Welcome back to school, Collegiettes! Back to school means it’s time for classes, football season, and of course–sorority recruitment. Recruitment is an exciting time for all girls, whether you’re a freshman or sophomore, because it means you’ll be meeting hundreds of new people in just one week. However, there are some tips and tricks that can only be learned by going through the recruitment process, so some tried-and-true advice couldn’t hurt.
What to Wear
The first thing girls think about when going through recruitment is what to wear. Repeat after me, “I do not need a whole new wardrobe,” “I do not need a whole new wardrobe.” I know that when I went through recruitment, I felt like I needed an entire new closet with 57 new dresses and shoes to match. The most important thing is to look and feel your best. Wear things that make you feel confident and beautiful, and that reflect your personal style. Don’t wear something because you think someone else will like it, or wear clothing that you will have to fix all day.
For example, if you have a comfortable dress in a solid color that you feel great in; wear that rather than the dress that looks like everyone else’s but that is too short so you’ll have to keep tugging it down to make sure you look appropriate. Also, you should be wearing comfortable shoes most days because you’ll be doing a lot of walking, but the most important day to wear comfortable shoes is house tour day. Don’t even think about wearing stilettos. Instead, think about how awkward it will be when you fall down the stairs at your favorite house because you wore shoes that you couldn’t even walk around in. Beauty is pain, but you should try to avoid serious injury.
Bringing Your Best
Bringing your best self to each party is essential for success during recruitment. Bringing your best means being yourself, but it also begs the question of what items you need with you during these long days of girl flirting.
If you can be without anything but yourself, definitely do that. However, if you need your phone and some lip balm bring it in a cross body bag or one that is light and easy to carry, because you will need free hands to hold snacks if the house offers them (or you will be walking around, talking with your hands, etc). More importantly though, if you bring your phone it should be on silent and you should absolutely not be using it during any party. The only time it is polite to use your phone during recruitment is on the bus or walking between houses. When a sister sees you using your phone during a party, she will automatically assume that you are uninterested. If you need your phone and you’re going to bring a purse, you should stick some mints, lozenges, and chapstick in there to give you a little relief between parties. You’ll be doing a lot of talking!
Bringing your best self also includes the best of your personality, cheerfulness, and energy. Recruitment is exhausting but exciting all at the same time. Make sure to do a little bit of research on each chapter beforehand, whether that involves doing a quick overview online or meeting the sisters at some of the info sessions before the week starts. This way, you’ll be able to revive the conversation if it starts to slow down by asking them about something specific to their chapter–they will notice that you did the research and will also have a lot to talk about. Show your true colors and stay true to yourself! The place where you belong will love you unconditionally for who you are, and will be happy to get to know the real you.
Choosing Your Chapter
Preference night is a night full of emotions; nervousness, excitement, jitters, and if you’re torn between two houses there can be a lot of confusion to deal with as well. Make sure to put aside all judgments you had about any chapters before recruitment starts and to go with your gut. All of the amazing girls that you met during recruitment will all be going to different houses, so just remind yourself that you will have friends outside of your sorority and it is always okay to go a different place than your friends.
Remember how you felt at each house–were you laughing and smiling? Or were you nervous the entire time, worried that you would say the wrong thing? Ask yourself the important questions. Did you feel comfortable at that house? Will those girls help you to be a better friend, leader, and person? Whose faces will you want to see on Sunday morning when you walk downstairs in your pajamas? Which girls do you want to run and hug on bid day? It is a tough decision figuring out where you want to go for the next four years, but know that your decision will be the best one you’ve ever made when you get to celebrate your sisterhood on bid day.
Good luck with recruitment, Collegiettes!