Going Greek can be one of the best decisions you will ever make. I know it was for me. You find a home away from home, make lifelong friends, and create a million amazing memories with your new sisters. However, recruitment can be overwhelming. . And, especially if you are like me and find small talk awkward, recruitment can even be off-putting. You walk into a room full of girls you don’t know, sometimes they are even cheering or singing, and then one of them walks up to you and just starts talking. I promise you, it isn’t as scary or awkward as it sounds. But, before you step into the first recruitment event, here is everything you need to know.
- Stay Open-Minded!
-
This will honestly be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made. But you need to keep an open mind to make the most out of it. Even if you have your mind set on one sorority or the only reason you are there because your roommate begged you to come with her, you never know where your true home could be unless you give the whole process a fair shot.
- Terminology!
-
You may hear some of the initiated sisters throwing around words or phrases and start thinking that you have no clue what she is talking about. So here are some you should know:
PMN = Potential New Member. These are the girls going through recruitment. This means you.
Bid = an invite to join the sorority, which you may get on bid day.
Greek Life = a general term that encompasses all fraternities and sororities. If you are a brother or sister in one of our greek organizations, you are a member of greek life.
Greek Council = This is the governing board over all the fraternities and sororities on campus. They make sure we are all on the same page, following the rules, and will also plan socials for everyone in Greek Life to participate in.
Silence period = This is the time between the end of recruitment and bid day, where initiated members can’t talk to girls who are potentially getting a bid from any of the sororities
- Formal vs Informal Recruitment!
-
Recruitment in the fall semester is called formal recruitment. It is where you have to go to all sororities and there are different rounds of events. Informal recruitment happens in the winter semester. Not all sororities will do this every year, but when they do, it is more casual events and you may only go to the sororities you are interested in.
- Local vs. International Sororites
-
So Waterloo has three sororities: Alpha Omicron Pi, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Sigma Lambda Gamma. Alpha Omicron Pi and Kappa Kappa Gamma are both international sororities, meaning that they have chapters across the states and Canada. These organizations tend to have international events that you can attend with sisters from all over North America and have a broader alumni network. Sigma Lambda Gamma is a local sorority, meaning that they only have one chapter, which is right here in Waterloo. Local sororities are a great option for those who want a smaller, more tightly knit community of sisters. (Important Note: only Kappa Kappa Gamma and Alpha Omicron Pi are recruiting this semester)
- Time and Money!
-
I am going to be honest, being a part of a sorority isn’t commitment-free, both financially and time-wise. There will be fees, known as dues, which vary each semester and between sororities. When you are going through recruitment, make sure to fully understand what is included in your dues and what isn’t. Also, there is time. All sororities have weekly meetings, as well as sisterhoods, socials, and other events. Although it can seem like a lot, I guarantee you that the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.
- Just Be Yourself!
-
You may feel like you need to say things that you think these sororities want to hear, rather than being truly authentic to yourself. But don’t. Sororities want to see the true you in recruitment. You are looking for a home after all!
Interested in joining a sorority? Come out to Greek Life 101 on Monday, September 16 at 5 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room of the SLC. And make sure to follow @waterloosororities and @uw_greekcouncil on Instagram to stay up to date on everything recruitment!