Thoughts on COB? (continuous open bidding)

So, did they cut more than normal this year due to non-traditional recruitment? Seems really hard to get a feel for a house or a PNM when only two or three girls are speaking to them.

No. While it seems that way when you read Greek rank, there were not more women released from every house than usual. On bid day, Greek life will release the number of women who received a bid, Arkansas typically has a really large percentage. Last year it was around 90% so if it’s the same this year, about 1350 women out of 1500 will receive a bid. And the 150 women who don’t includes people who still had houses but chose to drop.

My roommate last year was a zeta. I am in a top house and our nationals will cover the cost of girls graduate in the middle of the year ect... zeta did take a few girls ( like 4 I believe) in the spring because they had to drop a few girls from the 2019 pledge class for bad behavior. Again it all comes down to money! The more girls the less each has to pay!

Okay I’m reading your comment as you don’t know what COB is and you want info, if that’s not what you mean then just ignore me lol

COB=Continuous Open Bidding. Houses do it when they don’t reach quota, or they have members drop and want to make up the numbers. Houses do participate in COB right after fall formal recruitment, so I would ask Greek Life or your Gamma Chi about how to get involved. Typically Spring COB is more popular. For Spring COB, you will want to have a friend in the house you’re interested in and they will fill out information about you to recommend you for COB. They are basically your reference. Then the chapter will invite you to a “rush” event, which is usually like an ice cream social where you will get to talk to some members and see if you would fit in there. COB is much more chill than formal recruitment. You have the potential of going to events for multiple houses, but the way most girls typically do it is they have someone recommend them for the house they really want and just go to those events. If that house likes you they will extend a bid and you get to have a mini bid day. Houses that typically do it are Phi Mu, DG, ADPi, AXO, AOPi, and Zeta has done it in years past but they don’t take very many. Hope this helps & comment if you have questions!!

Thank you! So is it hard to get a COB right after recruitment? Do the same houses normally do it?

Honestly I’m not positive on that, like I said you will have to talk to Greek life and your gamma chi. Obviously they’re going to take some women because they wouldn’t be doing COB if they didn’t plan to accept any new women, so I would say your chances are good of receiving a bid if you participate!

“Early cuts are nothing personal, it’s purely a numbers game! Trust the process! Also, if you’re cut early chapters will never forget that you’re one of the losers they cut and you will have no chance of receiving a bid.”

Great, thanks...

So who knows how COB will be this year. Usually, spring cob starts at the beginning of spring semester. Wouldn’t be surprised if there is fall cob- but that is just a personal opinion.

Do you have to have connections in the house in order to receive a COB?

Generally, yes..