Many students are excited to get to college and have looked forward to joining a sorority or fraternity for many years. While it sounds like a fun process, there are some things that will help the process go smoothly.
My daughter will be a college sophomore this fall and will be helping with recruitment. For students and parents soon to go through the process or for those who will be going through it now, this post is for you.
Here are some basic facts to begin with:
It isn’t for everyone – I can’t stress this enough! I wasn’t in the Greek system and I turned out just fine. Finances were a concern for me and the Greek system can be expensive. I want to stress that many students don’t have a desire to do something like this and they are successful adults with very strong networks that they found in other places. That being said, other students absolutely love the Greek system and it provides a very enriching experience for their college years.
The Panhellenic Greek system is different at every school – The same sorority or fraternity will look different at each campus. Therefore if you know that a chapter is strong at one school, don’t assume the same at another school. Look at each chapter individually and find the one that suits you the best.
Having a good photo of yourself as well as creating a “social resume” are tools that will help you through the recruiting process.
Recruiting is usually one time per year – Recruitment usually happens once a year so be prepared in advance if this is something you want to do.
Being in a Sorority or Fraternity offers leadership and volunteer opportunities – Having this network can open lots of opportunities that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to.
There are significant costs involved – Each chapter and school is different but I’d say the average cost is around $3k per year.
The Process – The process can be very involved. This can include getting letters of recommendation from those who have been in the Greek chapters of your choice.
Be aware of the timeline – This can sneak up on you quickly. Be sure you know the dates and deadlines.
Register – There is often a registration process that needs to occur before you can be a part of the process.
Visit each chapter – Give every chapter a chance during recruitment week. Just because you think you know about that chapter, remember, it is really more about the unique individuals in each chapter.
Ask Questions – There are no ignorant questions. Ask, ask, ask!
Decide on your favorites – Follow your gut on this one. Avoid choosing what your friends choose and go with what is most comfortable to you.
Accept or Decline Invitations – Accept or decline invitations, but do so in a classy way!
Having letters of recommendation from previous members of the chapters you are interested in is also a great idea.
Vocabulary:
PNM – Potential New Member
Active – Active Members
Rho gamma – An active member of a Panhellenic sorority who guides PNMs through the formal recruitment process