6 Things to Do Before Sorority Recruitment

Why did I decide to rush as a sophomore?

Coming into my university as an out-of-state student was intimidating. As far as I knew, I was the only person from my hometown to come to my college. I was worried about finding a new friend group and being away from the comfort that I had become accustomed to back home with my friends and family. However, I was lucky enough to find an amazing group of friends all of who were out-of-state students and we clicked right away. I knew about recruitment and sororities going into my first year, but only because I had friends who were rushing at the time. I didn’t know enough about the process or the experience to go through it myself. Thus, freshmen year was spent becoming acclimated to my new home and campus, adjusting to real college courses, and trying my best to find out where my place was in a school of 50,000+ students.

The opportunities and organizations are endless at my university as they are at many others and I found myself a little overwhelmed my first year, so I didn’t commit to anything as I explored. I vowed to myself by the end of the semester that my sophomore year I would take a leap of faith, get out of my comfort zone, and just go for anything that came my way and interested me. Freshmen year was over in a flash and that really made me realize that I need to make the most of the time that I have left in college— especially since there is so much at my disposal that I have yet to utilize and so many opportunities that I have yet to be a part of.

Why a sorority?

There’s numerous ways to become involved in college and a sorority is only one. But everyone should be a part of something in college and that something should ultimately bring them happiness, a sense of belonging, and amazing experiences. I believe that sororities provide its members with friendships, networks, leadership opportunities inside and outside of the sorority, and numerous chances to volunteer— just to name a few. I’m someone who is big on family. Being away from my own was a big adjustment. The idea of a sisterhood of girls who come from different backgrounds with different personalities, but very much of the same values, sounded amazing to me.

Sorority Recruitment Process

I remember becoming apprehensive seeing so many freshmen girls during orientation. I had heard that some chapters were biased against older PNMS (potential new members). I realized my insecurities were ridiculous once the process started. I met several girls rushing alongside me who were in my class and above and even talked to a few girls in the different chapters who rushed as a sophomore or knew of a sister who had. With one worry assuaged, the rest of the week I worried about where I would end up. Ultimately each round consists of visiting the houses and eliminating a few each round. You list the houses you would like to go back to and rank your bottom houses.

I went into recruitment with an open-mind, but I had my eyes on a particular house. Each round, I talked to a girl who made me fall more and more in love with the chapter. By the time I reached preference night, it was down to this house and another where I was fond of the girls of the chapter, but wasn’t certain that I would be a match for them. When it came time to rank the houses I put my first choice down and listed the second house underneath. The next was bid day and I couldn’t contain the butterflies in my stomach. Waiting for my bid was the most nerve wracking experience. It was a mix of doubt, fear, excitement, and anticipation. I opened my bid envelope with the rest of the girls around me and I didn’t see the house I had expected. My heart broke a little as the girls around me yelled with joy seeing the name of their new house. I wanted to be like them. Happy, ecstatic, relieved, but instead I felt rejection in the purest form. Had I said something wrong to make them change their minds about me? Was I just not cut out for their chapter? So many questions went through my mind. But I didn’t have much time to think of anything as I was supposed to head over to meet my new sisters. I didn’t want to spoil the excitement for anyone else and I found that I wasn’t entirely upset to be surrounded by a group of amazing girls who were so happy to welcome me with open arms.

The process can be upsetting if you have your eye on a house and they drop you, but I live by the quote “everything happens for a reason.” If one house drops you it’s because another house that you may ultimately be happier in wants you. If all houses drop you, or if you simply do not find your best match, it’s because you have something even better waiting for you outside of Greek life. I’m not saying it’s not heartbreaking to be dropped from a house you love, but you should want to go where you’re wanted and you can certainly find that elsewhere.

College is an experience that you can make your own. Simply put, you get out what you put in. If you put yourself out there to take advantage of opportunities, meet new people, and experience new things then you no longer view it only as a means to graduate and move onto your career. It becomes a pathway to finding, shaping, and creating a better you.