15 Things I Learned During Sorority Recruitment
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15 Things I Learned During Sorority Recruitment

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15 Things I Learned During Sorority Recruitment

Sorority recruitment is one of the most stressful processes I’ve ever been through. It is a huge learning experience. I thought that if I could save at least one girl some stress for next year, I’d be doing the world a favor. So here are fifteen things that I learned while going through recruitment at a southern university.

1. A fan will be your best friend.

Conquering Texas heat is a huge battle. I didn’t realize how hot it was going to be until I became envious of all the girls who brought mini hand-held fans. If you try to get a fan in your college town durning recruitment week, you probably won’t find one because they’re all sold out. Your best bet is to buy one in your hometown with lots of extra batteries.

2. Break in your shoes before recruitment week.

This is no joke. You know you’ve made a bad decision when you’re on the verge of crying in a house because your feet hurt so badly. Although you’ll hear it all the time, it’s so, so important that you have comfortable, broken-in shoes to wear because you will be on your feet 90 percent of the week. Also, bring flip-flops for skit night and preference night so you don’t have to walk across the row in wedges/heels.

3. Follow the dress code that is in your recruitment guide.

When I saw all of the sample outfits that were included in our recruitment guide, I assumed they were suggestions and instead wore rompers the days we were supposed to wear sundresses. Although it didn’t really matter as much at my school, others might take it more seriously, so I would advise you to wear exactly what they tell you to wear.

4. My school paid around $20,000 to rent out port-o-potties for the week.

Honestly, one of my biggest questions before recruitment was where were we supposed to go to the bathroom during the day? My school paid almost $20,000 to have about eight different port-o-potties stationed around the houses on sorority row. On the outside, these bathrooms could be hooked onto the back of a truck like a trailer. But on the inside, there were wooden floors, a 2x3 carpet, running water (for both the sink and the toilet), air conditioning, and wooden cabinets. If you're wondering where they got all this money from, imagine how much cash you would have after taking $100-$250 from 1,400 girls to register for recruitment (that’s over $140,000).

5. Really do bring snacks and water.

For me, most of the time I was too nervous to eat, so, I just munched on some crackers. But you really do get hungry after almost eight hours on the row; And let’s not forget water. After yelling at a girl standing less than a foot away from you because it was so loud in the sorority house, your throat is going to get dry. So, drink some water. Also, you don’t want to pass out from dehydration and miss recruitment, do you?

6. Rho Gammas are such a blessing.

I’m not exactly sure how I would have made it through this week without my Rho Gammas. The company is so great to have when you're going through such a stressful week, and it’s so comforting to know that there was always someone to talk to whenever I needed it. I really do believe that they took a huge part in how I knew to join the sorority I did. I’m so grateful for them and the hard work they put in for us.

7. You will get cut, and it will be hard.

Although everyone wants to be that one exception and never get cut from a house, that’s not going to happen. Before recruitment started, I thought I was going to be so perfect in a particular house but I ended up getting cut from them in the first round. From then on, I had to reimagine myself in a different sorority, and it was like starting recruitment all over again. As cheesy as it sounds, there is a house for you in which you can do such amazing things in, if only you keep an open mind.

8. Don't research the houses before recruitment.

As odd of a request as it is, I wouldn’t look into any of the houses before recruitment. I feel like this only gives you preconceived ideas. It clouds your judgment on which house is truly for you. Having a good Instagram or a fancy website shouldn’t be the reason that you choose a certain sorority. Anything you need to know about a house, you’ll have time to ask and learn about during recruitment week.

9. Don't say negative comments about a sorority to another PNM.

This happened to me a couple of times during recruitment week. While talking to other PNMs or even overhearing it, some girls would trash talk sororities that they didn’t know I was interested in. Even though I shouldn’t let other people’s opinions affect the way I choose a house, it still hurt knowing people felt negatively towards a sorority I liked. So please, keep your opinions to yourself and be courteous to the girls around you.

10. Trust your instincts.

If you feel like you don’t belong in a certain house, don’t join it. Don’t worry about who has the better reputation or keeping your family's legacy alive. This is a decision that will affect the rest of your life, and you don’t want to make the wrong one.

11. Bring a journal and a book.

You are going to want to bring a journal during recruitment week to write down your thoughts after every house, especially during the first couple of rounds. It's nice to keep your thoughts straight and write down the name of the person you talked with to know for later in the week. Also, you want to bring a book to read. You’re not allowed to use your phone, and there are a lot of breaks in between the houses, so make sure you bring something to keep yourself occupied.

12. Make sure to thank your roommates.

My roommates are honestly so great, and they are so awesome for putting up with me during recruitment week. I just wanted to say thanks for letting me ramble about recruitment when you probably just wanted to sleep. Thanks for understanding that I couldn’t do the dishes right away because I was running out the door. Thanks for giving me confidence by saying my outfits looked good every morning before I left.

13. If you are on the fence about a house, preference night will help.

Preference night is the time where you will see the true colors of the sororities that you are visiting. While you are lining up to walk into the house, imagine these girls as your sisters because they very well might be. Make sure you pay attention to what the sorority members are saying, how you feel, and how the girls interact with each other. If you don’t have a sure choice by the end of preference night, make sure to talk to your Rho Gammas before you leave to go rank the houses.

14. Bid Day is going to be awkward at first, but it's okay.

It’s a little strange to be shuffled into a bus while singing sorority chants even though you don’t know a single soul around you. Luckily, you will be paired with a Big for the day so you don’t feel so alone. Plus, there will be plenty of time to mingle with other girls in your pledge class over dinner.

15. Coming to terms with your dreams coming true.

It took a little while for me to realize that I was actually a part of a sorority. On the way to the row, I had to pinch myself to see if all of this was actually happening. So, take it all in, because Bid Day ends so fast!

As I walked into my sorority house for the first time as a pledge, the same nerves and excitement hit me as they did on the first day of recruitment. But, this time, it was for all the memories that I was going to make, all the friends that would be my forever sisters, and all the lifetime of happiness that my new house was going to bring me. For that, I am so very grateful.

Side note: Congrats on your 200 new instagram followers.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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