Recruitment Question

[leiaamiedala]

Hi All,

I had a rec girl go through recruitment at a mid-sized school recently. I was under the impression that the school was not super competitive. This was her second time through, as a sophomore. She went: 11 houses (Round one) --> 8 (out of 8) houses (Round two) --> 1 (out of 5) house (Round three)
And then dropped out before preference because she just could not see herself in the last house (for the record, I tried to talk her into going to pref, but it was her decision). She will be pursuing COB and applying to the panhell group that is colonizing this fall. So she knows her options and is doing her best to react. But it seemed very, very odd to me that a girl can go from 8 to 1 between second and third rounds. Is this supposed to happen?

Additionally, I found out that about 840 PNMs went to round one, but over 270 dropped by the end of preference. That is a match % of only about 65%. This seems very low to me. Shouldn't a higher % of PNMs be placed?

Let me know what you all think.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by leiaamiedala

Hi All,

I had a rec girl go through recruitment at a mid-sized school recently. I was under the impression that the school was not super competitive. This was her second time through - as a sophomore. She went: 11 houses (Round one) --> 8 (out of 8) houses (Round two) --> 1 (out of 5) house (Round three)
And then dropped out before preference because she just could not see herself in the last house. She will be pursuing COB and applying to the panhell group that is colonizing this fall. If all else fails, she will do informal recruitment this winter. So she knows her options and is doing her best to react. But it seemed very, very odd to me that a girl can go from 8 to 1 between second and third rounds. Is this supposed to happen if the recruitment process is being run well?

Additionally, I found out that about 840 PNMs went to round one, but over 270 dropped by the end of preference. That is a match % of only about 65%. This seems very low to me. Am I wrong to question the greek adviser / panhellenic's methods for formal recruitment? Shouldn't a higher % of PNMs be placed if it is being run correctly?

Let me know what you all think.

First of all, the numbers are done by an RFM specialist assigned to the campus by NPC so I doubt the Greek adviser manipulated any numbers. Not knowing the PNM, the campus, etc it is difficult to say what happened. Does this campus have a separate upperclass quota? If not,then there's the issue most likely. If they do, then obviously there is an issue with the PNM. But there is no way to know. As for the percentages, the most important one is the one that reflects how many attended pref got a bid. Some campuses lose a lot thru the week for various reasons. I would question why she would drop out when someone obviously thought enough of her to include her on their bid list - which is the case since she got a pref invite. I'd also be surprised if they cut her after first invites if she'll get any COB invites. Something happened - grades, rep,something - that will follow her unfortunately. A colony might be a good option. If she can, a rec for that group would be beneficial.

[AZTheta]

+1 to Titchou's comments, especially with respect to "the most important percentage being the one that reflects how many attended pref got a bid." PNMs drop out throughout the week of recruitment and it has nothing to do with how recruitment is being run.

Please know that it isn't a question of "the recruitment process being run well." Your pnm has had two unsuccessful recruitments at her school. Some of the houses may have had a "once cut always cut" policy. There are many, many factors (related to membership selection) at play here.

[leiaamiedala]

Titchou & AZTheta, thanks for the insight. The cuts still seem oddly harsh to me, but I'll admit I don't know as much as I would like about the system (which is why I asked), so I'll defer to your comments there. (And I was NOT implying that there was any manipulation of numbers, I just thought the greek adviser was the one in charge of them. I did not realize there is also an RFM specialist).

It is my understanding that there is a separate upperclassman quota at the school, about 1/3 to 1/2 of the pledges classes are sophomores due to a lot of transfers in this particular school.

I was wondering about the "once cut, always cut" policy, but how would she have gotten invited to eight houses in round 2 if that was the case? (The "once cut, always cut" would have made more sense if she was dropped after round 1)

I know your reaction is "go to the one invite you have," and I discussed it extensively with her, trying to encourage her to do just that (it is a very, very weak recruiting chapter, which is disappointing), but it was her decision.

On a more positive note, do you have any other suggestions for her application to the colony? I'd like to help her have the best shot she can.

