Asked by
piggywizard
everything you need to express is “inside” you ~ you just need to let it out!
TIP #1: if you take a genuine interest in the PNM you’re speaking with, the conversation should start to flow. think of each girl as a potential best friend that you can’t wait to learn more about! if you are authentic, sincere and warmhearted, you will put the PNM at ease. then you should be able to talk like girlfriends.
TIP #2: think about what made you feel calm and relaxed with you were a PNM. be the sister with a sweet smile, a friendly face, a gentle voice and a natural way of chatting. become the sister everyone would love to meet when going through rush! your “spirit” is just as important as the specific questions you ask.
TIP #3: if you take the focus off yourself and turn your total attention to the PNM, your nerves will fade away. shyness is conquered by forgetting about you ~ and turning the spotlight towards the person you’re speaking with. the PNM is the one you need to welcome to the chapter, get to know and evaluate as a potential sister. you have a job to do, and there is no time to worry about your shyness!
also, i have 2 great posts on QUESTIONS TO ASK PNMs ~
http://sororitysugar.tumblr.com/post/20681826929/rush-101-33-questions-to-ask-pnms
http://sororitysugar.tumblr.com/post/17722737469/25-interesting-questions-to-ask-pnms-during-rush
Hi! I'm a senior in high school who's looking forward to rushing at a D1 college this fall. In the mean time, however, the sorority that I am a legacy in (my mom and her 2 sisters, a sister in law, and a cousin were all in said sorority) is having Legacy night in April. I went to this last lear as a junior and I felt weird there. I was nervous. I want to be more outgoing this time around and try to make friends. Do you have any pointers?
Asked by
bodaciousvoices
it’s always awkward to put yourself out there in a situation where you feel you are being “judged”. you can’t help but be nervous. to help calm your nerves and be more outgoing, consider these tips ~
- keep in mind that as a 5 time legacy of this sorority you are TOPS on their interest list! you should feel more secure knowing that they highly value you as a potential new sister. build your confidence by accepting that you are standing on solid ground with this sorority as a PNM.
- think of the legacy night as a “social” instead of a recruitment event. even though you will be evaluated, tune that part out, and focus on just having fun. treat it like any other social gathering of girls your age. eat, drink & be merry!
- preparation always eases the nerves. make a list of friendly questions you would like to ask. also make a list of your personal highlights ~ such as your experiences in HS, leadership positions held, favorite volunteering activity, etc… this is preparation for questions that you might be asked. it doesn’t hurt to refresh your memory by writing down all the points you would like to have in the forefront of your mind.
- whoever you are talking to, ask about THEM. don’t blab endlessly about yourself (unless asked a direct question) ~ instead make the other girl feel important by asking about her and her experience in the sorority. this is an excellent conversation technique. the other person will think you are fabulous, since you took such an interest.
- the good news is, you went to this event before. this time you know what to expect and you should naturally be more relaxed. the easiest thing to do? SMILE! a warm, friendly smile and a happy look on your face makes the best impression of all. laugh, chat, be enthusiastic and you are golden.
- put things into perpective. regard this event as training for the real deal of recruitment next fall. just like an athlete practices to get in top shape, you are practicing to ace rush. everything you do at the legacy event will be similar to rounds during recruitment. take the pressure off yourself by viewing this as just needed preparation for the “biggie” in the fall.
good luck! also keep in mind that there are other sororities to consider ~ not just your legacy. knowing that additional chapters will be available to you during rush, should ease your tension. you have the freedom to pick the chapter that you love the most. your legacy sisterhood is just one possibility. xoxo ;)
HELP HELP! Tonight is formal tea- the night that my sorority gives the final and official bids to the potential members. I need to heartsell a new member, which means that I have to convince them to join my sorority, and tell them why I joined it myself. I don't know what to say or what to do!
Asked by
ginalmarie
all you have to do is speak from the heart! the information you need to share with the PNM is inside you. to help you focus your thoughts, make a short list of the highlights from your own sorority experience. review it this afternoon, so you will be better prepared for this evening’s tea. start at the beginning when you rushed, and then work your way up to the favorite things about your chapter today. here is a list of “prompts” to get you thinking ~
- my first impression of my sorority was —-
- during rush, when i was with my sorority i felt —-
- i chose my sorority because —-
- my most emotional memory of pledging is —-
- the sister who had the biggest impact on me did this —-
- my favorite part of our creed is —-
- our mission statement/motto means the most because —-
- sisterhood in our chapter can be summed up in one word —-
- the top 3 things that make my sorority the very best —-
- if i had not joined my chapter i would feel —-
- my #1 favorite thing about my sorority is —-
- joining my sorority gives a girl these wonderful things (ie friendship, security, a home) —-
- i feel _____ about my chapter!
for this final night of recruitment you want to spotlight the heartfelt reasons to join your sorority, rather than the facts and figures. so emphasize the close, loving character of your sorority, instead of the networking opportunities or alumnae program. you can do it! have fun!! xoxo ;)
Q: My sorority is trying to revamp our image in a big way, everyone can agree that we need it. One of the issues I think we suffer from is not being able to talk with the PNMs in the recruitment rooms well. If you have any previous posts or other helpful hints that would be awesome!
