Sorority recruitment is only three weeks away which means it's crunch time for everyone involved. Whether you are recruiting or going through recruitment, the process of finding your home away from home or finding new members to join your family is stressful. Recruitment only lasts six days and it can be difficult to imagine finding a connection in such a short time but by bid day, the only thing that will matter is finding the girls with whom you truly belong.
1. Stay true to who you are.
The only way you will be able to find the place you truly belong is to be true to who you are. You are more likely to find girls who you will get along with if you are honest with yourself about who you are and what you are looking for.
2. Keep an open mind.
It can be difficult, but it's really important not to decide you want a specific house on the first day. If you fall in love on day one and get cut from their invite list, it can be devastating. Keeping an open mind is so important because in the end, you will find your home.
3. Listen to your Gamma Chi's stories. She knows what she's talking about.
When I went through recruitment, my entire group was obsessed with our Gamma Chi (but it was called a Pi Chi then). She will be like a big sister with a Mary Poppins bag of mints who you can talk to about your feelings throughout the week.
4. It's okay to be nervous, but don't let your nerves get the better of you.
When you start to freak out just remember that the girls recruiting are nervous too, and that's okay. You are looking for the best girls to make a family away from home with, and that's what they are looking for too.
5. Pay attention to each house's values.
It's important to look for people who have the same values as you. If religion is important to you, find girls who share that. If you are looking for honest and trustworthy girls, ask questions. You will know what matters to you and it's important to choose a house that has similar values.
6. Don't listen to other people's opinions about each sorority.
Not everyone is going to like the same sororities that you like. That's okay. It's easiest if you don't discuss what you think about each house with anyone else. It's okay for you to like a house that other girls in your Gamma Chi group don't like and it's okay to not like a sorority that other girls like.
7. Every sorority is amazing in its own way.
When I went through recruitment I got cut from what was originally my top choice house. I was devastated but then my Pi Chi told me that every sorority was amazing and that I would find the one that is meant to be my home. I couldn't thank her enough for her encouragement.
8. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
If you have a question, don't be afraid to ask! If you want to know what ways the sorority will help you make sure you can keep your grades up, ask. If you want to know what kind of time commitment you are looking at, ask. There is no such thing as a stupid question, so if there is something you want to know just ask.
9. You won't get along with everyone, but don't judge the sorority on that one person.
There are girls with every personality imaginable in every sorority. Even if you don't click with one girl right away, that doesn't mean you wouldn't find other girls who you would love.
10. Don't make your decision based on material things.
Not every chapter has a house, some houses are small, some are big. This should not effect your decision! What matters is your connection with the women in the chapter, not the sorority colors or mascot. A chapter mascot shouldn't be a factor, you will come to love your mascot and your colors, even if they would not have necessarily been your first choice.
11. Joining a sorority is a monetary commitment, but it's worth every penny.
Some people will say that joining a sorority is paying for your friends but this isn't true. You will pay to go to events with your sisters and to buy t-shirts. You would pay to do stuff with your friends even if you do not join a sorority, so paying to go to events with your sisters is worth it.
12. Only you can make your final decision.
In the end, only you can know where you belong. no one can decide for you. Whether you believe it or not, by the end of the week you will know which house is write for you.
13. Bid day will make all of the stress worth it.
Getting to run into a crowd of new sisters makes all of the stress worth it. It can be a little overwhelming but it is worth it to have a group of girls who you get to call your family in your new home away from home.
