I never thought I would end up in a sorority; many of my favorite TV shows and movies focused on Greek life (Greek, The House Bunny, Legally Blonde) and I knew that I didn’t want to be a part of it. But when I got to Hopkins, my perception of sorority girls as vapid and shallow was turned on its head once I actually met some in person. I found most of my best friends through Greek life, even those not in my own sorority. It created a community for me that I didn’t have during my first semester of college, and I can’t imagine what Hopkins would be like without my pledge class or my Alpha Phi “family.”
Formal sorority recruitment takes place in February, so freshmen have all of fall semester to decide whether they want to participate. All five Panhellenic sororities hold fun “Meet the Sisters” events in the fall, where potential new members (aka PNMs, any student who is eligible for recruitment) are invited to talk to current sisters about their Greek experience. These events are held all around campus, usually on the Freshman quad, on the beach, or in the library.
My hallmates encouraged me to attend these pre-recruitment events; they all knew upperclassmen through clubs and athletic teams, while I only really knew other freshmen. I wasn’t initially sure I wanted to go through recruitment, but after meeting sisters from all five Panhellenic sororities, I felt more confident about my decision to rush that spring.
Here are some tips I wish I knew my freshman year for navigating these events in the fall!
Follow sororities on social media
Each of our five Panhellenic sororities (Alpha Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Mu, and Pi Beta Phi) have social media accounts where they advertise their upcoming Meet the Sisters events. They also post about cool things sisters are doing on and off campus, so check them out to get a better idea of what each organization is like! I didn’t know many sorority women for the first few months of freshman year, and liking sororities’ Facebook pages or following their Instagram accounts was a great way to find out about pre-recruitment events.
Bring a friend
If you’re nervous about approaching sisters at these events, bring your roommate or some friends with you! It’s way easier to talk in a group, especially if you’re not 100% sure you want to go through recruitment yet. I always went with my hallmates and it made conversations flow much more easily.
Don’t be nervous to approach sisters!
These events aren’t about impressing anybody; they’re to help you decide whether you want to go through recruitment. Don’t feel afraid to walk up to sisters at their events and ask questions about Greek life! They want to share their honest experiences and fun stories with you.
EAT THE FOOD!!!
One of the most important parts of Meet the Sisters events is the free food! While you chat with sisters, you’ll get to munch on cookies, cupcakes, popsicles, bagels, etc. So even if you don’t think you’re interested in Greek life, at least go for the free cupcakes and a great conversation with some Hopkins sorority women.
Photo Credit: http://hopkins-interactive.com/greek-life/