Harvard and Amherst College, for example, do not affiliate with any sorority on campus. [2] X Research source
Some colleges begin recruitment in the fall, some begin recruitment in the spring, and some individual sororities will allow for continuous open bidding. Continuous open bidding is a less formal recruitment process and occurs when individual sororities do not fill their quotas during the formal recruitment period. You do not need to join a sorority in your freshman year, although most do.
Look at the national organizational websites to find local chapters in your area.
When you sign up for recruitment you will likely need to pay a non-refundable registration fee. You will also likely be placed into a recruitment group and given a recruitment counsellor, or “Rho Gamma,” who will act as your guide and mentor throughout the recruitment process.
For instance, you may be required to have a certain grade point average after high school. It is important to know and understand all of the requirements to ensure that you are eligible to join a sorority on campus.
For instance, you may be interested in joining a sorority that places a large emphasis on social activities. Some sororities place academic events ahead of throwing parties. By attending events at multiple sororities, you will be able to find one that matches your priorities.
In order to make sure that you are dressed appropriately for each event, or round, ask about dress codes at the Panhellenic office. Alternately, you could ask your recruitment councillor for wardrobe advice!
Remember when you are meeting with members of each sorority that they are trying to sell you a specific experience and brand. You should always be yourself in these situations and assess how you fit with other members of the sorority. Always be polite and thank the individuals you met for their help and guidance. This will help them remember you and may give you a better chance of being accepted into the sorority.
How will I benefit from membership in this sorority? Can you describe an ideal member in your sorority? Are there are leadership opportunities available for me? If so, what do they entail? How long is the new member (or pledging) period and what is the time commitment? How much does membership cost? Does this sorority have a housing option for sisters to live together?
In the final round of recruitment, called preference, you will only visit your top ranked sororities and will typically get to spend quite a bit of time with each of them. Make sure you ask specific and detailed questions in order to help you make your final decision. By this point of recruitment, you will already have a good idea about the costs and time commitments associated with each sorority, so you may want to ask about specific events, opportunities, and philanthropy. For example, you may want to ask how many people have received jobs through their connections with the sorority, or if the sorority provides members with education regarding sexual harassment and consent.
For example, did you find that you made a personal connection with any of the sorority sisters during the recruitment stage? Did you find that one sorority held multiple events that align with your interests and values? Some sororities cater their activities specifically to certain populations. For example, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Lambda Theta Alpha focus primarily on African American and Latin populations respectively. This is something you may want to take into consideration when choosing a sorority. [7] X Research source
During the pledging period, many sororities will pair up a “big sister,” or veteran member, with a “little sister,” or new recruit. This is a type of mentorship program and the big sister is expected to help the little sister adjust to sorority life. [9] X Research source
For example, you may need to man a booth on campus that advertises your sorority, or you may need to hand out fliers one day to promote an upcoming event. It is important that you engage in these activities in order to demonstrate that you are committed to sorority life.
Although most sororities have banned hazing rituals, there will likely be some form of initiation. For example, you may need to memorize and recite the sorority oath. If you do not gain membership into a sorority at the end of the formal recruitment period, you can always try an open bid later in the year. Go back to some of the sororities on your initial list and see if they have space.
