It’s the end of Week Two, which means everyone is settling into a daily routine, revolving around class schedules and preparations for midterm month. And for those of you planning to go through sorority recruitment, your life is about to get a whole lot busier. With rush events starting next week, the exciting journey is just beginning.
Going Greek can be one of the best decisions of your college career but walking into a room full of girls waiting to talk to you is bound to make even the most confident collegiettes a bit nervous. But don’t worry! We’ve gathered up some tips and tricks from girls who’ve been through it. With their help you can focus less on being nervous and more on being your amazing self.
1. Be open
If you’re just going through recruitment because your friend dragged you along, make sure to keep an open mind! Even if you swore to be a GDI(Gosh Darn Independent) till death, Drexel Greek life is very different from other schools and deserves a chance. Since we are such a small school, the sororities aren’t competitive (except during Greek Week), and are much more welcoming to all new members. If you go into the night with a bad attitude, you’ll leave with a bad attitude. Stay positive and you’ll have a great time and meet great new people, even if it doesn’t work out in the end.
2. Ask about philanthropies
A key part of any sororities is the national philanthropy they’re each associated with, and the fundraisers they host throughout the year to benefit these causes. If you’re looking for a way to start a conversation without the generic “how about this weather”, this is a great place to start. Finding a philanthropy that speaks to you should be important when considering which sisterhood you’ll want to join.
3. Be curious about what they do together
Do the sisters plan monthly events together? Are they cliquey or is everyone friends with everyone? Asking about what goes on between the sisters can be crucial to making sure you join the right sorority for you. GPA’s are also an important part of sorority life so asking about study groups or what majors make up the chapter can help you determine how Greek life can fit in to your college career both in and outside the classroom.
4. Ask for clarification about the process
Keeping the nights and processes straight can be confusing, so don’t be afraid to ask for clarification! It shows you’re not afraid to admit you don’t understand something, and that you’re okay asking questions. They’ve all been through the process and can probably relate to how confusing it can be, so don’t hesitate to ask all your questions.
5. Be flexible
Things run late or don’t go as planned, don’t freak out. The last thing you’ll want to do is make a scene or show that you may not always be cool as a cucumber. Working around a group of girls as large as the ones in a sorority is a difficult job, so sometimes plans need to be adjusted and they need the sisters to be accommodating.
6. Ask the sisters why they chose this sorority
Feel free to ask the sisters about their experiences. It can be a great way to find out some facts you never thought about, or hear what they think is valued by their sorority. If you’re totally new to Greek life you might not be entirely sure on what to ask so hearing why the sisters went Greek can answer lots of the questions you didn’t even know you had.
7. Avoid taboo topics
Even if your main goal in joining a sorority is to attend their awesome, themed socials, don’t ask about them. The two main topics to avoid during recruitment are Boys and Booze. You don’t want to come off as an extreme partier who plans on relying on her sisters to carry her home every Friday night. You also don’t want to seem like you’re only interested for the fraternity connection. If this is your goal, it’s much easier to just befriend a frat guy in your class instead of rushing, I promise.