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 | Registration for Panhellenic Recruitment is now closed. Please contact the Vice President of Recruitment to learn more about spring recruitment if you are interested in sorority life at LSU.
2009 Panhellenic Recruitment Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions - 2009 Sorority Recruitment
2009 Panhellenic Recruitment T-shirt
Girl Talk
Sorority True/False and Personality Quiz
 
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| | To participate in formal recruitment, you must register with LSU Panhellenic:
COST: $250.00 if living on campus or $125.00 if living off campus, if paid by July 20, 2009 at 4:30 PM. Between July 21 and 30, 2009 an additional $100.00 late fee will be assessed. NO applications will be accepted after July 30, 2009 at 4:30 PM. No exceptions.
What does the Recruitment Fee cover?
The $125 Recruitment registration fee covers the recruitment production costs. It covers security, water, band-aids, tissues and supplies, and lunch on Thursday only.
The additional $125 covers on-campus housing for 5 nights because the Residential Life staff has to open the residence halls early for sorority recruitment. Meals may be purchased at the Tiger Lair Food Court in the LSU Student Union during the week.
When do I move into my residence hall?
The PM may move into her residence hall beginning at 9am, Saturday, August 15. Students staying in Miller Hall can pick up their room key at Herget Hall.
NOTE: If you arrive after 12pm (noon), please pick up the key at your respective residence hall.
I’m visiting LSU this summer, may I tour the houses? Panhellenic will be at the Orientation Information fair the second day of orientation from 3:00 – 4:00 pm in the Union Ballroom and we’ll be happy to visit with you then. Sorority houses are closed during the summer so tours are not available.
Where can my parents stay if they visit me? Lod Cook Conference and Hotel (225)383-2665.
Will I receive anything in the mail about Recruitment at LSU? The Greek Tiger, LSU’s Recruitment Book, will be sent to all incoming students on June 1st. It includes pictures of what to wear, the structure of the week will go, individual sorority information, and advice on how to best prepare for recruitment. If you haven’t received it by June 20th, email your name and address to us at greeks@lsu.edu and we will send you one. Once you have registered, you’ll receive Girl Talk, a more in depth guide to sorority recruitment.
I’m a sophomore going through Recruitment. Will I receive a Greek Tiger? No, but if you email us your name and address at greeks@lsu.edu, we will be more than happy to send you one.
How do I ensure that my application has been processed? Please make every effort to complete and submit your application after your high school graduation. After we have received and processed your application, we will send you an email indicating that either we need more materials from you or that your application is complete.
Transcripts
LSU no longer uses hard copies of transcripts, thus making it difficult for PMs to obtain hard copies to send with the registration for recruitment. The Recruitment Registration form will now allow a PM to indicate their scholastic information. Greek Life will verify your scholastic information with the Office of Admissions.
What if my GPA is not on a 4.0 scale? We will use the GPA that is verified by LSU Office of Admissions. Your application submission allows us to do this.
Do alumna writing recs need an official final transcript? Not necessarily. It is fine for them to receive an unofficial copy but it might be difficult because high schools are no longer providing hard copies. Discuss this with the women writing recs for you.
Recommendation (Recs)
What is a recommendation? A recommendation is a letter or form that is written or completed on your behalf that speaks of your character, accomplishments, grades, and activities from a woman who has already been in that particular sorority. Therefore, it is beneficial to have someone whom you know write these.
How to Obtain Recs:
1. Begin to inquire about and contact people whom you know from this area who were members of sororities:
- teachers
- family members
- neighbors
- family friends
- older women you may know
Let them know that you are participating in recruitment and that you’d appreciate their writing a recommendation/reference. You will need to provide each person who writes a recommendation for you with a picture and an activity sheet or resume.
2. Women who may not know of anyone in this area who is an alumnae member of a particular sorority should contact the national headquarters website to inquire about a local person from their organization who coordinates their recommendations/references.
Website Addresses
3. Contact your local city Alumnae Panhellenic and they may be able to direct you to alums in the respective sororities to write you a rec. This is not applicable to every city.
4. What if I still don’t have a rec for all 10 or just three? Send enough copies of your resume and 2 pictures with a note saying which sororities you need recs for to our address (137 Johnston Hall, 70803) and we will share your information with the sororities. It is ultimately the sororities’ responsibility to get recommendations for you, but it makes it easier on them if you do as much as possible to obtain them.
The responsibility for providing letters of recommendation for potential members rests with the chapters (NPC Guidelines). In the interest of time, it is helpful to be proactive in this process.
Again, although not required, it is highly recommended to secure recommendations/references for the sororities.
How many recs do I need? A minimum of one recommendation is asked for each sorority.
Who do I send my recs to? You send your resume and 2 pictures (can be two different poses & should be simple headshots that easily identifies you, it doesn’t have to be professional) to the alumna writing the rec and she sends it to the respective sorority at the LSU post office address. Give her as much info as possible. It is nice to provide a pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelope with the sorority addresses. This information is listed below. Sending a thank you note to this alumna after is recommended.
Sorority Addresses for Recommendations: Baton Rouge, LA 70894
| Chi Omega – P.O. Box 25109 | Phi Mu – P.O. Box 25111 |
| Kappa Delta – P.O. Box 25107 | Delta Zeta – P.O. Box 25117 |
| Delta Delta Delta – P.O. Box 25105 | Pi Beta Phi – P.O. Box 25110 |
| Kappa Kappa Gamma – P.O. Box 25104 | Kappa Alpha Theta - P.O. Box 25112 |
| Delta Gamma – P.O. Box 25108 | Zeta Tau Alpha – P.O. Box 25102 |
How do I know a chapter got my rec? You will not. You have to trust the alumna who you have contacted to write you a rec. If you send her a thank you note, it helps to remind her.
