Preparing for Sorority Membership Recruitment
Potential New Members Plan Ahead to Choose the Best Sisterhood
Feb 22, 2008
Although recruitment itself is very time and energy consuming, the most successful potential new members will put in a good amount of work before they ever step foot on campus in the fall. Doing some legwork ahead of time and preparing to make the most of the opportunity will greatly increase your chances of finding the sorority sisterhood for which you are looking and enjoying the many benefits of sorority membership.
Read Everything Published by the Panhellenic Council
The Panhellenic Council is the governing body for the sororities on campus. Made up of elected officers from various chapters, they organize and oversee the entire membership recruitment process. Most campus Panhellenics have an excellent website that will provide detailed information. Read everything on the website about recruitment and then do whatever the website tells you to do. If there is an optional informational meeting, go. Even if you already know a lot of Greeks on campus, still go to the meeting. It is another opportunity to meet more people and build relationships with other Greeks before you even start recruitment.
Make Sure You Meet the Minimum GPA Requirements for Recruitment
Every sorority has a minimum GPA requirement. Sororities are generally not permitted by their national organization to take any new members who do not meet that requirement. Find out the minimum GPAs for the groups on your campus as soon as possible. If you do not have the grades, then get busy to raise your GPA.
Register for Membership Recruitment as Early as Possible
As soon as registration opens, complete the process. The sooner the sororities see your name, the better chance they will remember you.
Request References from Sorority Alumnae
Sorority alumnae are very familiar with writing references for women going through recruitment so don’t be afraid to seek out someone to write a reference for you. Try to get a reference for every sorority on campus. If you don’t know someone personally who is a member of a particular sorority, ask around and see if someone does. References are not required to join a sorority, but it is one more way to get your name in front of the sorority sisters before recruitment begins. Be sure to write a handwritten thank you note to every woman who writes a reference for you!
Study the Sorority Chapters on Your Campus
Find out as much as you can about the different sororities on campus. Read through their websites to become acquainted with the local chapter. Check out national websites as well so you can get a feel for what is important to each. If you have friends who can give you an impartial assessment of the different chapters, this can sometimes be helpful. But remember to give every chapter a chance when you go through Recruitment, no matter what preconceived ideas you may have from what people say.
Prepare Yourself by Choosing Appropriate Clothes
Recruitment, especially at schools with large Greek systems, can be a grueling physical experience. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to do that much walking, talking and socializing. Try to be well-rested and healthy before the process begins.
After reviewing the materials provided by the Panhellenic, decide what you will wear to each phase of recruitment. Wear clothing that is appropriate and flattering. Wear clothing that reflects who you are, not who you think the sisters in a particular house will want you to be. Be sure to choose comfortable shoes because you will be on your feet a lot.
Plan to Ask Questions and Know Sorority Terms
Think through the questions you wish to ask as you visit each sorority and jot them down. Always have a question or two to ask to demonstrate your interest! Conversely, try to think about what you will be asked during your visits to each chapter and think of engaging (and truthful!) answers you can give. Make sure you are familiar with all of the sorority terminology. Clarify in your mind what you are looking for in a sorority so you can think clearly during the process.
Sorority membership recruitment is an exciting time. It can also be stressful and overwhelming at times. By carefully preparing ahead of time, potential new members have a much better chance of enjoying the process and being successfully matched to a sorority where they will enjoy true sisterhood.
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