Panhellenic Recruitment is the best week of any sorority woman’s life. It is a week full of going to recruitment parties, meeting hundreds of girls, and learning of values, philanthropies, and ultimately finding your home. If any woman is going through recruitment, take a word of advice from a sorority woman that made it through alive.
Follow dress code. These organizations are looking to find women to represent their beliefs and values and to hold true to what they believe. Wear something that shows the women from each organization that you care about their beliefs and that you respect them and their organization. But, wear something that will be memorable to the women you talk to. Wear cute earrings, or maybe shoes that will add a pop to your outfit. When the women from the organizations discuss who they each spoke to, they will be able to point you out by saying: “You remember that girl? She had the cute floral sweater.”
Be genuine! You want to join an organization because you feel at home. How are you going to feel at home when you aren’t being your most genuine self? You owe it to yourself and the women of each organization to be yourself and show them all who you really are. You want to join an organization because the women and the organization match your values, you owe it to the women to show them who you really are.
Do not let the stress of the week get to you. Each woman involved in recruitment is spending every night there as well. Every woman involved has exams, homework, classes, discussion boards, work, and stress. Talk to your recruitment counselor! She will understand what you are going through, that is why they are there! Make friends and work together to do homework and study. The friends you make in recruitment are going to be friends that you will have around for a long time, no matter where you each run home to.
Do not get discouraged. Just because you do not go back to a certain organization does not mean that something is wrong with you. It simply means that you are meant to be somewhere else. The best part about recruitment, besides finding your home, is meeting hundreds of other women that will be excited for you that you are finding the place where you belong.
Go with what is best for you. Forget what your friends are saying, forget what others want you to do. Go with the organization where you feel most at home. You will find your place, and you will find where you belong. Just because your best friend feels at home somewhere, doesn’t mean that it is the place for you. You have a home, and you owe it to yourself to be selfish in making your decision of where to run home to. I found my perfect home with my forever sisters and I’ve been so happy ever since I signed my bid card and ran home to my sisterhood. Do not be afraid to make a decision for yourself. Every woman in recruitment will respect you for what you decide.
Recruitment truly is the best time of the year. Hundreds of women find their homes and where they belong. Hundreds of Panhellenic relationships are formed, no matter where everyone runs home to. For every New Member, Bid Day is the best day of your life. Cherish every moment of it. Soak it all in. The best days of your college life start here, in the place where you find your home.
