Ah, recruitment. Such a fun, yet extremely stressful time. Being a potential new member, or PNM as we like to call you, is a daunting experience. There are so many chapters to visit, so many women to talk to, and so much information to retain. Luckily for you, every woman you talk to has been through the exact same thing. It's nerve-racking, but with a little insight, hopefully it'll be less scary.
1. Briefly look into some of the chapters on your campus.
While this isn't really necessary, but I found it very helpful. Before I went through formal recruitment, I researched every single chapter that my school had to offer me. While you don't need to look as in depth as I did, finding out the basics behind each sorority can be beneficial in the long run. You can usually find what chapters are on your campus by going to your school's website, and from there you can find out basic information about each chapter's philanthropy and sisterhood goals.
2. Make sure to plan your outfits in advance.
Some colleges make picking outfits for recruitment extremely easy by providing you with a t-shirt for every day of the week. However, many schools only provide shirts for a few days, leaving you to plan your outfits on your own. Trust me on this: you don't want to wing it the morning of recruitment with your outfits. Make sure you have an idea of what you want to wear each day of recruitment week. Generally, the attire gets gradually more formal as the week progresses, and it's important to keep that in mind. KU provides a pamphlet showing examples of each day's outfits, and other schools do as well. That being said, try to express yourself through your outfit since it's the first thing the women of the chapter see when they meet you. Wear clothes that you feel confident in, and your confidence will make you a strong candidate for any chapter.
3. Come up with a rough idea of conversation topics ahead of time.
The women of each chapter have spent a ton of time practicing how to get to know you, but it definitely helps us if you have planned answers and questions too. We'll ask you things like "Why do you want to join a sorority?" or "What is your major?" or maybe even basic things like "What did you do over the summer?" If you have an idea of what you're going to say when you answer, it makes the conversation much more fluid and easy. We only have a finite amount of time to talk with you, so the quicker you answer, the more we can learn about each other. If you have any questions about a chapter, either from things you've learned online or through others, ask us! While we can't discuss things like frat parties, bars, or alcohol and drugs, we're more than happy to answer any other questions you have about our sorority or campus in general.
4. Be your best self.
It's important to set yourself out from the crowd during recruitment, and being your genuine self is an excellent and simple way of doing just that. Answer questions honestly, not with the response you think we want to hear. It's usually obvious when someone is trying too hard to be someone they're not, so just be yourself. Don't be shy about the things that make you you; at the end of the day, if you can't be yourself around the women you're talking to, then that isn't the chapter for you. That being said, do try to be your nicest self. Don't be cranky or rude to the women you speak to; we know it's hot outside and that the days are long, but being short tempered isn't going to make us like you. If you think of recruitment as a slightly less formal interview, you'll do fine.
5. We know what being a PNM is like.
I'm not gonna lie, very few people enjoy every moment of recruitment week. The days are long, it's almost always hot, your feet hurt from heels, and you're just downright tired of talking to people at the end of the day. We all get it because we've all been there. If you feel like jokingly complaining about how the bus ride sucked or how you've cried from stress, we understand. Every girl who's joined a sorority knows the nervousness of choosing a chapter, the stress when you get dropped from a house you could've seen yourself in, and the fear that you might not get into the place you wanted. We've all been there. Even on our side of recruitment, we're still just as nervous and tired as you are. If nothing else, you can relate to us on that level.
Recruitment is stressful, and everyone who's done it, knows it. The good news is that it's only a few days and then you get to find your sisters. I have never regretted going through recruitment. One of my best friends and roommates I met during recruitment, and my experience in a sorority has allowed me to meet so many people I never would have met otherwise. Just be yourself, and I promise you'll find the chapter that's meant for you.
