Let’s not lie here—Mizzou sorority recruitment is one of the most terrifying experiences a young woman can face.
You’re surrounded by nearly 2,000 other women who are all just as nervous as you are, and you have no idea what to expect. You line up at the very first house on Open House Day (hopefully you’re not the first person in line because what’s about to happen makes that real awkward). But of course, your last name begins with A and low and behold you are the first girl facing the doors of the sorority. An air horn goes off, the sorority doors open, and then all of a sudden 300 women start screaming at you. And you’re thinking: Like what the hell?! You’re standing 10 feet away while the sorority chants at you and you don’t really know what to do….but don’t worry! Here are 10 things I wish I knew about sorority recruitment that hopefully help you out or that you can pass down to friends or siblings going through recruitment. But most likely this will be a good throwback for you and bring back the fabulous memories of being a completely clueless potential new member:
1. The days are really long and really hot.
Prepare yourself for the Missouri humidity. If you’re carrying a purse during rush throw in some deodorant and possibly some hairspray to control the frizz. Wear comfy (but cute) shoes because you will be walking from house to house all day long.
2. The sororities will offer you water and you will most likely spill it.
Here it is—that awkward moment when a girl you are talking to in the sorority offers you water and you spill it. The days are hot so it makes sense to take the water that is offered. She’ll walk you over to your spot to start talking and then you get nervous and start fumbling, and oops there goes the water. You might be mortified but don’t fret—I wasn’t the only one and you won’t be either.
3. You will get asked the same questions OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
“Where are you from?” “What’s your major” “What did you do over the summer?” These are questions that you will get asked at every single sorority. Be prepared to answer them over and over again. And again. However, keep in mind each sorority is just trying to get to know you!
4. Don’t get excited when a sorority girl asks you your last name.
Sorry to break it to you ladies—but when a sorority girl asks you your last name as she walks you out the door, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are special (not that you aren’t). They ask your last name for scoring purposes. Chances are at least five other girls going through rush have your same first name, so they need to know your last name in order to score.
5. The frat boys will be watching, and watch they will.
As you’re lined up in front of the sorority houses, the wonderful fraternity men nearby may come out on their front porches and watch you get chanted at. They might yell some things and will most definitely stare at all of you. Here’s what I say: let ‘em stare. You all look beautiful going through rush and you’re most likely too good for them anyway.
6. Trust the system.
Your Pi Chis will constantly tell you to trust the recruitment system, and you should. This can be hard to do when one day you get your list of houses and perhaps got cut from one you thought you could see yourself in. On Bid Day you will be in the chapter you’re meant to be in. Even if it wasn’t your first choice, give it a chance because you will come to find that is where you truly belong and where you are happiest!
7. Just because you are a legacy in a chapter doesn’t mean you will get a bid.
The Panhellenic sororities all have different rules when it comes to legacies. You won’t know what they are, but just because you are a legacy of a certain chapter does not mean you will receive a bid from them. It’s important to keep your options open; just because your mother or grandmother was in a particular chapter doesn’t mean that chapter is the best fit for you.
8. BE YOURSELF.
I cannot stress this enough. Being yourself is super important. During rush we all want to be the best versions of ourselves, but sometimes the nervousness of recruitment can cause you to overdo it and look fake. I promise if you take a deep breath, relax and be yourself, the conversation with a sorority woman will flow and they will get to know you on a better level! You may think you know what they want to hear, but you probably don’t. They want you to be yourself so they can get to know you.
9. When waiting in line to visit a chapter, don’t talk negatively about the chapters you don’t like.
Your Pi Chis will emphasize this AND YOU NEED TO LISTEN. Talking badly about chapters you don’t like going through recruitment is disrespectful to the people around you. For all you know, the chapter you disliked could be the chapter the girl standing next to you absolutely loved. If you talk badly about that chapter, it could sway that girl’s opinion based on what you said instead of trusting her gut feeling. Keep those negative opinions to yourself or discuss them in private with someone you trust.
10. KEEP AN OPEN MIND
If you haven’t learned anything from this article yet PAY ATTENTION TO THIS. Keeping an open mind is the best thing you can do when going through Mizzou Panhellenic Recruitment. You may think you know the stereotypes of the chapters and which one you want to be in, but you don’t. You honestly don’t. Just because older women who went to your high school joined a certain chapter does not mean every girl in that chapter is exactly like them. Forget any and all stereotypes you’ve heard about the sororities and go in with an open mind to all of them. If you do this, you’ll join the chapter that’s the perfect fit and it will be the best decision you’ve ever made.
