Sorority Recruitment – To Rush or Not to Rush

Posted on June 27, 2012

Sororities, on college campuses, have begun to experience a resurgence.  As the children of Gen-X Greeks seek a similar type of college experience, as their parents (i.e., people my age) they are “discovering” the benefits of Greek life.  I am a member of an NPC group and continue active involvement, as an Alumna.  Neither of my parents were involved in GLOs (Greek Letter Organizations), but both encouraged me to meet as many new people, as  I could.  They also understood the value of being affiliated with international organizations, after college graduation.

Recently, I was asked by several friends whose daughters are ready to attend college, whether these young women should go through Sorority Recruitment, or not.  My answer is an unequivocal, enthusiastic YES!   

In a nutshell, Sorority Recruitment is the process by which these fraternal women’s groups seek out new members.  Typically, the process is governed by the local Panhellenic Council, made up of all the NPC (National Panhellenic Conference) on campus.   Each campus is different and recruitment will reflect that campus’ “style.”

So, why do I encourage young women to participate in Sorority Recruitment.  Simply put, it’s an easy way to meet potential friends.  Whether they are invited to join (accept a bid) a Sorority, or not, it is an experience in learning how to market and present themselves, under pressure.  Women should focus on being themselves, and highlighting their accomplishments and interests.   If you know Alumnae members of any group, ask them for references.   

I recommend the following three websites for more information:

http://www.sororityparents.com/ – Information/FAQs for parents of potential new members.

http://www.thesororitylife.com/ – Information for young women interested in participating in Recruitment.

http://www.recruitmentprep.com/ – Step-by-step instructions on the Recruitment process, what to expect and how to get ready, for potential new members