It can be hard to make friends in college. Everyone is involved in so many different clubs and classes, making it hard to develop that core friend group. Sorority recruitment offers you hundreds of potential friends, and it can be a great opportunity to help you feel more at home at your college. If you’re considering rushing, here are some tips.
1. Go in open-minded
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying don’t do your research, but don’t go in having only one sorority in mind. Having the mindset that you only want to be in a certain sorority closes you off to all of the other sororities that you might end up liking better. It can also be extremely disappointing if they end up not inviting you back for a party, and might turn you off recruitment all together. I can’t tell you how many girls dropped out the first day because they didn’t get invited back to a specific house. Trust the process. The houses you get invited back to are probably the ones you have the most in common with.
2. Bring snacks
Recruitment is a very long process. You’re talking for at least five hours a day to three to four girls from each house. Trust me – you’re going to want snacks. I guarantee that your voice is going to be gone by the end of the day from yelling over all of the other girls, so make sure you bring a water bottle with you. You’re going to get hungry too, and no, they don’t provide food. Pack little snacks and remember to eat before you arrive. It will put you in a better mood and give you more energy throughout the day!
(Pro Tip: Don’t go into the houses while chewing gum. It’s seen as rude and can be really distracting!)
3. Talk to the other PNMs
The other PNMs, or Potential New Members, are probably feeling the same way you are. You’re seeing them every weekend for however many weeks your recruitment is, so make some friends! This way, it will be even more special if you get into the same house, and if not, you’re already connecting with the other houses. Also, if you decide not to follow through with recruitment, you’ve still made some friends!
4. Be yourself
The houses are not going to want someone who’s trying too hard– it should be natural. The whole point of this process is for the sisters to get to know the real you to see how you would fit in with them. If you’re not being yourself, you’re going to end up in the wrong house. All they want to do is connect with you, and if you’re genuine and honest, it will be easier to find similarities.
5. Make sure you can see yourself in the house
You might get your first choice and you might not, but nevertheless, you should be able to picture yourself in the houses that you get on preference night. When you’re down to your last two houses, it’s really important to make sure you can see yourself making friends there, relating to the sisters and feeling completely comfortable. Sometimes you’re comfortable with both of the houses, and even though you might like one more than the other, you can see yourself in both of them. Sometimes, you can’t see yourself in either of the two houses. At the end of the day, if you truly don’t feel like you would fit into one or both of your choices, don’t sign the contract. Go with your gut. You shouldn’t settle for a house that you don’t like, because you probably won’t be happy in it and won’t be able to go through recruitment again. You should feel excited to get a bid from your houses, and you should be even more excited to run into their arms on bid day. Your sorority can serve as a second home, so make sure it’s where you want to be.