Recruitment 101: What I wish I knew before joining a sorority

When I applied for recruitment, my Greek life knowledge could be summed up in the hour and thirty-four minutes of Legally Blonde. My Rho Gamma had to break it to me that Delta Nu wasn’t a sorority in real life after I expressed my disappointment in Samford not having a chapter. To say that I had no idea what I was getting myself into would be a complete understatement. Going into recruitment, I scoured the internet for blogs and TikTok OOTDs. Tying a bow on my junior year and preparing to recruit for my final year of college has me thinking a LOT about the time I’ve spent in my chapter and things I wish I would have known before going through recruitment. 

Before we start! I’m going to do a quick vocab bank for y’all. While some of these words have become common knowledge for me, I know that not everyone has that familiarity. I certainly didn’t when I started reading through sorority blogs! Each school might do things a bit differently, but this is what recruitment looked like for me. 

Philanthropy- The first and most casual round of recruitment. In this round, you visit each house. For this round, you are given a t-shirt and style it however you want! I wore bright disco pants! 

Sisterhood- The second round of recruitment. In this round, you go to less houses than before. After a process of mutual selection and voting, your schedule is determined. It sounds really daunting, but believe me – the system works! The parties are a bit longer than philanthropy and you get to have deeper conversations with active members of the houses. 

Preference- The last round of recruitment where you visit only two houses. At this point, you have intentional conversations with women in each house to determine if this is a place where you could see yourself growing and thriving. It is formal, and can tend to be emotional at times!

Bid Day- AKA BEST DAY EVER! You get to open your bid card and know which house has offered you a “bid” aka an offer to join their sorority. You have the awesome opportunity to “run home” and be welcomed by a “bid day buddy” (often a girl who you talked to during recruitment)

Rho Gamma- A rho gamma is an upperclassman who has disaffiliated from her sorority to be a recruitment guide/counselor for PNMs. 

PNM - PNM means Potential New Member- if you’re going through recruitment, you’re called a PNM. 

Parties- Each time you enter a house during recruitment, it is during a “party.” During this time, you’ll talk to some of the girls in the sorority, hear speeches and maybe even a song from active members, and learn more about the core purposes and beliefs of each organization. 

Now let’s jump in to five things I want you to know before you go through sorority recruitment this year! 

Be YOU

I know, I know, it sounds like something your mom would say, but trust me, it's solid advice. Pretending to be someone you're not during recruitment isn't just exhausting for you, it's also not fair to the chapters you're hoping to join.

Think about it like this: You’re trying to find a place where you feel like you can belong, a home away from home. You want that home to love you for who you REALLY are. Embrace your quirks, your passions, the things you love- whatever makes you “you!” When you go into a house as yourself, rather than pretending to be someone you’re not, you’re going to make the whole process feel a lot smoother and way more rewarding come Bid Day. 

Have growth on your mind in each of these houses.

When I went through recruitment in 2021, my goal was to find a place where I didn’t just fit in as I was, but a place where I would be challenged to grow and become the best version of myself. When you go through recruitment, that’s what I’d encourage you to do as well!  

I am so thankful I thought about this when going through recruitment. Not only was I able to come as I was into my chapter in 2021, I have been able to grow into a more confident and authentic person that can definitely be attributed to the people I’ve been surrounded with in my chapter. 

Keep growth in mind, and I’m sure your senior self will be OH-SO-THANKFUL for it! 

Don’t listen to “stereotypes!”

Coming into college, there are a ton of stereotypes that surround certain chapters. What you need to know is that while there may be some truth in them, you should ultimately be able to find every kind of girl in the sorority you end up choosing. Don’t count out a sisterhood purely based on the rumors you hear or what you read on Greek Rank (really just avoid Greek Rank in general!)

Instead, focus on getting to know the chapter for who they really are. Do your own research and go into each party with an open mind, ready to learn more about what each house has to offer. After all, who knows better about what a sisterhood is truly about than the sisters themselves? By letting go of those stereotypes and giving each chapter a fair chance, you might just find your perfect fit in the most unexpected place. 

So please, I'm begging you, ditch the stereotypes and keep your mind open! Trust me, it's the best way to find your forever home!

Greek Life isn’t Everything!

Don’t cancel me for saying this! Y’all know I ADORE my sorority and the lifelong bonds I've formed, but I also know that my Greek letters don't define me. They don't dictate who I can or can't be friends with either.

Of course I have some amazing sisters who I couldn’t imagine my life without. But, I ALSO have some incredible friends in different chapters and even some who decided to go the independent route. 

Recruitment can be stressful and overwhelming, and I know it’s tempting to think that your worth comes from the letters you do or do not wear… but please remember that you are epic and wonderful and iconic regardless of what sorority you do (or don’t) join. 

Take a deep breath, let go of the pressure, and remember that your worth extends far beyond those Greek letters!!!

Find a place where you feel safe to share your story

In my experience, my chapter has done a great job at empowering each woman to feel comfortable to share their story. No matter where we've come from or what we've been through, we're all on this journey together, weaving our stories into something truly special. I know it might sound a tad cheesy and overly sentimental, but it’s true. I’m thankful to have found a place where I can share my life without fear of judgment. 

When you’re going through recruitment, trust your gut. Your story is important and you deserve to be surrounded by people who honor and uplift it. I know this is something I found and am so thankful for!

Regardless of your experience coming into recruitment, remember that every girl going through this process is likely just as nervous as you are– even the active members of the chapters! I can’t wait to see how you grow and thrive in this next chapter of your life! As you go through recruitment, my hope for you is that you’re able to stay true to yourself, keep an open heart, and find a place where you can not only come as you are but grow into who you want to become! 

DISCLAIMER: I do not speak for my chapter, my sorority, or my school! Everything stated here is fully my own opinion and based on my own experiences!