Ladies, recruitment season is upon us. Are we excited? Yes. Nervous? Of course. If you're reading this, you might need some advice or maybe you're just wondering and seeing if recruitment is for you. Well, look no further because this is now your go to guide for sorority recruitment.
1. Be kind.
You're going to go to houses and be asked back to houses that you don't want to be at, but be kind. The girls you are talking to are just as nervous about this process as you are and you don't want them to regret asking you back to their house when they could have picked someone else.
2. Dress comfortably.
By now you have a Pinterest board filled with outfit ideas, but if you don't listen to anything else I say listen to this- be comfortable, but don't dress like you just got out of bed and hit by a bus (you know that outfit). Odds are when you are going through this process it will be around 5 million degrees outside and if you're in 6-inch heels and a dress that is itchy - you're going to hate everything.
3. Smile naturally.
You know what I mean. If your smile makes you feel uncomfortable, then odds are it will make the girls you are talking to uncomfortable. Just let your smile come naturally, but of course don't look like you hate the world.
4. Talk about what you want to talk about.
Each day will have a theme where each sorority is able to share a piece of their chapter more in depth. Every girl will ask you questions but make it easier on them and you lead the conversation so you are talking about things that interest you. Of course, for those of you who like to live on the wild side please for the love of all things good talk about things that are appropriate.
5. Know what you want.
I am not talking about which sorority you want, I am talking about what you want in a sorority. If you go in and you know the things that you want in a sisterhood the whole recruitment process will be much easier and much more enjoyable.
6. Make friends.
In every house, you're going to meet girls you want to be best friends with and even girls who make you want to be a part of their chapter just for them. It's okay to make friendships outside of the chapter you end up joining so make friends with the girls in your rush group, in the houses you visit, or even waiting outside to entire each house.
7. Be open minded.
Anyone who tells you they didn't go into recruitment with their mind already set on a house is either lying or their mom signed them up without them knowing. While it is good to know what you want in a sisterhood, it is not good to think that only one house can provide that for you. You have to- and I mean have to - keep an open mind or else you're just going to end up crying sad tears every day.
8. Expect the unexpected.
You're going to go in with favorite houses, everyone does, but be prepared for that to change. The truth that not everyone is able to tell you is that you might end up running home to the house that you dropped on the first day. There's a chance you could fall in love with a house that everyone hates. There's a chance you could hate a house that you thought you'd love. Prepare for everything and don't be surprised when the system shocks you.
9. If you've found a home, tell people.
On preference night, or maybe even the night before people will start asking if you know if you've found your home yet and if you have make sure you tell people.You never know, you not saying that you found your home could take away someone else's chance at having theirs. Think about yourself in this process, but also think about other people.
10. Be you.
You're going to hear this so much, but listen when I tell you this is the most important thing you can do. From how you dress to how to smile, be you girl. The chapter you run home to on bid day is going to be there for you through everything you go through in life, so be real from the very start even if you don't know if that's where you're going to end up. If you try to fit into a certain chapter people will see that and it won't always go in your favor.
Whether you find a home or not, recruitment is one of the best things you can go through in college. The recruitment process itself prepares you for so much in life and gives you a way to meet so many people. Over all, do it and enjoy it!!
