Dear PNM,
Updated: Aug 6, 2020
I know these past few months have been chaotic, unpredictable, and there has been a lot of disappointment. However, I encourage you to look forward, instead of back, because you have incredible things ahead of you, one of those incredible things being fall recruitment. Recruitment is a unique opportunity to get to know the women you will spend your college years with, and possibly find your forever home in the Greek community. Here are a few tips to make the most of your recruitment experience and find the place where you fit best!
#1: Come in with an open mind! Don’t allow rumors and reputations to fill your mind before recruitment. Allow yourself to decide how you feel about each house on your own. During the week, try to keep your thoughts about each house to yourself, and don’t listen to what other people think. It can be easy to change your opinions based on what your friends think, but I promise you will be happiest if you follow your own heart. Your journey is YOUR journey.
#2: Think about what you’re looking for in a sisterhood beforehand. Before you enter the house, put some thought into what you would like to see. Ask yourself why you want to join a sorority, and make sure you see that in the houses you are choosing each round. Remember that the process works both ways! You are evaluating each house as much as they are evaluating you, so consider what you’re looking for in a sisterhood and what you would like to get out of the experience.
#3: Make sure you feel comfortable and confident in your outfits! You will be walking a lot and you never know what the weather will be, so make sure you are comfortable in the outfits you buy. Also, find something that you love yourself in! You’re most likely going to be stressed during recruitment and you don’t want to have to worry about what you’re wearing. Also, don’t be afraid to stand out! Be unique and find ways to express yourself through your clothes, jewelry, hair, makeup, shoes, etc.
#4: Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself! This is your moment to brag about yourself. I am not saying you should list your entire resume, but it is good to talk about yourself and tell the recruiter what you are passionate about. The recruiter wants to know as much as they possibly can about you, so don’t be shy!
#5: Remember the recruiters are nervous too. To ease your nerves, remember that many of the recruiters are first-time recruiters, so they are nervous too. Also, the recruiters are not there to judge you, but to get to know you and help you find where you fit best.
#6: Keep a journal. After each round, your Recruitment Guide will give you a few minutes to take notes on the chapter you just attended. Carry a journal in your bag and take thorough notes. If you can remember the names of any of the girls you spoke to, go ahead and write those down, along with any conversations that stood out to you. By the end of the day, all of the houses will run together in your head and you will be glad if you can look back on notes to remind you how you felt at each house.
#7: Utilize your Recruitment Guide. Your Recruitment Guide is such an incredible resource. You will have one woman who unaffiliates from her chapter during recruitment week in order to help guide PNMs through the week. You can come to your Recruitment Guide if you need advice, have a problem, or just need someone to talk to.
#8: Look at the girls you are standing in line with. This was one of the best pieces of advice I was given when I was going through recruitment. When you get to the last two rounds and you are standing in line outside the house, look around at the girls you are standing with and try to get to know them. These will be the girls in your pledge class if you end up joining this chapter so make sure to ask yourself if you can picture these girls as your future sisters.
#9: Trust the process. You will hear this so many times that you will begin rolling your eyes, but I promise, it is so true. There will likely be times throughout recruitment when you are disappointed or discouraged. Each and every woman involved in this process wants you to find your forever home, the place where you fit best. In the middle of the week, recruitment might feel daunting and it might feel as if things are not working out as you had planned, but you must be flexible and trust that things will work out the way they are meant to.
These are just a few tips to help you have the most successful recruitment experience you can! Although the week is long and exhausting, I had some of my favorite college memories during recruitment week. Good luck and remember, the best person you can be is yourself.
- Lexi Knappen