Question on Rec Letters?

TXMom · #1 07-18-2005, 05:53 PM

My daughter is rushing and we have acquired many letters of recommendation....however a mother asked me if we had gotten "formal letters of recommendation" that most only send "letters of support"....I am new to all this and very unfamiliar with these 2 terms. What's the difference? However this mother's daughter went through rush probably 10-15 years ago...is that the difference? Or do I need to worry about getting these "formal letters"?

ADPi Conniebama · #2 07-18-2005, 06:19 PM

"Formal" letters of recommendation or "letters of support". If there is any difference then it is news to me.

I am sure with most sororities there are forms that the alum fills out or they can write a letter, but I am sure both forms of recommendation are equally considered.

Some one was trying to scare you. However, you can't go wrong getting more then one rec for any sorority. If a sorority got more then 1 "rec" then that is just more information for them to consider.

I hope that was helpful information. And I hope she has a good time. I am sure it is nice for her to have your support through all of this.

pinkyphimu · #3 07-18-2005, 06:20 PM

i am going to try to guess at what exactly this woman meant....

a letter of support is more like, yep, met/ talked with this woman and although i don't know her well, she is worth a second look from the chapter.

a formal letter is more like, this is someone whose birth i attended and she is the most wonderful thing since the invention of the wheel.

it is really a difference in how well the people who wrote the letters know your daughter.

TXMom · #4 07-18-2005, 06:38 PM

Thank you ladies! That was what I was thinking! We have letters from people who have known her all her life and letters from those that have recently met her and letters from those that are real close to someone that knows her real well! LOL....that was a mouthful! Your information did help!

WhiteDaisy128 · #5 07-18-2005, 10:26 PM

I would also think that "formal" letters might be a form that a groups Executive Offices provides that asks for a lot of specific information (almost like a legacy form)...whereas just a letter of rec would be like: "Dear AB Chapter of XYZ, I am writing to you to tell you about a close family friend of mine...blah blah blah."

honeychile · #6 07-18-2005, 10:38 PM

FWIW, when I write a rec for someone I really like, I use the standard sorority recommendation form, AND write a letter that speaks my heart about the PNM.

TXMom, it will do your daughter good to find out which sororities are going to be on her campus, and do her best to have a rec (or two) of some sort for each one.

STL Kappa · #7 07-18-2005, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ADPi Conniebama
However, you can't go wrong getting more then one rec for any sorority. If a sorority got more then 1 "rec" then that is just more information for them to consider.

This is untrue. Some organizations take a "less is more" approach nationally and advise against sending multiple recommendations. You don't want to seem overbearing, plus, why do you need multiple recs if you have just one good one? Just something to think about...

TXMom · #8 07-19-2005, 12:18 AM

Honeychile....yes we are fortunate we have recs to all 11 of the sororities at your university. Our friends have been great! They have worked so hard for my daughter to have a good rush....we will be writing tons of thank-yous! And I am fortunate we have not had to get letters from people that do not know or feel stronger about my daughter.....as I'm sure many do...which would give the "overbearing" feeling, but I understand completely your point, STL Kappa! And again thanks y'all for your help and concern! I hope my daughter can find sisters like you!

honeychile · #9 07-19-2005, 12:27 AM

Wishing your daughter the very best of luck with Recruitment!! I hope she has a wonderful experience, and that you'll come back with some wonderful news in the future!

GOOD LUCK!!!

ADPi Conniebama · #10 07-19-2005, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by STL Kappa
This is untrue. Some organizations take a "less is more" approach nationally and advise against sending multiple recommendations. You don't want to seem overbearing, plus, why do you need multiple recs if you have just one good one? Just something to think about...

"You don't want to seem overbearing, plus, why do you need multiple recs if you have just one good one? "

That last line is the key. I mean if the "rec giver" has known the pm since birth, one is sufficient.

I may have over spoke. But, as a recruitment advisor for a smaller university, I never mind recieving more information about a "rushee." (Then again I don't have 1200 girls to go through)

TXMom · #11 07-19-2005, 10:13 AM

connie, I know exactly what you are saying.....and we felt the same....some sororities got several recs but they were all very close friends that knew my daughter for years and years...I don't see how that could hurt....I could see it hurting if there were many letters from "friends of friends" ....anyway I'm certainly not an expert! I guess we'll live and learn! Also the university my daughter is rushing is a university of 30,000 students with 11 national greek sororities so I can only imagine what those sororities have to do to narrow down their search!