Ah, fall semester. School is starting, the heat still isn’t leaving and women everywhere are getting ready to join Greek organizations that will change their lives forever. Many large universities host their fall recruitment before classes even begin, but many smaller universities, like Auburn University at Montgomery for example use the first weeks of classes to advertise all that Greek life has to offer. As a collegiate member of Greek life, recruitment weekend is one of my favorite times of the entire school year.

Sometimes, potential new members (the women participating in recruitment) are nervous and unsure of what to expect when those doors open at your first party. Although this uncertainty is reasonable, I want to provide you with a few tips for making the most of your recruitment weekend.

1. Dress Comfortably

If you normally wear minimal make-up, don’t apply seven coats of mascara for recruitment. You’ll appear to be as uncomfortable as you are. Same goes for clothing -- if you normally wear more casual clothing, wearing five-inch heels will make your night miserable when you’re moving from party to party and trying to focus on the conversation you’re having. You can wear minimal make-up and flat shoes and still be dressed for the occasion. The more comfortable you’re dressed, the more comfortable you will be overall.

2. Forget What You’ve Heard

On every campus there are stereotypes about which chapter is which. No matter what you may have heard about any one chapter, put that out of your mind and get to know the women of each chapter for yourself. You only have a short time in each room, don’t spend it trying to verify what you’ve heard. Take in the time you have these women face to face and not what someone told you about them.

3. Make Your Own Decision

If you have friends going through recruitment with you, it’s important that you don’t allow their choices to sway your own. You are making a choice based on where you want to spend the next four years, not your friend. If you both happen to choose the same sisterhood, that’s amazing, but don’t choose a chapter because someone else did. Find the women that you connect with and you’ll have a forever home with them. P.S.: Even if you don’t end in the same chapter as your friend, she’s still your friend, and now each of you have a lot more friends.

4. Talk About Yourself

I know that when you first meet someone, it might be hard to delve right into talking about yourself, but recruitment is different. Chapter members want to know all there is to know about you. They want to know your interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes. These women are looking for a connection with you that connects you to their sisters. They want to find the things you have in common with each other. So it’s OK to talk about yourself, I promise she wants to know.

5. Have Fun

No matter how the night or the weekend as a whole ends up, have fun. Enjoy every moment and truly focus on getting to know these women. Get to know the women in your group, in the chapters, every person you come in contact with. When the weekend is over, you’ll look back and realize it is one of the most fun weekends you will have, if you take it in and enjoy it.

Sororities are made up of incredible, beautiful, talented, diverse, smart, loving women and they want you to be a part of that with them. They want you to fall in love with their organization the same way they have. So take it one day at a time, focus on the conversations you’re having and the way you feel when you leave each group of women and at the end of the weekend, embrace your new home away from home for all it is!

If you’re an AUM woman who is not currently involved in Greek life, I encourage you to give it a chance. I can’t wait to meet all of the wonderful young women this Friday.

If you’re interested in signing up for recruitment and having done so yet, click here.