"From the outside looking in you can never understand it. From the inside looking out you can never explain it."

Guess what time of year it is?! You guessed it! It's time for Recruitment! It's that time of the year where young men and women potentially look for a home on their college campus. Before you go through recruitment you should know that all schools and sororities/ fraternities handle recruitment differently so, look into your school's recruitment process. For example, at Southern Arkansas University you have to have at least 12 SAU credit hours, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and must attend a non-hazing video. That's just the big basic requirements for SAU. Other than that this is an exciting time of year! Having new members who respect the same thing as you and who found their home with your organization is just heart warming!

Now, before we get into the fun stuff about recruitment we gotta have a little talk about the misconceptions about going Greek. A lot of people have bad views about sorority/ fraternity life going as far as saying that its a cult, you're paying for your friends, or how you are afraid that you will be hazed.

1. Sororities and fraternities are not a cult.

A cult is a "small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous." -Merriam Dictionary. In better terms not greek life. Sororities and fraternities are just a large group of college kids that have a common passion,their philanthropy, and wish to serve their philanthropy and become better leaders.

2. Buying your friends is the biggest misconception about Greek life.

Now, I admit it does look like you are buying your friends cause all of a sudden you have all these men and women calling you their sister or their brother. Honestly, before I went through recruitment myself that is what I thought about Greek life. If you get into a Greek organization you aren't gonna be friends with everyone you still have to work on your friendships just like you would in any other setting and there will be those girls/boys that you just don't mesh with which is fine.

3. I can almost promise you that you will NOT, I repeat will NOT be hazed.

Hazing is illegal in every state and if you feel like you are being hazed you get out and you tell the police and your school. I can't speak for every school, but here at SAU any PNM, potential new member, is required to watch a Non-Hazing video so you know what is not okay. Also, during certain parts of the year strict rules are applied to the Greeks so that no one will ever have to question if they are being hazed.

Now, that that's over with let's get into the good stuff! There are a lot of perks to going Greek such as; becoming extremely involved on your campus, you will learn how to work in large teams, gain leadership experience, your résumé will look on point, you will become experienced in professional meetings, you will gain lifelong friends and networking connections, and the most important one to me is that you will have a colorful college experience.

Ok, so you have decided to go through recruitment and want to give the whole Greek thing a try. First off, CONGRATULATIONS! It's a huge decision to decided whether to go Greek or not and you just took the first step! Good job! Since its recruitment week time, let's talk about some things you need to know how to prepare yourself. Now, there is spring and fall recruitment and both are different but since its fall we are gonna focus on that one and since I'm in a sorority we are gonna focus mostly on sorority recruitment.

Go to ALL the parties!

Like, I said earlier all schools are different. At some, you have to have a recommendation letter to even go to a party but here at SAU all you have to do is know the time, what room and whose party it is. Don't listen to the stereotypes of the sororities and go see for yourself. If you are nervous about going somewhere for a party don't worry about it cause the Greek parties stay on SAU campus because we don't have houses to go to. In the fall you have the option on which parties you go to but in the spring you have to go to all the parties. So, even if there is one you don't see yourself fitting into and though you may be right, but you might be surprised and find that they are home. Also, even if you decide that that one sorority isn't for you, you still meet new people and make friends. I have friends in every sorority on the SAU campus and I wouldn't have met those girls if it was not for recruitment.

Stay calm!

Recruitment can be a little nerve-wracking since you are about to walk into a room and mingle with women you barely know as both parties, you and them, are evaluating each other to see if you will be a good match. So, breathe. The girls understand where you are coming from because they have been in your shoes at one point in time. To be honest, they are just as nervous as you are, but they cover it up with the excitement of meeting a potential new member. So, when you walk into the party remember to breathe and try to be relaxed. I promise we don't want you to feel uncomfortable because of us. In fact, I was told the reason why I kept getting invited back when I went through recruitment was because I walked in the party with confidence and that told them that I knew what I was doing even though I didn't! HAHA!

Stay hydrated and eat something!

Usually, the girls will have little snacks for you to munch on but eat a good meal and drink plenty of water before the party. You will do A LOT of talking! The girls want to know you and you want to know them so make sure your mouth isn't dry because then conversation becomes unpleasant.

Don't be afraid to ask questions

Before you go to a party do a bit of research about the sororities so you can develop some questions. The girls will be eager to answer any questions you have! If you wanna know something as simple as why that particular girl who is talking to you joined, ask her!

Ask yourself as to why you are considering going Greek

Sooooo, why are you doing this? Are you doing cause you want to? Because your friends are going through or because your friends are already in? Are you doing this because you want that stereotype sorority movie party life? Because you are a legacy, someone who is related to someone who was in or is in a certain sorority? First, establish why you want to go through recruitment. There are right and wrong reasons to go through. If you go through for the wrong reason you won't really enjoy your time in the sorority as if you go in for the right reason then you will find your home.

Most importantly....BE YOURSELF!!!!!!!!

Girl, you are beautiful and amazing just the way you are!! And your sorority/ future sisters will see that! Don't act any differently with them as you would act with your friends because one day hopefully they will be your friends. If you act differently you can be seen as fake or not comfortable enough to be yourself around the girls and we don't want that from you cause if that happens you might not get called back. If you are like me and don't do the whole cosmetic make over it's alright! They don't look at your ability to be girly, in fact, they don't care. So, if you don't wear makeup you don't have to. If it makes up feel better just put on a little eyeliner, mascara, some tinted chap stick and you'll be good to go! Don't do heels that's cool too! In fact, in the fall it's a lot more casual than in the spring. Go to the parties put together. Don't wear daisy dukes, see-through clothes, too tight of clothing or pjs. Dress if you are going on a nice evening outing with your friends. I'll say it again and I can't stress it enough please by all that is Holy...BE YOURSELF! The girls want to fall in love with the real you, not the you that you want to portray to them.

A few things I want you to remember is even if you do go Greek you will still have your friends outside of the sisterhood/brotherhood. You can and will have friends in another sorority which is fantastic! Greek unity at it's finest! Some of my closest friends are in a completely different sorority, but that doesn't change anything between us! Haha! If you go Greek you have said that you are able and are willing to take on the huge time commitment which I applaud you for! Greek life will basically become your life, but its a good way of life!

Again, congratulations on making the decision to go Greek! I want you to keep in mind that there will be people and even some friends that will try to talk you out of going Greek but girl this is your life, your decision, and your college career. If you want to go Greek, by all means, go Greek! If you are having some doubts sit back and take some time to think about it. You want to make the right decision so be patient.

No matter the letter, Greek is better!

*My sorority pledge class