This post is full of tips that I wish I had know before going through recruitment. This will be my last recruitment, and after this year I will have seen recruitment from 3 different perspectives: Potential New Member (or PNM), sister, and recruitment team (Panhellenic). I have recruited 2 times for my chapter, and have learned so much throughout the process. So here are my tips:
To maximize your options as a PNM you want to make sure at every party you put your best self forward! You will be talking with many sorority women, often for five minutes. They will be making snap impressions of you so you want that impression to be positive. To do so make sure you:
- Get sleep and stay energized! You don't want to burnout at the end of the day and the women you meet at the last party think you are bored talking to them.
- Keep the conversation light and fun! Talk about your family, philanthropy/causes that matter to you, friends, travel, organizations you have participated in in High School or gotten involved in at college, what you did over winter break, future goals and why they matter. These all are great topics to discuss!
- Don't be afraid to drive the conversation a bit. Honestly (especially at the end of the day) the sister will be happy to have a break from talking. Plus recruitment is all about learning about YOU! The sister you are meeting wants to hear about your life. Though make sure to not have a Paris Geller Harvard interview moment (if you've never seen Gilmore Girls Paris wouldn't let her interviewer say a single word- Don't do that!).
- Avoid talking about controversial topics like politics and religion (unless it feels right), but remember that you will be talking with a variety of women from different backgrounds. You do not want to say something that could potentially offend her (thus making that her impression of you). Further avoid talking about fraternity men and alcohol. Recruitment is about learning about you, not how hard you party.
- Show interest in the chapters and the women! Don't be afraid to ask questions. My favorite questions to get as a sister are "What makes your chapter unique on campus?", "what is your favorite part about being a sister in XXX?" and "What convinced you to join XXX?". Make sure you have enough information about all the chapters to make the most informed decision.
- Take Notes. All the chapters will blend together after awhile (especially if like my school there are 10+ chapters on campus).
Keep your mind open!! I cannot stress this enough. You are making this decision for yourself. Not a family member, a friend, or society. Most girls go into recruitment with somewhat of an idea of the reputations of various chapters on campus. Forget those and focus on the conversations and the women you meet!
Clothing
In terms of outfits I'll say this: make sure the outfits you chose are appropriate for both your age and the occasion. You are not dressing for boys so leave the short skirt and low cut dresses at home. Further pick outfits you feel confident and comfortable in! Some basic ideas for each day:
Casual: Keep it simple, a sweater or button-up, jeans or nice pants, and boots. If you feel inclined maybe add a blazer to amp up the outfit!
Business Casual: LBD, Skirt, nice shirt (not low cut), blazer, if you go the pants route make sure they are very nice slacks, heels or nice flats
Preference: Nice cocktail style dress. Something young yet classy. Add jewelry for added bling and heels or nice flats
Final Thoughts: DO NOT take recruitment to seriously. Yes I did just say that. Getting let go from chapters is not the end of the world. It does not say anything about your character or personality. From the sister side selection is complicated and often not the most fair. We talk with you ladies for such a short period of time that often it can be hard to get the best impression. This is why it is important to make these impressions count!
If you have any questions feel free to ask me on either tumblr or over email, I'm always here to help! If you need someone to vent to during recruitment feel free to reach out for an unbiased audience!
Best of luck to all, and just know it all works out in the end! Going Greek was the best decision I ever made!
