disappointed

I have always thought this, but for some reason IU wants to keep their Greek Life “exclusive” and difficult to get into. Alabama is also known for being extremely competitive- but for certain houses- whereas at Indiana it’s competitive period. At Alabama majority of the girls that rush get INTO a house because they take 100+ pledge classes, where here that is not the case. Girls end up with nothing when they rush here, and it’s sad.

This is a sweet post, truly. But you're missing the bigger picture. Many of these girls who go unplaced drop out voluntarily. Making the pledge classes larger won't help, it's a numbers game. The pledge class numbers are based on how many girls stay in the process. If only 800 women go to pref today, then pledge classes will be between 34-36. If 1000 women go to pref, then pledge classes go up to 44-45 range.

I don't feel sorry for girls who drop out voluntarily. I do feel badly for girls who go to pref and then do not get a bid, that is sad and wrong.

I also feel badly for the girls who can't have an open mind. I would encourage every PNM who is unsure to go to pref. Talk to the other PNMs out there. Those are the women who will have the largest impact on their Greek experience. You will spend far more time with your pledge class than the juniors or seniors. If you like the girls standing outside with you right now, that's huge. They will be your support system. It really does take just one strong pledge class to turn a house around. And I don't mean this in a snobby way. If you think a house doesn't focus enough on philanthropy, join that committee and make it stronger. If you think a house doesn't exhibit strong sisterhood, then be the sisterhood chair and plan fun events to bring people together. Greek life is very much like real life in that you get back what you put into it~

While the process does need to change some you have to understand the reason why recruitment is the way it is. With so many people rushing and the houses only allowing a certain number of girls to live they have to make major cuts. Recruitment is a gamble and you knew the risk when you signed up. PNMs need to realize they don’t get to choose the houses. You hope for the best and take what your matched with. The system works in weird ways but it works. Be thankful for the chapters you gott back. Each chapter is amazing in a different way but all offer chances to be involved in a great sisterhood.

A lot of girls don't go through the process here bc only half of people who sign up get bids. That's a huge waste of time and money. At the same time if pnms didn't drop for getting only bottom houses then this wouldn't be as much of an issue as it is. All pnms who dropped should consider informal anywhere that is doing it which is likely to only be the bottom houses. One pledge class can make a real difference so going with your friends to any house for your last chance to be Greek is a good option

Comparing IU and Bama would not be like comparing apples and oranges if IU would drop its assumed exclusivity and adhere to the NPC rules with RMF.

Of course, they could "just drop bed rush". Who's stopping them?

It has to be NPC, the chapters, and the school all together stopping this crap! Our alum chapter was told that it's a combination of the actives and the alums wanting to keep the process at a bed rush level!

NPC can advise but they can't dictate - the chapters have to be the ones making the decision. NPC cannot tell a chapter that they have to have a certain total - it interferes with the chapters right to membership selection. As long as there are alumni withholding $$ if the active chapter doesn't stay small and selective, nothing will change.

Not every chapter took quota last year. The problem lies in pnms thinking that they are too good for certain chapters. They don't want an increase in quota. They want an increase in spots in the "top tier" chapters. If pnms would open their hearts and minds to ALL chapters, there would be a spot for everyone and less disappointment. It is easy to say the problem lies in the system (Panhel, IU, etc) but it really lies with the pnms. If more women would stay the course, pcs would be larger. And, all chapters at IU would be strengthened.

A lot of girls fall through the cracks. Just bc they didn't get a bid doesn't mean anything is wrong with them, the system just kinda sucks. I'm sorry if this happened to you but you can always try again next year.