A: i do have 2 posts with interesting questions for PNMs! one thing that helps with rush small talk is creative questions that increase conversation. avoid questions that can be answered with yes or no answers.
http://sororitysugar.tumblr.com/post/20681826929/rush-101-33-questions-to-ask-pnms
http://sororitysugar.tumblr.com/post/17722737469/25-interesting-questions-to-ask-pnms-during-rush
i also have a post on questions PNMs may ask the actives ~ which could be helpful in planning your recruitment.
http://sororitysugar.tumblr.com/post/40213607638/what-r-some-inteligent-questions-to-ask-at-rush-or
other tips to help during rounds ~
- have lots of displays and visuals in the room. this instantly gives everyone something to comment on.
- always have a cute theme, apparel and decor. this adds fun to the round, relaxes the PNMs and acts as an easy ice breaker for everyone.
- be organized ahead of time. plan and rehearse your strategy for rounds ~ who will rotate among the PNMs, who are the floaters, what your signals are, what everyone should say and not say, etc… preparation is the key to success. role play your rounds with each other.
- review the top 10 finest points of your chapter with all your actives. each girl should be well versed in the purpose, spirit and goals of your sorority. if they know it inside and out, it will be easier to communicate the benefits of your sisterhood to PNMs.
for more posts that may be helpful to you, please visit the sorority sugar ”library of links” on my pinterest ~
http://www.pinterest.com/sororitysugar/sorority-girls-do-it-better
Asked by
hey-flowerchild
every day!! but i do space things out to keep my blog balanced. your question gives me a chance to share my process with everyone…
sorority sugar SUBMISSIONS:
- if something is time sensitive, i give it priority posting.
- if there are 6 photos submitted of one sorority, i will spread them out over several days (or longer) to keep things balanced.
- i usually post photos by sorority in “clusters”. so if you submit a photo for XYZ chapter, i may wait until i am posting 4 or 5 of that sorority, and include the submission in that group.
- photo submissions are a great way for local and smaller chapters to get more pictures on sorority sugar. i have a lot going on with the NPC chapters, so if i see a photo from another sorority, it reminds me to post for them too. this happened yesterday with omega phi alpha.
- i do edit the photos! my blog is so busy, and i get such frequent submissions, i am a bit discriminating. photos to avoid: blurry, extremely dark, plain group photos with “tiny faces”, pictures that do not show any sorority sugar that others would be inspired by! i love to share pics that have great ideas for all my followers.
- question submissions ~ i edit the questions too! sometimes i get submissions all on the same topic. i will post one for everyone to read. if there’s a question that takes research or creative thought (such as sisterhood social ideas or favorite fundraisers) it may take some time for me to post a response. i want to make it good! personal questions about chapter problems are quicker to answer. i rotate the topics, and i do not overload the blog with text posts. if you notice, i will do a few, then post photos, then do some more text posts.
- right now there is a question “queue” and i am answering & editing them as promptly as possible. if you don’t see your question post right away, please check back.
- non-anon questions are answered quicker! i don’t have to copy & paste & move the question over to a text post, so naturally, if i can look at my mailbox and answer easily ~ it gets done right away! so if you don’t have to be anon, please just ask as yourself. (i love anon too… just saying). ;)
THANK YOU stellar-roses for your great question. if you have a photo or question that has not been posted, please submit it again, or send me new sorority sugar to share!! xoxo ;)
Q: I feel that my sorority is offering me nothing. During recruitment and afterwards, all of the older girls said I was one of the girls everyone wanted and I thought my sorority would be so much more. But, I’ve never felt like I belonged like I did during rush week. My big never hangs out with me, and I have like no friends in the sorority. I really don’t want to stay, but girls I have talked to about it said it gets better with time. I don’t know what to do.
