The University sororities saw the greatest number of applicants in a decade in fall 2004, but also saw a 43 percent increase in the number of people who withdrew their bid – marking the highest number of dropouts in a decade.

According to the 2004 Formal Panhellenic Recruitment Statistics, 1,298 women registered to be recruited by sororities in fall of 2004, an 11.6 percent increase from 1,163 applicants in Fall 2003. But the number of applicants who dropped out of the recruitment process also increased from 244 in fall 2003 to 349 in fall 2004.

Dan Bureau, assistant dean of Greek Affairs, said that two reasons account for these statistics: increase in applications and the New Release Figure System, a recruiting program that was implemented for the first time in fall 2004.

“More people came through recruitment (in 2004),” he said. “People have the expectation that they only wanted to be in one chapter, and chapters were not told to have more meaningful conversations with potential new members (PNMs) with the change in the system.”

The old system did not allow every house to allow back the same number of people at each invite.

“In the old system, chapters who were most successful at rush got to invite back some people at first round who were more borderline,” said Bureau. “However, higher-ranking sororities were also taking away potential recruitment for other sororities by not allowing the less popular sororities to invite back as many girls as they could.”

Bureau said the statistics are misleading, pointing out that 15 out of 19 chapters made their pledge class quota, which is about 50 members. He also said the use of the New Release Figure System provides more opportunities for chapters and PNMs; because it requires chapters to cut more applicants earlier in the recruiting process than before, applicants are given a second chance to look at a house they might not have considered at first.

“The system allowed for more realistic options for potential members to maximize their options and allowed more chapters to recruit until quota,” Bureau said.

“Women were released earlier from chapters who placed them lower on their list,” said Bureau. “Each chapter is given a percent usually from 5 to 50 percent as to how many they have to release, and groups that perform well have to release more because the expectation of a girl moving up on their list is statistically minute.”

Decisions to invite back PNMs are based on a variety of reasons.

“Chapters tend to invite women back based on some of their interests, academic performance, high school and college involvement,” Bureau said.

Besides open house, there are three invites and each invite consists of conversations between PNM and current members.

“Three to four women talk to a PNM and have to form some sort of impression about the girl and are representing to the entire organization how the PNM came across to them,” Bureau said. “Those members then have to present a strong case as to why that PNM should be invited back, and each PNM is ranked based on a point system.”

Bureau said the process of placing PNMs in chapters is quite complex. Each applicant ranks 20 organizations, while 20 organizations rank 1,200 women. Selection is then made on a mutual basis.

“The computer will take all the rankings of a chapter and PNM and do its best to match to the PNM’s top choices,” Bureau said.

He said most chapters have misconceptions about the selection process because they don’t see the behind-the-scenes work.

“Since they are uninformed, the organizations are going to blame it on the computer making a mistake and that just doesn’t happen,” Bureau said.

He said the new system does not account for current members giving incorrect information to their friends who are going through recruitment, so current members sometimes unintentionally set PNM’s up for disappointment.

“PNM’s feelings get hurt when their friends at houses tell them that ‘you’ll definitely be invited back,'” Bureau said.

He added that the goal of recruitment is to place everyone in a house, and there are enough chapters available that will do that.

Bureau said most new students found the Greek experience to be totally new, and the new system narrows down choices faster, making girls less overwhelmed.

“Most people coming to this campus have never faced that kind of rejection, but those with an open mind who want to be in a good sorority and have a good college experience will get that.”

But Donna Majewska, freshman in LAS, said she believes that she did have an open mind at rush but still dropped out because she didn’t get her preferences.

“I was open-minded especially after first preference,” Majewska said. “However, by the third stage, you get to know the houses better and you know which ones you like, and there weren’t any that I liked in my top three.”

Bureau said two improvements will be made for Recruitment in fall 2005.

“There will be more education for chapters and PNMs, but I can’t account for a PNM who thinks she’s only going to be a blank,” said Bureau.

He said the goal of the Greek system is to provide a wide variety of experiences that will continue to affect a member for the rest of their life.

“Think of it as an organization that’s more than a social club and I believe that all of our chapters have that,” said Bureau. “Girls should want an experience that’s more well-rounded than fun.”

Eva Panagiotopoulos, freshman in LAS, said there are certain characteristics that current members will be looking for in the PNMs next year.

“I will definitely be looking for confidence, girls that were really involved in high school who don’t seem petty and that feel comfortable in ‘my’ house,” Panagiotopoulos said.

Sara Dina, vice president of Recruitment for 2004, had advice for students thinking about rushing in 2005.

“Formal Recruitment is a wonderful experience and an opportunity to meet and talk with a variety of women,” said Dina. “Keep an open mind throughout the process and enjoy building friendships with all of the amazing women you will meet in both your Recruitment Group and in all of the Panhellenic chapters.”