Getting Ready for Sorority Recruitment

If you are a first generation college student or if your parents were not in a sorority or fraternity, they may be wondering how the sorority recruitment process works. Even if a parent was in a sorority or fraternity, he or she may be wondering how “rush” has changed – besides just the name.

These tips will help you talk with your parents about the idea of recruitment and sorority life.

BEFORE:

✽  Research your options with your parents. Tell them why you want to be involved. Let them know about the events you will be attending and any women you have already met. Read the rest of this entry »

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The summer before your first year of college is an exciting one filled with anticipation for the four-year journey ahead.  While enjoying your summer vacation, be sure to capitalize on the opportunities to learn about your extracurricular choices.

Attending campus tours and welcome sessions inspires students to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the institution. Many campus sorority and fraternity councils plan events such as barbecues, house tours, information booths, and “meet-and-greets” to provide those same students with information about joining a Greek organization.  These are considered “pre-recruitment” events. Read the rest of this entry »

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What terms are used most frequently during sorority recruitment?  We’ve got them for you here, including people, groups, time frames, rules, statistics, and actions. A quick peruse will help familiarize you with some new (and sometimes odd) words and phrases you will likely be hearing more often.

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is the conference body of 26 sororities and women’s fraternities established to collaborate with and advocate for it’s members.  Membership recruitment is governed by a College Panhellenic Association at each institution.

College Panhellenic Association (sometimes abbreviated as CPH, PHC, Panhel, CPC, etc.) is the cooperative campus organization of collegiate members of NPC sororities represented on that campus.

Formal Recruitment is a designated membership recruitment period during which each sorority holds a series of organized social activities.

A Chapter is the local group that represents a segment of an Inter/National organization. The term Inter/National describes a sorority’s central organization.

All sororities have chapters in the U.S. These are national sororities. Some sororities have chapters in Canada, making them international sororities. The term Inter/National describes both types organizations and is used widely in the collegiate setting. Read the rest of this entry »

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Rachel was having a wonderful experience during sorority recruitment.   She knew her strengths and her hurdles, and how to talk about them.  She felt great about how she looked.  She was having fantastic conversations, really getting to know the women on a personal level, and she loved the women she was meeting.  She had been invited back by several chapters she liked.

Julie was Rachel’s favorite sorority member out of every chapter she had visited.  Rachel was lucky enough to speak with Julie again for a few minutes in the third round of recruitment. In the middle of that conversation with Julie, Rachel took out her phone to quickly answer an important text message.

Julie waited awkwardly, wondering who or what was so important that it couldn’t wait till a break. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: cell phone, etiquette, sorority recruitment, sorority rush

Once you’ve consulted with your Panhellenic leaders, follow these basic tips, and you will look and feel your best each day of sorority recruitment.

Recruitment Wear “Don’ts”

DON’T wear anything ripped, torn, worn out or inappropriately faded (faded jeans might be OK, but a washed out t-shirt is not).  Holey jeans, frayed hems, missing belt loops, pilled sweaters – repair or reconsider, ahead of time.

DON’T wear anything that doesn’t fit properly – if it’s too tight, you run the risk of looking tacky, or splitting a seam trying to sit down (sounds like a no-brainer, but I’ve seen it happen).  Things that are too big will leave you pulling and tugging and adjusting all day, and can look sloppy, no matter how well-cared for the clothing. Read the rest of this entry »

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“Dressy casual.”

“Business casual.”

“Interview attire.”

“Semi-formal.”

All of these terms have been used to describe what potential new members should wear during sorority recruitment.  Usually, these phrases only create MORE questions.  It’s enough to make your head spin!

Your Panhellenic officers will provide you with guidance for each day of recruitment.  If those guidelines aren’t clear, ask questions.  Even then, one person’s “casual” can translate into another person’s “sloppy.”  What looks “dressy” to someone can seem “overdone” to others.

Head still spinning?  Let’s steady your head and polish your look with some simple tips.  Follow these basic do’s and don’ts, and you will look and feel your best each day of recruitment. Read the rest of this entry »

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How do you persuade someone to appreciate your fabulousness?  One of the strongest basic tenets of persuasive communications is evidence.  Provide your listener with evidence of your thesis, position, or brand.  When you meet sorority members during the recruitment process, will you flat out announce the three legs of your special brand?

“Hi, my name is Brit.  First, I’m a skilled varsity athlete.  Second, I’m a National Merit Scholar.  Third, I plan to become a pediatric anesthesiologist.”

Is that normal, friendly conversation?  Would this persuade others that Brit is special?  Self-absorbed?  Even if these three things about Brit are both true and pertinent, is there a better way Brit could convince a sorority member she is a good candidate for a sorority? Read the rest of this entry »

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In this full-length article, you will learn why positioning is important when you must stand out from the crowd.  Then you will choose your special “brand.”

Lady Gaga.  Oprah Winfrey.  Taylor Swift.  Reese Witherspoon. What do these four women have in common?  They all have a particular “brand” that they promote to enhance their position in their market.  Why do they do this?  Because being branded means being memorable.  To stand out from the crowd, you must be more memorable than the others in your category. Read the rest of this entry »

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The term “rush” was coined around the turn of the 20th century when sorority and fraternity students would literally rush train platforms where new students arrived on campus for the school year.

That was the beginning of the disorganized membership recruitment for the sororities and fraternities.  Read the rest of this entry »

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