Holy smokes, the time to join a fraternity is almost over! Every door you walk through could hold the fellas that you could be kicking back with for the rest of college. Wow—pretty intense when you think about it. But sometimes nerves can creep in during rushing and you don’t get a proper chance. Here are some ways to kill it at whatever recruitment event you go to.
1. Walk in with your back straight, and smile.
Confidence is key in any social situation, and the same goes for a recruitment event. Losing control over your anxiety will make you present yourself as someone you are not. Remember: The guys talking to you should be excited to get to know you. They want you to be there, and they want to meet you.
A lot of people will not go to a recruitment event because of unfounded anxiety or preconceived notions about Greek life. Do not let that stop you.
Another tip is to do a Superman pose before going to the event. Research claims that doing a Superman pose for just two minutes will increase confidence and testosterone.
2. If someone “passes” you off, it’s not the end of the world.
You aren’t going to love everyone in a fraternity. If someone talks to you and then tries to get you to meet a friend, that could simply be because he believes you’ll fit in better with that clique. Don’t overthink it; don’t take offense.
3. Show some spunk!
A lot of people at a recruitment event are probably bored. It can only help your chances if you show some spontaneity by getting a game of Red Rover or Sharks and Minnows going during the event. Everybody loves those.
4. Don’t bring up hook-ups.
Trust me, no one likes kicking back and high-fiving over some Natty’s with some slick daddy-o’s, talking about the consent I landed with some broad quite like this guy. However, don’t bring those stories up at a recruitment event. The fraternity men you’re talking to will probably think: “Who is this cat, and where does he get off?” And trust me, once they start thinking that you’re done for.
5. Don’t bring up the parties.
There’s going to be a sick party in March because my dog is turning 15. It’s going to be Quinceanera-themed, but just so you know, Buzz can’t come because he’s got real bad hip problems. We’ll Skype him in, though, so don’t worry about him missing out. There is also going to be a mariachi band and Mexican-themed drinks—we’re going big time with this. My fraternity doesn’t know this party is happening yet, but when you look at all Buzz has done for Delt, there is no way they are going to say no.
Obviously you should not bring this up at a recruitment event because, remember, we want to get to know you! We don’t care that you like alcohol. Some guys might also not totally be on board for the party, but just give it some time.
6. Talk about your favorite things!
My favorite animal (besides the beagle, which is what my dog is) is the orca. They are nuts. For instance, I heard this thing—but I don’t know if it is true—that wild orcas have a shared conscious. Some scientists think that because of the continuity of orca movement during seal hunting, they can kind of think together. Isn’t that wild? Us humans like to think we are the top of the food chain—the smartest animals on the planet—but when I think about that sort of thing, it makes me think twice. How many hundreds of years would it take for us to rise to the top of the food chain if we had to live underwater? I don’t have an answer. Another cool thing is that orcas use their teeth a lot like humans use their hands—sometimes for embracing, but also sometimes for fighting.
As long as you keep these tips in mind, I promise you will at least get a good look at whatever fraternity you go to.
