1. Your Rho Gams are going to tell you over and over, “don’t talk about which houses you liked/didn’t like with your friends.” Do it anyway. You’ll go crazy if you don’t.
2. That being said, choose your company to discuss these matters with very wisely, and only talk to friends whose opinions you trust (along with making sure no one is in ear shot of you- you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings!)
3. NEVER ever change your opinion based on what these friends, or anyone, says about a chapter! Don’t follow your friends somewhere. You are never in the wrong for liking something.
4. Use your Rho Gams as a resource. That is 100 percent what they’re there for, and they are SO helpful if you let them be. Cry to them, ask for unbiased advice on each house, request bandaids for the blisters from your uncomfortable (but very cute) shoes—they are good for all of these things and more.
5. It’s okay to be nervous. The women you are about to talk to are just as, if not more, nervous than you are. Trust me.
6. Don’t overthink what “snappy casual” means. No oneknows what it means.
7. Give your outfits some thought, but don’t obsess over them. It doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think it does.
8. Dress how YOU would, not like the girls in the chapter you’re trying to impress would. (And try your best to wear comfortable shoes.)
9. If you really belong there, when you walk into the house, the stress and pressure of trying to impress anyone will go away instantly. The conversations will feel effortless and unforced.
10. Formal recruitment sucks. It sucks for everyone involved. The sooner you know/accept this, the better.
11. Bid day, however, does not suck. It makes it all worth it.
12. It’s okay to drop out of recruitment or not follow through. Your life can and will be equally as fulfilling if you decide not to join a sorority.
13. Not everyone is going to like you. But the ones who do like you will make you feel special enough during recruitment to forget about the ones that don’t. Keep an eye out for the chapters that make you feel truly special and wanted for who you are.
14. It’s probably not going to work out how you planned. Expect some speed bumps on the road to bid day.
15. But you need to TRUST THE SYSTEM. You will hear this probably 6,000 (or more) times during the process. I can’t believe I’m even saying it myself, but after going through recruitment you will realize that the system is designed to work out to place you exactly where you belong, not necessarily where you think you belong or want to belong.
16. FOCUS ON THE GIRLS INSIDE THE HOUSE—NOT THE LETTERS OUTSIDE OF IT. (I said this in all caps because it’s probably the most important one of all.)
17. If you feel like you have to act like anyone but yourself, no matter what house it is, don’t rank them high on your list just because of what chapter it is. Just don’t.
18. Keep your eye out for genuine. Genuine girls, genuine sisterhood, genuine conversations, genuine everything.
19. Make friends in your recruitment groups! You’re not in competition with each other, and you’ll be surprised how much better recruitment is when you have someone to talk to while waiting in line. Who knows, some of them may even be your future sisters.
20. You may love a sorority and be devastated when you’re dropped, but NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOU. That particular girl just thought you were a better fit somewhere else. She is doing you a favor. (I mean it.)
21. Tell stories, be comfortable in your own skin, act confident even if you don’t feel it, and BE YOURSELF. Make yourself stand out and give them something to remember. (And ask questions!)
22. Give each house more than one chance. You could have just gotten paired up with someone you didn’t click with the first time around.
23. If you’re hungry and want a snack, EAT THE FOOD THAT THEY PROVIDE YOU WITH. We are all humans. Humans need food. (Also pack snacks for yourself in your purse.)
24. It’s going to get redundant. You’re going to get so sick of telling every single girl at every single chapter your major, your hometown, etc., but as the rounds go on, your conversations will get more meaningful, less shallow, and you’ll discover more about the girls in each chapter.
25. You will still be able to keep all of your friends that you made before recruitment, even if you don't end up in the same house. I'm living in a house with seven of my best friends this year and none of them are in my sorority!
26. Give every house a fair chance. If you go in dead-set on loving only one house or hating another, you could really miss out on finding where you truly belong. Open your mind to all the possibilities and let the rest work itself out.
27. Converse with each girl like you would talk to a friend. It’s all about showing them your true personality, along with getting to know theirs as well. If you could picture them actually being your good friend, it's probably a great fit.
28. There are going to be horrible, twelve hour days when your feet hurt, you’re exhausted, your mouth hurts from smiling so much, and so on. Try to keep your energy high even on your twelfth house of the day. You don’t want to miss out on a positive experience at a chapter just because you’re burnt out.
29. People are just people; they shouldn’t scare you. No matter what.
30. Don’t let the negative stereotypes of Greek life turn you off to recruitment completely. Yes, there are people who confirm them, but there are also many more who do not.
31. Pay attention to the philanthropies that each house talks to you about. This could help you make a special connection to a house based on what is close to your heart!
32. Think more about how a house makes you feel and not so much what the girl you’re talking to is wearing or what the house itself looks like.
33. Above all, don't lose who you are in the midst of the chaos. Don't let this experience compromise who you are as a person, break down your confidence, or make you become more superficial. That's the opposite of what this is all about.

When it comes down to it, just make sure you trust your instincts, stay positive, and know that it’s all going to be okay. Whether you go Greek or not, you will make wonderful friends and have a positive college experience as long as you follow your heart and do what feels right to you. HAPPY RECRUITMENT!