How to CRUSH Sorority Recruitment
Sorority recruitment falls differently on the spectrum for every girl going through. Some girls have dreamed about joining a sorority house since they were young, inspired by their mothers, big sisters, or even Lucy Hale in Sorority Wars.
Others are not so sure it's meant for them but are willing to give it a try. No matter how you feel about recruitment, I want you to be fully prepared and ready to walk away feeling GREAT about yourself, even during a not-so-awesome process.
It's no secret going through recruitment is somewhat superficial, and the thought of making deep connections in LITERALLY 5-minute conversations with strangers sounds absurd… but it's not! There truly is one key factor. I've said it once, and I'll say it again, BE YOURSELF. You will not find friendships to last a lifetime and grow into a kickass young woman if you are going in with ulterior motives. Let's get to the play-by-play.
DAY 1 & 2: OPEN HOUSE
Open house rounds are essentially speed dating. You will go to every chapter house and talk with multiple women. The conversations will be short and sweet. The recruiter will likely steer the discussion, but it is your job to get engaged! Ask questions, feel the vibe, and be your fun, sweet self. If you are introverted, this would be a great round to push yourself to open up, but don't feel like you need to tell your whole life story. Let it flow naturally.
TIP: While I can't say, "don't be nervous!" I can say that the recruiter is going to be just as nervous as you. There is a lot of responsibility on them to draw you in. Just focus on getting to know girls authentically.
DAY 3 &4: PHILANTHROPY
Every sorority is linked to a philanthropic organization. With these organizations, sororities raise money and host events year-round. Girls in every chapter get to be involved in something bigger than themselves, and it is a great way to make new friends while also giving back! My advice as a PNM (potential new member) is to ASK QUESTIONS! I loved it when girls showed a genuine interest in something my chapter and I care for deeply. Some recruiters may steer you in a different direction, and that is totally fine. If philanthropy is a huge draw to Greek Life for you, then take note of those who are less interested, and maybe that's not the place for you. If you don't feel strongly bonded to the philanthropic aspect, that's ok too! Recognize the importance of it to you and each chapter, and from there, decide how you enjoyed your conversations. You don't need to see eye to eye with every recruiter, just like you aren't going to be BEST friends with every girl in any house.
TIP: Take GOOD notes! After you leave each sorority event, write down where you sat, who you talked to, and what you talked about. Record things that stood out to you and how the overall vibe felt. Going to so many houses will jumble together in your mind. While you may remember the way you felt leaving, it's going to be challenging to differentiate down to individual rank without strong notes to jog your memory.
DAY 5: HOUSE TOURS
In my opinion, house tours are both the most fun and the most draining. House tours are a LONG day, filled with long conversations. The good news? By day 5, you are likely envisioning yourself in the houses you are going back to. On top of that, the sororities are trying to win you over.
At the University of Washington, PNM's move into their chapter house ON bid day! It's crazy and rare, but it makes house tours even more critical. While it may be tempting to gravitate toward a house that is all the glitz & glamour, it is important to stay focused on the conversations you are having with each chapter's women. As the week progresses, conversations between girls become longer. It can be challenging to let your true self shine during the first few days of recruitment. Not every conversation is going to flow, there is limited time, and you are meeting SO many new faces. By day 5, it is time to let your guard down and really get to know the women. Ask questions like, "how was the transition from high school to a sorority for you?" "Why did you join a sorority?" "What are some of your favorite memories in the sorority house?" Even if they sound cheesy, answers to these questions may help you see clearly if you can envision yourself in the chapter.
TIP: As you have more and more conversations, you will notice how repetitive they can become. Zero in on what you actually care about, and ask those questions! Feel free to take the reins and lead the conversation. Recruiters will remember you for your boldness, and it will feel more authentic.
DAY 6: PREFERENCE
The preference round is truly the most important day of recruitment. Preference or "pref" is the round you go back to your last two houses for one (or two!) previous conversation(s) before you rank. Often, girls go into pref with the expectation of choosing one specific chapter that evening to bid. However, many of my friends went in with one expectation and ended the day feeling totally confused and torn. Typically, on pref, you will be paired with a girl you had talked to, and strongly connected with, one of the 5 days prior. Pref is a day to be completely transparent with the recruiter and confide in her your concerns, questions, and excitements! I am not saying to blatantly explain why you might like the other sorority better; it is good, to be honest with why you may feel reservations. For example, I fell in love with a PNM at pref, and she was torn between two houses. She told me she felt nervous that everyone in my chapter had their sh*t together, and she wasn't sure she'd fit in. Boy, I was shocked!! I'm a total mess, and so are most of my friends (in the best way)! Knowing this information, I was able to ease her nerves.
TIP: Make your own choices. Follow your gut. Do not join a sorority just because your friend group is joining the same one. This is your college experience, and this is your journey. You owe it to yourself to pick the house you feel like you belong in, and not the house Stacy from Chem is dying to join.
ONE LAST TIP! I asked PNM's at every point during recruitment when they were struggling to look at the recruiters they were talking to. Ask themselves if they look up to these women or feel inspired to be more like them. If you are talking with women who you think light up a room consistently from one sorority, those are the women you should gravitate toward. College is a formative time when you will grow and change a LOT. You want to be surrounded by women you feel inspired to grow to become more similar to, so hold onto that. You got this, girl. Any sorority would be more than blessed to have you!