est.
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  #8  
Old 08-01-2009, 11:06 AM
perfectinpurple perfectinpurple is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zillini View Post
Over recent years the University of Alabama has increased its out of state recruiting with significant efforts in Texas. This has translated in far more PNMs from TX, thus more Recs from TX alums. In my experience TX alums do their Rec writing a bit differently than most any where else, and let me say I truly appreciate how organized they are. There is an obvious game plan.

We typically receive a packet of info on a PNM that includes a resume, transcript, pix, 1 completed Rec form, and then additional alum letters of support. We have even received support letters with notes attached saying something along the lines of "Please add this to Patty PNM's packet because I was unable to complete it before the mailing deadline." For a chapter that is inundated with Rec info, this is great because it simply cuts down on the quantity of paper we have to deal with. We really don't need 20 copies of a resume.

As for how personal the Rec or letter is, as in the "strength" of the recommendation based on personal knowledge of the PNM, well that depends. Some Rec forms are incredibly strong, personal, and detailed. Some letters are pretty darned generic and it's obvious the alum doesn't know this PNM. Or vice versa. It's a case by case basis. Yes, we read every single thing we receive and yes, it's incredibly time consuming.
That is incredible! I applaud the Texas ladies for going above and beyond to give support to the ladies they write recs for.
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  #9  
Old 08-01-2009, 12:20 PM
texasgirl09 texasgirl09 is offline
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Thank you all so much!!! That clears up alot!!! I'm still searching but I could only find 3 people to write personal letters, but i have recs for all the rest so hopfully thats good enough for a faily competitive recruitment! thanks
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  #10  
Old 08-01-2009, 12:30 PM
circlet circlet is offline
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HuskyAlum...I understand why Patty would win...a strong rec from someone that personally knows her.

At SEC schools, would you suggest sending more than one letter of recommendation/support for each sorority (in addition to the original letter of recommendation, RIF, resume, transcript and photo). The Greek Life office told us only one letter of recommendation/support...however, I am hearing from others that this is not how it really works behind the scene. I would appreciate your opinion.
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  #11  
Old 08-01-2009, 12:55 PM
gee_ess gee_ess is offline
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Circlet, at SEC schools, more than one letter would be good. It depends where you are attending...if you are hearing from others at your school, then believe it, but it is not required to get a bid.
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  #12  
Old 08-01-2009, 02:02 PM
circlet circlet is offline
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gee ess...thanks for your imput. It just gets a bit confusing when you hear one thing from Greek Life and another from others in the "know".
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  #13  
Old 08-01-2009, 02:40 PM
tld221 tld221 is offline
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I have another question:

When a PNM is gathering recs, is it a general rec to her school's Panhellenic, or is she aiming for as many recs for the number of orgs on her campus? I could see the latter being really time consuming and the former being kinda useless.
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Do you know people? Have you interacted with them? Because this is pretty standard no-brainer stuff. -33girl
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  #14  
Old 08-01-2009, 02:43 PM
gee_ess gee_ess is offline
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As far as I know, there is no general panhellenic rec. The recommendations that are referred to in all Greek recruitment discussions are individual GLO recommendations. She tries to get a rec for each GLO on her campus.
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  #15  
Old 08-01-2009, 02:44 PM
gee_ess gee_ess is offline
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Circlet - Did you get information regarding your particular school? If you need more letters, and your recruitment is this fall, time is of the essence!
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