sorority bid process explained...

Here are some answers to help pnm's understand how the bid process works:

How many bids?
Quota is the number of bids each sorority may offer. This number is not determined until after prefs when all pnm’s have signed their MRABA cards. The number of pnm’s signing cards divided by the number of sororities = Quota.
Every pnm is guaranteed a bid if she puts both pref houses on her card, or just the one if that’s all she attended. This holds true even if it puts a house over Quota, and is called Quota Plus. There is no guarantee of a pnm getting her first choice and no way to increase the odds of it happening, but more pnm's get their first choice than not. The sororities do not know how the pnm’s rank them on their cards; the pnm’s do not know how they are ranked on the sororities’ Bid Lists, and most sisters in the house don’t know that ranking either.

How are the bids determined?
The Bid Matching algorithm starts at the top of each sorority’s ranked Bid List and goes down, in order, matching bids to the pnm’s who have ranked that house first. When the number of matches for a house reaches Quota, that house is done. When a pnm does not match with her first choice house before they reach Quota, the algorithm will then try to match her with her second choice house. If that house reaches Quota before it matches with her, then Quota Plus kicks in and she will be matched to one of those houses as a Quota Addition. The algorithm tries to give the pnm her first choice but there are other factors involved in the placement of Quota Additions, so again no guarantees of getting first choice. No one knows who is a Quota Addition; it’s just a bid like all the others.

Will it help if I suicide?
Pnm’s who Single Intentional Preference (SIP), meaning they only rank one of their two pref houses AKA suicide, are not eligible to be a Quota Addition and therefore NOT guaranteed a bid. If that suicide choice does not match with that one house before they reach Quota, then she is out of the process and without a bid. This does not apply to pnm’s who are only invited to one pref and attend and rank that house – they will get that bid and can rest easy.

Can I drop and try for a different bid later?
Signing an MRABA card is a binding agreement stating that the pnm will accept a bid from any house she puts on her card. If a pnm declines a bid, or accepts and then drops at any point before initiation, she is not eligible for another bid for a calendar year.

Snap Bids?
Snap Bids are offered before bids are opened on bid day by houses who did not match to Quota. There are very few of these and nothing for a pnm to count on. These bids would go to pnm’s who attended at least the first round and then either dropped or were dropped by all houses. Pnm’s being offered a Snap will be contacted, and if they accept they will go to bid day with everyone else. Declining a snap does not hold a pnm to the same binding agreement that the MRABA card does.

Hope this helps.