Many potential new members (PNMs) are looking for the “secret sauce” to finding their home. What if we told you… there is no secret sauce! The goal of sorority recruitment is to match potential new members with sororities. There is no magic formula to “getting the bid,” but there are some tips to help you find your forever sisterhood and feel confident navigating sorority recruitment. Here is a list of sorority recruitment do’s and don’ts.

• Don’t Trust Unreliable Sources

  We have all gone to social media or Google to find information. Ensure that the information you are getting is from a reliable source! The mix of “recruitment coaches” and random people online can create a flurry of bad information.

  P.S. You should never have to pay for recruitment information! Be wary of those who brand themselves as experts and offer a program to “get you a bid.” 

  The Sorority Life is managed by the National Panhellenic Conference, the premier advocacy group of the 26 Panhellenic sororities. Our mission is to provide reliable and trusted information to potential new members. 

• Do Your Research

  PNM? MRABA? Bid? It can feel like people are talking a different language when they are talking about sororities. Learning common sorority terminology can help you feel more confident during recruitment.

  The basics of recruitment will be similar but each College Panhellenic is slightly different from the next. Each sorority recruitment is unlike the big schools you see on TikTok! You will want to learn more about your campus.

  Here are a few basic questions you will want to get answered:

  • • How many sororities are on campus?

  • • When is recruitment?

  • • How do I sign up for recruitment?

  • • What does recruitment look like on my campus?

  • • Does the campus have sorority housing?

  You can learn more about them by following them on social media, visiting their website and attending on-campus events hosted by the Panhellenic. Check out the Panhellenic Locator Map for quick access to Panhellenic websites, chapter count and social media!

• Don’t Bash Chapters or Other Women

  During recruitment, you will talk with a variety of women; some you will connect with and others you might not. You will see the chapter’s post on social media; some posts might inspire you and excite you and other posts you might not find appealing at all. Unless the topic of conversation made you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you should not bash the chapter or the women in it.

  It may feel harmless to rant to a girl in your recruitment group or another chapter, but:

  1. 1. You never know who knows who! You could be talking about someone’s friend, lab partner or roommate.

  1. 1. Your words can taint the experience of other women going through recruitment. Just because a chapter is not a good fit for you does not mean it is not someone else’s perfect fit.

  If you are involved in a conversation that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, report it to your recruitment counselor, Fraternity or Sorority Life staff member or Panhellenic officers. They are equipped to take the necessary steps to assist you.

• Do Keep an Open Mind

  If you followed tip number one and did your research, you may have found a chapter you are especially interested in joining. However, it is important to go into recruitment with an open mind. Being dead set on one chapter will limit your options and could prevent you from finding the best fit for you.

• Don’t Give One-Word Answers

  No matter how great a conversationalist the recruiter is, they will never get to know you with one-word answers. Give your “why” when answering questions. This will give the women you are talking to a chance to dive deeper. Here are examples of a one-word conversation and a conversation that is about your “why”.

  One-Word Answer Conversations

  “What made you decide to go to this school?”

  “My mom went here.”

  “So you are close with your mom?”

  “Yes.”

  The sorority memeber recruiting in this conversation has close to nothing to work with to keep the conversation flowing, and they didn’t get to know YOU.

  Try this instead.

  ‘Why’ Focused Conversation

  “What made you decide to go to this school?”

  “My mom went here. When I was growing up she told me so many stories about the traditions and her friends from college became like second moms to me.”

  “That is so fun! Our school traditions are my favorite part of the year. Are you close with your mom?”

  “Yes! I am super family-oriented. She has always been my biggest supporter whether it was at my choir concerts or soccer games, she was always cheering me on.”

  The “why” focused conversation give the sorority member you are talking to many avenues to steer the conversation. They could ask you about your time in music, athletics or your family values

   

• Do Share About Yourself

  Recruitment is all about getting to know YOU! It can be hard to talk about yourself but it is really important. Sorority recruitment is not a job interview but a conversation with your peers. They want to know about your interests, career goals, personal values and who you are.

  If you feel nervous, practice with your roommate, friend or other women going through recruitment (don’t be embarrassed to practice, the sorority women recruiting you are).

  Remember, when practicing, you are not rehearsing or planning answers. You should still go with the flow in each conversation. 

• Don’t Try to Change Yourself 

  Sorority recruitment is an incredibly personal experience. It is natural to compare yourself to other women in your group, your friends or women online. Your recruitment experience is not about them. It is about showcasing what is unique about you!

  If you try to fit into the “perfect sorority girl” mold (hint: there is no perfect sorority girl), you may end up in a chapter that is not the best fit for you. Showing up as your authentic self will allow you to experience all the amazing things a sorority can offer.

• Do be Open to the Process

  We know being “open to” or “trusting the process” is cliché, but it is TRUE! The sorority recruitment process is created to connect potential new members to chapters.

  Some women fall in love with a chapter during the first round, and others may not feel that connection until preference round (final round of recruitment). It can all feel overwhelming, but it will all be worth it once you find the right sisterhood for you.

Are you looking for more sorority recruitment tips? The Sorority Life is here to guide you through the transition from high school to sorority life.