RFM-pref day
 

Ladies who are RFM experts: let's say that a PNM has 3 parties on pref day. She likes 2 (A and B), hates the other one (C). A and B have always made quota. C never makes quota--right off, anyway.

She lists A and B only on her MRABA but doesn't get a bid. Most of us have seen this scenario. How often have you seen this happen? If the third sorority doesn't usually make quota, does it seem to you that that's the bid that girls get in such a scenario?

I realize that it's different for every girl and that it depends where they're placed on the sorority's list. It's just that so often, it seems to me like the PNM gets C.

If she doesn't list C, then she can't get a C bid. If she does list C, then she should get a C bid. That's the way it is supposed to work. If you list C, you are saying you will accept a bid from C. If A and B are full before they get to your name on the A list or the B list, and C hasn't made quota yet, you will be placed in C.

If there is a weak recruiting chapter that historically doesn't make quota, I don't think it's in a PNM's interest to list them on her bid card if she really, REALLY doesn't intend to accept a bid from them. The chances of you being placed in C are a lot higher than you being placed as a quota addition.


However, if C has a good recruitment and makes quota, you are giving up your shot at being a quota addition.

You take your chances, either way.

Not an expert, but do have some experience.

I think the PNM will not get a bid. A & B hit quota and didn't go far enough down their lists to get to her and she didn't list C.

She will be on the list of available PNMs provided by FSL to the organizations needing to fill spots.

In other words she will still be a "C" instead of A or B if she wants a bid this year. And the next year depends on the type of campus. Campus where Sophomores are not desirable: she would be lucky if C would even look at her.

So RFM is a much more complex process with the overall intent to help all or almost all groups make quota by setting releases all chapters must make on a realistic timeline. Remember when the weaker chapter missed quota by a lot? that's because the stronger rushing chapters where not ask to release enough pnm's "down" into the system. Another example is top chapters don't need to carry 2x or 3x quota into pref to make quota.

On the pnm side of the house these releases help set their expectations correctly...they are being released sooner to chapters that they will be released from at some point and are destined not to pledge. This helps keep pnm's in the system rather than carrying "top" houses all week only to have zero invites to pref, or 1 "top" and 2 "I don't want this house" to pref which causes them to drop out of recruitment because their expectations about where in the system they may end up hasn't been handled correctly.

About your question....I don't think that pnm's end up in "C" more often....This is an outcome of the pnm not making it high enough on the bid list of A & B - that isn't a result of RFM that's a result of pnm performance so to speak. When it comes to house C they probably have more women able to be invited to their house to pref (if they traditionally miss quota) and maybe? are placing pnm higher on their list knowing she's going to two other preferences at houses that rush stronger than they do??

while I do understand the conversation here, could you refresh my knowledge as to what "RFM" and "MRABA" stand for?

Except by looking at the recruitment results, it still seems like at a lot of campuses, there's still that one house that's missing quota by a lot. I wonder what alterations could be made to help fix that?

Release-Figure Management & Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (pref card)

If it's happening A LOT that PNMs are getting the top 2 and then bottom sorority for pref, that means that either there are a lot of in house triple legacies or else a lot of PNMs saying outright what group they want. Who wouldn't cut these girls if you didn't have to keep them? And if the PNMs are that set on groups, they probably wouldn't even be happy with #3.

If those PNMs have a shred of decency, they'll leave the bottom group off their card. You aren't going to be that magical unicorn QA, so quit thinking you are. QA isn't supposed to be about gaming the system and I think that's what some people are trying to turn it into.

I feel like the "ineligible for QAs if you don't maximize your options" thing is a bit of a catch-22. If a PNM honestly feels that a chapter isn't for her, and isn't just being a snob, it's kinda crappy to punish her for leaving a chapter off her pref card, if that spot could go to someone else who really wants to be there.

IMO if a chapter is that far off, you can't fix it in formal rush. They need to take a pledge class in the off semester, hopefully mainly comprised of women who don't just want A sorority, they want THAT sorority. RFM isn't supposed to be about charity and I don't think any chapter wants that. It's about being kind to PNMs and cutting them loose if you're not interested so they can see the good things in other chapters.

I've seen a couple different names for RFM on here, so before anyone gets confused - Release Figure Methodology.


NPC has a 2015 handout with more details for anyone who's curious:
https://www.npcwomen.org/resources/pdf/RFM%20Update.pdf


And carnation, I'm not exactly sure what you're getting at. Are you asking if a PNM who has two stronger recruiting chapters (A & B) and one weaker recruiting chapter (C) at Pref is less likely to wind up in A or B than a PNM who has all strong recruiting chapters (A, B, & D) at Pref?


While I'm not an RFM specialist, based on what I've seen since RFM was started that isn't the case. It just all depends on where each girl is on each chapter's bid list.

I'm not even sure how to put this into words. It just seems like maybe 3/4 of the PNMs we know who have been in this situation (so this would be dozens of women) end up with C.

AlphaXi_Husky, I guess that's what I'm saying. And a lot of times, C still doesn't make quota after various additions, etc.

Perhaps the only cure then is for even leaner pre-Pref invites for the strong recruiting chapters (SRWs). I say this because the snap bid lists are now put together at the same time as the bid list. If an SRW chapter misses quota, it's handled before invitations go out and no one is the wiser except the RFM specialist and maybe two chapter officers.

Honestly, I think this is one of those times when you have to look past bid day and at retention. Are those girls who get placed in C finishing pledgeship, initiating and staying members throughout college, or are they overwhelmingly not showing up for bid day or depledging? If it's the latter, then maybe it's time to relax RFM as far as letting C cut girls that show zero interest. RFM was intended to place more women, not to put chapters that are already nervous in rush further through the emotional wringer.