When I entered Clemson University at the end of the summer, I signed up for Panhellenic Recruitment along with over 1,000 other girls. Sorority recruitment was justas crazy as people make it out to be, but, overall, it was a good experience. For anyone considering going through sorority recruitment in college, here are 5 tips to help you deal with the craziness of rush.
1. Take notes in between parties.
You're going to be visiting so many chapters and talking to so many girls that it will be difficult to differentiate between them in your mind. When you select your top choices for the next round, you'll want to remember how well you liked each chapter so that you can rank them accordingly. Take a notebook or, like me, type your notes into your phone after each party. First, write down your overall opinion of the chapter (ex. "Loved it!"). Try to write down names or descriptions of the girls you talked to. Obviously, you won't remember everyone's name (if you do, more power to you), but try your best to remember how you felt in each chapter. By taking notes, you'll be all set to select your top chapters and revisit some the next round.
2. Do NOT badmouth chapters to other PNMs.
I'm sure you know to avoid badmouthing one chapter to members of another chapter, but you should also avoid badmouthing a sorority to a fellow PNM. While you may like to talk things out and hear the opinions of the girls around you, talking badly about certain chapters can make other PNMs uncomfortable, especially if they liked the chapter you're badmouthing. From experience, I know that it can make you question yourself if your friend is downing a chapter that you loved. Ultimately, everyone's experiences in a chapter are different so nobody should base their choices on someone else's opinion.
3. Be yourself and let your personality show.
Don't feel like you have to be someone you're not or dress how you think the sorority wants you to dress. Rushing is not about finding a new identity and a new place to "fit in"- it's about finding girls that are like-minded and love you for your own personal style and personality. It's too exhausting to pretend to be someone you're not, and it's too expensive to dress any way other than how you like. Be yourself, and be confident in the person that you are!
4. Don't be offended if you're not invited back to every chapter you like.
This was what I struggled with the most during recruitment. In my case, I liked a lot of the chapters I visited, and very few of the ones I liked invited me back. If that happens to you, it's totally okay. There are many different factors that go into inviting PNMs to the next rounds. Don't overthink it, and don't be offended because it's not personal. Instead, be excited to learn more about the chapters who did invite you back. You may end up loving one that you didn't think you liked that much.
5. Be confident in not joining a sorority, if that's what you decide.
Greek life is not for everyone. Even if you think it's for you, it may not be! I went through recruitment and didn't join a sorority, but I have no regrets. I realized that you can have friends in sororities and still have fun in college without joining a chapter. There are plenty of other places to get involved on campus and plenty of clubs to join. If you don't end up in a sorority, you'll find other fun things to get involved in, and you will make friends. Plenty of people are successful in college without being in a sorority, and you can be too!
If you decide to go through sorority recruitment, have fun, be yourself, and trust the process. No matter what happens, you'll end up where you're supposed to be.