Ever since high school, I made it clear to friends and family that I really wanted to join a sorority. When I lived in Missouri and worked at a restaurant with several other college-aged servers, I thought they were so grown-up and cool as I saw them go through college and talk EXTENSIVELY about Greek life. Before I transferred to TCU, I attended a much smaller university in my hometown, joined a sorority there, and even served on the executive team. While I loved this sorority and my sisters there, I knew I wanted to go to TCU and I knew that sorority recruitment would be an entirely different world there.
Let me be clear; while my recruitment experience was somewhat difficult during the week of recruitment, I am ultimately happy and thrilled with where I ended up. I met some of my very best friends in my sorority and have gained so many leadership opportunities that I loved. I even got to intern at my sorority’s philanthropy, the Ronald McDonald House, and have gotten to serve as an officer in my sorority.
One of my most memorable experiences in college was getting the opportunity to serve TCU Panhellenic recruitment as a Rho Gamma. This meant that I was disaffiliated from my sorority during recruitment and would serve a group of girls as an impartial big sister, guide, and confidante to all of the incoming women. My Rho Gamma, Olivia, made my recruitment process so much easier because I had her to lean on and ask any questions I had.
Getting to serve as a Rho Gamma was incredible. I really felt the Panhellenic love in our community while I was working with the other Rho Gammas. My favorite part of the experience though, was the relationships that I built with my girls in my group. I joked with my friends that I was even more nervous for them than when I was going through my own recruitment experience. Each of my girls was so incredible and I am so proud of them and where they ultimately ended up. It was a privilege to serve as their Rho Gamma.
After being in a Panhellenic sorority for four years and having served TCU Panhellenic recruitment on the other side as a Rho Gamma, I created a list of things that I wish I had known before going through sorority recruitment at TCU.
1. The recruitment experience is such a small sliver of your overall college experience. In the moment, it felt like my whole world, but I eventually realized that there are so many bigger parts of your college experience. I am so grateful to my sorority and the memories I’ve made, but I have made so many other incredible memories and experiences- from being the President of Her Campus, serving as a Frog Camp Facilitator, and interning at Make-A-Wish- all big parts of my college experience!
2. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself, especially at the end of the day when you go home! Engage in other activities, practice self-care, and treat yourself! It can be a very hectic week so it’s important to make sure that you are taking care of yourself!
3. All of the Panhellenic sororities are welcoming, kind, and encouraging. You can’t go wrong in Panhellenic! Each chapter is full of incredible and intelligent women who truly want you to succeed!
4. One of the things that make the Panhellenic community so incredible is the friendships that you will make, both with women inside your chapter and women in other chapters as well! Some of my best friends are in different chapters than I am.
5. You are not alone! The recruitment experience can seem daunting (especially if you are a freshman) but there are so many others who are going through the exact same thing and there are so many resources available to you that are more than willing to help you! (Your Rho Gamma, other Rho Gammas, and Panhellenic Exec are just a few examples.)
6. Everyone has a different experience. Don’t compare your experience to someone else’s! Everyone’s journey is different.
7. Go in with an open mind! The girls that you are about to meet are just as excited to meet you as you are to meet them. Go in with a blank slate and don’t let anyone else influence your decision or your perspective of a chapter!
8. Trust the process and be yourself!! You will end up where you are meant to be.
9. Have fun!! This experience is such a fun introduction to TCU and college! Make friends with the girls around you as you could have them in classes later on or even be in the same pledge class!
10. This process does not reflect who you are. You are beautiful. You are seen. You are so much more than this process.