I prefer a private application process for several reasons:

1) It encourages people to apply that might otherwise not like the idea of having their gaming information publicly viewable on the internet.

This may sound silly, but as a working person, I hate the idea of my coworkers finding out about my WoW habit. Having an application that can be tied back to me by my in game character name immediately flags me as a WoW addict. Who else applies to end game raiding guilds?

2) It's more professional, and it keeps guild business private.

This game is chocked full of immature idiots overflowing with those funky hormones that make them "rebel" against their parents. Some of them have an axe to grind and nothing better to do that stir up a pot of drama. Keeping applications away from prying eyes is healthy and avoids having to interact with idiots.

3) It allows guild leadership to make decisions without having to invest time and energy selling their ideas to the entire organization.

Sometimes it's good to have the option to plan the possible social dynamics of guilding someone without having to deal with long forum threads in your guild member section about why we should or should not guild so-and-so.

In many cases, the most vocal guild members can be the least able to determine what is in the best interests of the guild. If your applications are public, you are going to have vastly more explaining and discussing to do, when you could base your decision on something more efficient like WWS from a test run, or attendance % at a past guild. Granted, that could work both ways, but with competent leadership, it's good to have the option to do things in private.

I disagree with the DPS meter requirement. I almost never have mine activated, simply because I almost always am on the top for any sort of fight that isn't melee-unfriendly. I know my class and my own performance well enough to be able to tell when my DPS is below where it should be. On top of that, DPS meters tend to be memory hogs, and I like my UI to run at around 25 MB soloing, 32-35ish in raids. With Assessment monitoring threat, damage, and DPS, I typically am at around 48 MB. Of course I always use Omen in raids, but my point is not all good DPSers need to have a DM showing.

Basically what Gid said some pages ago.

Our recruitment process works like this:
1. Application on the website
2. Hopeless cases of lack of proper English and also bad applications are instantly denied after at least 2-3 officers have seen it and talked about it or told the others to doublecheck.
3. People with normal applications which sound useful are given a short interview by the recruitment people, which sorts out the ebayers and people without a clue
4. If he/she passed that, a guild invite follows to rank "Applicant" who can earn DKP already but only spend if no one regular needs. 2 week trial period (can be extended if not online enough or people have concerns. A "recruitment review" thread is made which is open for all full members to vote yes/no/extended - with a short reasoning. 90% are clear yes or no, the rest is discussed and tested a bit more.

Until now this has worked quite fine for us, but we aren't that hardcore, got many people that mostly do pvp/arena and only some kara filler positions, but then again we're not in SSC yet, as we've lacked the numbers till now.

I've been an officer in my guild about a year and a half now, I've been playing WoW a little over 2. Now our guild isn't a raiding guild, nor do we claim to be. But we do run our share of raids. We have found many great players on our server, many of them started off as new players to the game and our guild. One of the things we try to do if they are new players is we show them what their position is with in the party.
(Ex: the whole party knows they have to stand back and wait till the tank aggros first and keeps him there till hes taken off a good amount of hp, the whole party knows the healer cant do his or her job if they are getting hit. Hunter knows he has to keep pet from charging off and taking aggro from the tank, healer knows to use at least healing spells that are one rank lower so he doesn't aggro, etc)

We are very specific with bosses and certain mobs.
As a guild we keep our ignore lists updated in our forums so we know who we can and cant invite. We dont announce that we are recruiting, because we choose to LOOK for good players, which is why when it comes to regular instances we try to PuG. But when it comes to new players, we try to make them understand where they stand with in the party. Our high leveled and more skilled players make it their business to show all the low levels what they should be doing with their characters, whether soloing or partying. We show them what talent trees are best, whats good dps in/out of the party, what pets/minions are good for what fights, whats good gear for their character even if its not blues or purples, etc

Yes we have had our good share of wipes, but at this point human error becomes your worst enemy. All it comes down is good tactics as a high level and party/raid leader.

Our guild has a 2 week trial period, we let all new players go with us to raids as long as they are high enough to get in. We do our fair share of running the low levels through their appropriate instances. Our guild has its own loot rules. If we're pugging it, we ask before hand. We have certain rules, that we ask ALL our members to follow. We dont play favorites, because at this point we have become so comfortable with each other we feel more like a family.

If you cant find good players on your server turn them into good players! Losing is only half the battle.

Hi, sorry to interject - I normally just read here and never post, but there's a calmness-challenged guy on the vn boards bashing this thread and site. thought it might amuse some of you:

VN Boards - Everything that is wrong with WoW....

hi, cool post. hey i have a questun, howz you mine for fish? i've tried to find fish ore but itz only gives me copper and crap, i also want to know the drop rate of Illidon's fork, i know it exists because i saw a lvl 75 naga chef playr dude with it, it was a rainbow color item (thats super rare uber drop rate for all you noobs) oh, and how do you get the flying pencil mount from outer lands? the one what has the eat lead attack and stuff, and 1 more question, how do i get the rogue heal spell? i've gots plenty of mana for it but i don't have it from my trainer and he stole my money the wh0r3! oh, and how do i enhance my waffle toss move to rank 6? and how do you blacksmith mangos? PLZ HELP! oh, want to hear a story? GOOD!! once there was a rogue, he came up behind some dude and backstabbed him, but he dident die, so he pistol whiped him and lobed off his left ear, then he skined him alive and then he dround him, and then he starved him todath, but then he apologised and they became best friends! untell a lvl 80 naga raped them bolth, THE END! wasent that worth your time? I thought so! I love you all your all so awsome to take the time to read this post this far! and your aparently still reading it, wow you rock! i want your mangos in my naga's face, and my cat says hi