[Titchou]

If she has any friends whom she totally trusts to be honest and can handle the honesty, she needs to ask their opinion. If she had this same experience two years in a row, "something" is amiss - grades, reputation, personality, etc. Did she need recs and not get them? Check the list here of places where you absolutely need recs. Or many she just doesn't fit in with the culture of the majority of chapters. It's hard to say.

As for the colony recruitment, she needs to make sure she is dressed properly for the interviews, be positive and friendly, have the grade requirement and a rec could help also.

[leiaamiedala]

The school doesn't require recs (I double-checked your list). I will see if she wants to follow up with a friend. I know she has the grades, extracurriculars, and is sweet and outgoing, so it's a bit baffling two times in a row.

For the colony interviews, should she be in business attire?

[ChioLu]

Many times, the colony has a facebook page or a website and that might give tips to wear what days. First day is usually casual -- not blue jeans & a t-shirt casual -- but, maybe Capri pants with a cute top, or a sundress (nothing too SHORT). When she moves into the invitational parties, the fashion is stepped up each round (nothing too "clubby"). Similar to formal recruitment.

BUT, I would suggest she try to find a recommendation for the chapter that is colonizing. You're dealing with members/alumnae on the national level, not what that particular campus is used to, who will have different expectations of recommendations.

Go to youtube and search "How to rush a sorority". Your daughter will find many videos on conversation, fashion, etc.

And, if she can get involved in another activity on campus, that would just add to her Recruitment Resume. She has a Recruitment Resume, right? No? Google "Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Recruitment Resume" and create one stat!

[leiaamiedala]

ChioLu, she is a good friend, like a younger sister to me, not my daughter.

And she has a recruitment resume, and has looked at many "how to rush a sorority" videos.

I have been around the greek community for quite a while, in various roles as an active and alumna, and even I am stumped at the turn of events. I was asking this community for insight because I don't have a good answer or advice for her at this point.

[1964Alum]

Originally Posted by leiaamiedala

The school doesn't require recs (I double-checked your list). I will see if she wants to follow up with a friend. I know she has the grades, extracurriculars, and is sweet and outgoing, so it's a bit baffling two times in a row.

For the colony interviews, should she be in business attire?

I find it very misleading that individual schools say that recs are not necessary. While it may not be required to have recs inorder to go through recuruitment, many NATIONALS do require recs! If she didn't get any recs prior to recruitment, the fact that she did not have any recs could account for her being dropped after the first round.

[leiaamiedala]

Originally Posted by 1964Alum

I find it very misleading that individual schools say that recs are not necessary. While it may not be required to have recs inorder to go through recuruitment, many NATIONALS do require recs! If she didn't get any recs prior to recruitment, the fact that she did not have any recs could account for her being dropped after the first round.

She was dropped after round two, not the first round.

Moreover, trust me when I say this school does not require recs - the chapter I advise only got about 30 rec letters out of the 850 PNMs.

[thetalady]

It CAN be exceptionally difficult for a sophomore to go through rush successfully. The sororities have had a full year to get to know the PNM, watch her every action on campus for year, her grades must be higher than an incoming freshman's high school GPA. You never know where she may have made a bad impression in a year on campus. No one is perfect all of the time! Unfortunately, that is the reality of a sophomore rush.

[FSUZeta]

Some colonizing sororities suggest that for the interview with the national officers/recruitment team that PNMs wear business casual. She should check out the info posted online for that particular colonY. She might also ask one of the sorority's consultants.

[Titchou]

Just because a campus doesn't "require" recs does not mean that none of the groups do. Mine does and it doesn't matter what campus it is - we need the rec. So it would be best to err on the side of having it rather than not.

[leiaamiedala]

Thanks, FSUZeta, I will suggest she reach out to one of the sorority's consultants.

[33girl]

How large are the chapters? "Mid sized" can mean something different to everyone.

Did she make an effort to get to know sorority members over the past year, or was she going into rush with pretty much the same connections - only she was a year older? A woman who doesn't succeed in her first rush can't just put her goal of sorority membership on the back burner until the next fall and then try again. It's not a pumpkin spice latte .

ETA: how far into the process did she get in her first rush?

And also: if she proceeded thru rush with the outlook of "this school isn't very competitive" that could have also hurt her chances. If you're rushing it's competitive, period.