Sorority Recruitment

Recruitment or Rush: The most important time of year for both the PNM's and the organizations.

Formal Recruitment:

Each college will have their sorority formal recruitment either in the Fall or Spring semester. Different colleges do things differently but no matter what you will have several different rounds to get to know each sorority. After each round you write down your top sororities and the sororities write down their top PNMs - this assures that you are picking each other and there is a connection on both sides. The last round, Preference night is the most important. This is the last chance you have to make sure you have build a strong bond with the active members.

What sororities are looking for:

Each sorority is looking to recruit PNM's that they think will represent their chapter well. It is not about how many girls they get on Bid Day but about the quality of the girls they are getting. Sorority women want to recruit PNM's that are involved on campus and show leadership abilities - the women recruited today are the future leaders of the chapter. Sororities want to recruit potential new members who want to become stronger leaders, contributors and difference-makers. Basically, sororities are looking for girls that are values-based, driven and goal oriented.

What PNM's should do during recruitment:

1. Ask Questions - Think of random questions you could ask the person you are talking to before you get in the room. No one wants to have an awkward silence in the middle of a conversation. Asking questions will show you are interested, eager, and excited to join their organization.

2. Everyone Ends Up Where They Belong - Everyone will find a home, you just need to be patient and let it happen. If you are not acting like yourself during recruitment, chances are you are going to end up in the wrong organization. By being yourself, you will easily find that you fit in best will one specific room.

3. Get Personal - To end up with the right sorority it is important you make personal connections. Yes, you are there to learn about the sorority but in order to know if you fit in you need to make a connection on a more personal level. By the last round of recruitment you shouldn't be asking basic questions about a sororities philanthropies, but expressing the why you would fit in with that sorority. For example, if your in the room you know if for you, don't be shy! Tell the person you are talking to you feel comfortable there and hope to see her later (at Bid Day)!

What PNM's Should NOT do:

1. Booze: Do not bring up drinking. You're in college it is understood that people drink. During formal recruitment is not the time to tell them you went out last weekend or you love the bars at your school.

2. Boys: Do not bring up boys. If you have a question about if your boyfriend will be able to come to any events, that's okay. But if you are going to tell someone you think the boys at the school are so hot, don't. You don't know who they know, who they have or have not dated or which boy broke their heart. Brining up a topic like this never ends well and if this is the sorority of your dreams, just don't talk about it.

3. Other Girls: Do not bring up other girls. Name dropping does not always work in your favor. You do not know who the person you are talking to is or isn't friendly with. Bringing up other girls can ruin your chances. If you know someone in the sororities room you are in, yes you can say you know her - otherwise leave that conversation for another time.

Bid Day:

Aside from initiation, this is the most exciting time for the new members. You will receive your bid, and run to the sorority you chose. You will officially get to meet each girl in the chapter and there will be a celebration. After Bid Day, you will start the new member process and start to learn so much more about the organization you chose!