Time definitely does fly: we are almost one month away from formal Panhellenic recruitment here at SMU! Sorority women and potential new members alike are gearing up for a busy week of conversation, philanthropy, skits, and fun. I know some of you PNM’s are rolling your eyes when I say “fun”, but trust me – it is! If you go in with the right mindset and a few helpful tips under your belt, recruitment doesn’t have to be defined by anxiety and tension. A sorority woman myself, I teamed up with a couple of my friends in different houses to come up with key things to remember as you travel through the week ahead.
- Keep an open mind
This is undoubtedly our number one piece of advice. After an entire semester of meeting girls and getting to know each individual house, you may think you know exactly where you want to be. While this is comforting and exciting, make sure to keep an open mind to every single house you visit. You never know whom you will meet and how you will feel during each visit. Many girls fall in love with a house during recruitment that they never even previously considered. That’s the beauty of the entire process.
- Don’t follow your friends.
It’s easy to pick a house based on where all your friends are going to end up, but it’s also problematic. A chapter that is a great fit for your best friend may not be the best fit for you. The entire point of having a deferred recruitment process is to provide the opportunity to truly find the best fit on an individual basis. Your friends will still be your friends even if you go to different houses, I promise. I met my best friend at this school during first semester of my freshman year and we ended up in different houses. We are still best friends to this day and through her I’ve met so many awesome girls.
- Don’t stress out about your outfits
I remember going through recruitment as a first-year and being SO anxious about my outfits for each day, from my earrings all the way down to my shoes. I wish someone had told me from the beginning – no one cares. Sorority women are much more interested in who you are, what you’re about, and what you have to say than what designer you are sporting. Focus on being comfortable in your outfit; the ability to walk is more important than your ability to pull off five-inch heels. Remember, they are long days full of walking and standing!
- Helpful Ideas
I took a little poll of my various sorority friends in different houses and came up with a couple quick tips: Don’t wear a watch or bring a purse. Don’t douse yourself in perfume: everyone will be wearing it and it will be overwhelming inside each house. If you get a spray tan, make sure it is ahead of time so the smell doesn’t linger. Bring mints to sneak in between houses – we do this too! (Altoids Minis are a favorite). Be yourself in your conversations and don’t feel like you have to lie or fabricate stories in order to sound interesting.
- Have fun!
A lot of girls don’t even get the chance to enjoy recruitment because they’re too stressed out the whole time. Remember to relax, have fun, and enjoy the week. It will be over before you know it and you’ll be celebrating Bid Day with your new sisters in no time!
For more helpful information, reference the SMU Recruitment Guide here: http://digital.turn-page.com/i/79052