How does an Alumna find a recommendation form for her sorority? A recommendation form and procedure should be available to the alumna through her national organization’s website and/or magazine.
What’s the difference between a reference letter/form and a letter of recommendation? A reference letter/form states that an alumna simply acknowledges you are going to LSU but cannot necessarily speak to your character. A letter of recommendation is a letter stating that the alumna recommends you for membership. Recommendations are what the chapters need at LSU.
Do I need additional letters of reference? No. Our sororities are only concerned about recs. A letter of reference is accepted, but it is not necessary to obtain one for each sorority.
Facebook/My Space Suggestions
Be mindful that although Facebook and My Space are great ways to communicate and share information, you will want to be selective on information and pictures you place on your profiles. Inappropriate behavior portrayed could send the wrong message to people who do not know you. These accounts are public.
Grades, Legacies & Non-freshman applicants
What about Grades? Grades are very important. Sorority members have a higher average GPA than the average of undergraduate women. For freshman PMs, your high school GPA is taken into account by sororities during recruitment. Most of the sororities require a 2.75 or above. In some rare instances, exceptions are made.
What about non-freshman potential new members? Sophomores and juniors do go through recruitment. The upperclassman GPA is usually a 2.5 or above. It is more difficult to receive a bid as an upperclassman because sororities tend to desire women who will be active members for the four full years of college.
What is a Legacy? Typically a PM who is the sister, daughter, or granddaughter of a sorority alumna is a legacy.
I am a Legacy, am I guaranteed a bid? Legacies are not guaranteed a bid, no PM is guaranteed a bid. Each sorority has different policies on legacies. However, it is the individual PM’s personality, character, resume, grades, etc. that are the main determining factors.Membership
How much time does a sorority take? There is a required meeting once a week where you will receive information on chapter events and sorority education. Weekly study sessions are a programming option for all members, in addition to events like sisterhood activities, community service projects, and social events.
Does one sorority tend to be more expensive than the others? No. The fees all tend to end up being about $2500-2700 for the first year and then $1300-$1500 for future years, both including one chapter meal a week at the house, house usage, activity fees, but not including living in the house. The first year of membership is more expensive because of the national fees, your new member pin, and sorority badge are all paid for in that first year. You will receive exact costs for each sorority in your PM Journal received at convocation.
How long will it take to be initiated? Six to eight weeks. The new member period affords opportunities to meet other members, learn sorority history and feel at home. Each sorority establishes its own new member program and initiation dates. All sororities have a zero tolerance for hazing.
Do I have to join a sorority in the fall semester? Some sororities are able to recruit and pledge women in the spring. Events are organized and scheduled at each sorority’s convenience. If you want the opportunity to interact with all 10 of our sororities before making your sorority choice, then you should participate in fall formal recruitment. However, if you have been released during fall recruitment, most of our sororities are not allowed to consider a potential member whom they have released from any recruitment process.
Do I have to live in the sorority house? Each sorority has its own policies on living in the house. Most do require one year. However, there is usually a waiting list to live in the house because it is a desired characteristic of being in a sorority at LSU. Therefore, most living in the sorority houses are sophomores or older.
What happens on bid day? Do I need to bring anything? Bid day is fun. Each sorority plans its own events for the day. Events might include a barbeque/catered dinner, games, activities and/or a pool party. Dress in comfortable clothing, nothing the least bit fancy. Most wear a sports bra, gym shorts, comfortable underwear, tee-shirt, and flip flops/tennis shoes. Some bring a bag of comfortable clothes to change into because you’ll most likely swim/take part in the activities in the clothes that you’ve worn for the day. However, you don’t have to bring a bag. An older active member will be your bid day buddy and take you to your place if you desire a change of clothes that night. No alcohol or men are allowed on bid day. Sleeping at your new sorority house may be offered. It is optional.
What if my parents want to come to bid day to congratulate me? Bid day is for you. It is not advised that your parents come to bid day. They can congratulate you over the phone and in person later. If they insist, it is best for you to call them once you have received your bid, and then tell them which house to meet you.
May I eat my meals in the sorority house once I am a member?
Yes. If living on campus and having already purchased an LSU meal plan, the Tiger Card Office for LSU provides an opportunity to alter your meal plan, should you desire, to accommodate that change. Each new member is responsible for completing the proper paperwork provided by the Tiger Card Office through the Office of Greek Life at the New Member Symposium within 2 weeks of school indicating their desire to alter their original LSU meal plan. The procedure will be communicated at the new member meeting conducted by the Office of Greek Life where the paperwork will be provided. Failure to submit the required paperwork in the allotted time will result in the student maintaining the original plan. The opportunity to eat meals together often fosters a closer bond to the brothers/sisters. It is important to note that a fraternity/sorority may not require a new member to eat all meals at the house, unless this expectation is communicated during the recruitment process.
What if I register and change my mind?
Refund Policy:
- Full Refund of $250 or $125: If PNM withdraws before July 30, 2009--late fee will not be refunded.
- Partial Refund of 50% of original registration payment: If PNM withdraws on July 30, 2009 - August 5, 2009
- NO REFUND for withdrawals after August 5, 2009 (unless authorized by the VP of Rec.)
- Registration Refund of $125: If PNM has a death in family, severe illness, or other extenuating circumstances reviewed by VP of Recruitment AT ANY TIME. (ends on Saturday morning, August 22, 2009)
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