Northwestern Panhellenic Recruitment Preview is this Sunday, October 25! For women interested in “going greek”, this day offers a sneak peak of each of the 12 houses on campus, as well as a chance to get a feel for what formal recruitment in January will be like. Are you interested but not really sure what to expect? Read on for some clarity and peace of mind:
The logistics
Parties start at 1 p.m. on Sunday and run until 5 p.m. At each house, you’ll be talking to a couple of active members and listening to a brief presentation about the chapter. Each party is about 15-minutes long with a 6-minute break to transition between houses. You’ll be traveling with a recruitment counselor (an active who has disaffiliated from her sorority to provide you unbiased help!).
Some terms for you to know:
PNM: That’s you! You are a “potential new member”
Parties: the official time you are in each house
Active: an active member of any given sorority
Chapter: campus group of a national sorority
Formal Recruitment: January 7-12 2016. Register here.
Attire
Dress comfortably! If you wouldn’t wear it to class, definitely don’t wear it to preview (that goes for shoes, too). I wore jeans with a white shirt, black cardigan, and ballet flats. Simple, cute, and still comfortable 12 houses and 4 hours later!
Some pro tips
- Do whatever you need to do to ensure you are functioning at 100% on Sunday. Get enough rest, start (or finish) your homework, drink coffee or tea, or simply relax. It is a long, hectic day – take care of yourself so you don’t crash halfway through.
- Bring a small bag with your necessities. I carried around a small purse all day that had lip-gloss, breath mints, oil blotting wipes, and a mirror in it. It was extremely helpful to have while I was waiting in line before each party, and made me feel refreshed and ready for each new house!
- Make sure you eat something beforehand, or bring a snack in your bag for between houses! You will not have a break between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Take notes after each house – general first impressions and who you talked to are all you need! This is great practice for formal recruitment.
It’s YOUR process
Be enthusiastic! Leave any preconceived notions at the door before you walk in – this is YOUR day and YOUR process, not anybody else’s. This is an opportunity for you to meet some new people and see what formal recruitment will be like! Every sorority woman is so excited to meet you – so get pumped, smile, and have fun!
Image courtesy of northwestern.edu