informal

COB is not a Panhellenic planned or sponsored event so there is zero reason for Panhel to have the responsibility of publicizing it.

Plus, if a sorority only needs one or two people to make quota, forcing them to publicize it or hold an open event will only get a lot of girls excited about an opportunity that isn’t there. Most sororities keep a list of women who would be good potential members and draw from that list. The objective, after all, is to fill the pledge class as quickly as possible.

For what it’s worth, I think that a completely open COB event is a mistake for ANY sorority and attendees should be limited to women the sorority members know personally. They don’t need women who just want to join a sorority. They need women who want to join THEIR sorority.

At many larger schools, COB is panhellenically sponsored so it can be regulated, grades can be verified more quickly, and the process more out in the open. For example, Florida State kicks theirs off with an open round at a campus building. All chapters who are even taking one woman have to participate in the open event, and there is less stigma attached to COB there. Each chapter also has to openly disclose how many women they are taking, so therefore a not of girls do not get their hopes up. The open event attracts women who transferred into the university in January who did not have the opportunity to go through formal recruitment, or girls who didn't do it and suddenly wish they had because their floormates are having such a good time.

Most chapters who COB are doing it because more girls a graduating than they expected or they are below campus total due to unforseen circumstances. I think it's awful that there is such a negative conniption attached to it here. My friends in Southern schools think it's so normal for different chapters from all tiers to have to do COB occasionally.

You can still do informal if you made quota. :)

ADPi had taken much larger pledge classes in the past, maybe they want more than 57. Or maybe they have sophomores who don't want to live in again next year so they might need a few more girls. I know ADPi and SK both made quota, but I have been told they both have large graduating classes close to 60 women and you would be smart to replace your graduates number for number.

I'm not trying to make OP feel bad, I'm just trying to be honest and adjust her expectations. Invite-only recruitment is just that, it's invite-only. I'm not defending it or saying it's right, but this is how it is.

Sure, she can contact any chapter she wants, but it's not likely to end with a bid. It'd be much better for OP and her friend to focus on the chapters that would actually give htem a chance.

Let's take a familiar analogy--if you're interested in a guy and he rejects you when you ask him out on a date, how much time should you spend pining over him instead of talking to other guys who might actually be interested in you?