Sorority recruitment is now over at many schools across the country, which means that fraternity rush is just about to begin. While both sororities and fraternities will talk about their philanthropy, friendship, and grades, there are still plenty of differences between the two.
The Structure-
Sororities- Potential New Members (PNMs) will generally have to register for recruitment ahead of time. Depending on the school, PNMs will be assigned to a Rho Gamma or Rho Chi (a sorority member who has temporarily disaffiliated from their chapter) who will guide them around recruitment week. You'll go from chapter to chapter and have specific activities each night. Each school is slightly different, but generally, you'll have a meet and greet night, a philanthropy night where sororities talk about their chapter's philanthropy organization(s) and events, a sisterhood and values night where the sororities describe their sisterhood and discuss what specific values their chapters hold dear, and a preference night which is formal and is sororities last chance to win over PNMs. Finally, they'll have a bid day, where all the girls will get their bids, take a boat load of pictures, and most likely spread glitter and feathers all around campus.
Fraternities- It's pretty laid back. Generally, there will be a meet in greet some where on your campus where you'll meet all the chapters on campus and pick up schedules for rush week. After that, guys are free to go wherever they want. They can choose to go to one chapter's events or every chapters' events.
Outfits for current Greeks-
Sororities- Sorority girls will have predetermined outfits for specific days, so you'll be seeing dozens or hundreds of girls everyday on your campus wearing the same outfit, or at least even the same shirt.
Fraternities- Fraternity guys pretty much wear whatever they feel like. They will generally wear clothing with their fraternity's name on them, but some guys will wear new rush shirts, old rush shirts, formal shirts, or just basic letter shirts.
Outfits for potentials-
Sororities- It does depend on the school but, if it's warm enough, you'll see hundreds of girls walking around campus in sundresses, high heels, and wedges. They want to make sure they look their absolute best.
Fraternities- You'll see a lot more Sperry's than usual. Tons of tan or bright-colored flat front shorts, and polos or nice button ups. You might see a good amount of sports jerseys as well. Basically, these guys are trying to look as "bro" or "frat" as possible.
Receiving a bid-
Sororities- The bid process is slightly different school by school, but it always follows the same general process. PNMs will end up ranking each sorority in their preferred order. They will eventually get called back to preference night if a sorority is considering them. They will make a final list, which will go into account when sororities vote to give a bid to PNMs. Bid day is a crazy day when girls can cry for not getting their sorority of choice, or scream and cry with excitement for getting in to their top sorority.
Fraternities- Guys can usually try to get a bid from as many fraternities as they'd like. Most of the time, potentials will try to get a bid from 1 to 2 fraternities, or sometimes 3. Generally on the 5th day, potentials will have an interview from whatever fraternity they signed up for. Guys who get a bid will usually get a phone call or a congratulatory bid card delivered to their room. If they receive multiple bids, they just choose from whatever fraternity they feel like. After accepting their bid, guys will go to a semi-formal bid party/dinner in the next day or two.
Thoughts after Recruitment/Rush Week is over-
Sororities- Oh my gosh, it's finally over! What a stressful yet awe-inspiring week. I love my sorority so much! I'm super glad that my rush crush got a bid! I am so tired though. Definitely might sleep through some classes tomorrow.
Fraternities- We have pledges! Glad it's over now. Time for a beer.
Good luck in rush week!