A: “When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are.” ~ Donald Miller
not every day can be bid day. eventually, the reality of everyday life reaches even the most enthusiastic new member. the spotlight shone on you during rush, and now it has dimmed. that doesn’t mean that your sorority is lacking, or your sisters have suddenly turned into unfriendly shrews. you loved them when you joined! do you think that after the thrill of your wedding day wears off, you will look at your husband and be disgruntled and disappointed? i hope not!
before you throw in the towel ask yourself these questions ~
- what other excellent social and friendship opportunities do i have on campus?
- what have i done to connect with new & different sisters?
- what generous things have i done for my big lately?
- how many PNMs have i reached out to?
- what project have i dedicated myself to that gives me personal satisfaction?
- how have i given back to my sorority?
- what steps have i taken to acquire a little?
- how have i gotten involved in the panhellenic council or greek life?
- why don’t i become a big or little sister for a fraternity brother?
- what unique talents have i shared with the chapter, like my singing, crafting, design ability, computer skills, or fundraising talents, etc?
- what would i gain by quitting?
- would i be a better person inside or outside my sorority?
- if there anything important i can learn from sorority life?
- am i responsible for my own sorority happiness?
please know that there are phases to your time in the chapter ~ the excitement of joining • the regular old middle part • the joy and pride of graduating • the sentimental fondness of the alumnae years! make the most of it. your sorority days will be behind you before you blink! xoxo ;)
dear followers who have written in with questions ~
lately i have been swamped with all kinds of sorority questions. i wanted you to know that i am answering them as fast as i can! sometimes if two inquiries are similar, i may answer once to be efficient. so please keep checking back for your sorority sugar advice!!
xoxo sorority smiles ;))
Q: i just went through the first round of rush and it was a ton of fun, but when you’re making conversation, are you also supposed to be asking the girls you’re talking to a lot of questions? i feel like they were the ones who were mostly asking questions and starting conversations, and we had good conversations, but i wasn’t sure if i was also supposed to ask them questions too. i mean like personal questions. like if they ask if i have any siblings, or if they ask about my hometown or grade, do i also ask them?
A: in general, they are interviewing you individually and personally, while you are considering the entire chapter. you are coming at a recruitment conversation from two different angles. the sorority member’s questions are all about you as a person. she is trying to determine if your personality, interests and goals will fit in with the sisterhood. you, on the other hand, are not basing your decision on the personal facts about one sister. your questions should relate to the chapter’s personality, activities and goals.
that doesn’t mean that if you really hit it off with one sister, and you have tons in common, that you can’t speak on a personal level. if you both lived in Rome, or you both have 5 brothers, how can you not discuss it? if you hit upon fun things in common, definitely make that “connection”. it will make you more memorable as a PNM too!
but don’t stress about asking the sisters the run-of-the-mill personal “interview” questions. instead, use your short conversation time during rounds to learn all you can about the overall chapter traditions, interests and sisterhood! continued good luck in recruitment!! xoxo ;)
Asked by
happyskipper
i know as a PNM it can all be overwhelming and sometimes difficult to know what to ask, and what not to ask! here are some potential rush questions to help you get started…
☺ 20 PNM QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING RECRUITMENT! ☺
- why did you choose this chapter?
- what is your favorite sisterhood event?
- what are the opportunities for leadership?
- do you have any academic or study programs?
- what is the best part of your philanthropy?
- can you tell me about sorority life?
- does the chapter participate in innermural sports?
- what is greek week like?
- how involved are your alums?
- what’s a chapter meeting like?
- have you ever served on the panhellenic council?
- what would you say is the “personality” of your chapter?
- what are some fun things big and little sisters do together?
- can you tell me more about your annual fundraiser?
- are your sisters into crafting?
- how do you balance everything - sorority, academics & social life?
- are your members involved in other campus groups?
- what happens on a sisterhood retreat?
- what does the new member class do for fun?
- can you tell me about your best moment in the sorority?
tis the season for holiday parties with sisters, family and friends! having some creative “conversation questions” can help break the ice and get the chatter going. there are no right or wrong answers, just fun things to talk about over the egg nog! enjoy!
★☆ CHRISTMAS CHAT! ★☆
- what is your favorite christmas scent?
- what would your ultimate winter wonderland look like?
- what do you do with your christmas cards after the holidays are over?
- if you could receive only one ornament this season, what would it look like?
- have you ever “re-gifted” a christmas gift?
- what’s the biggest change in your life since last christmas?
- if you had to receive the same gift each year, what would it be?
- which movie christmas would you most like to be a part of?
- you’re the editor of a magazine. what do you put on your december cover?
- what room in your house has the least amount of christmas decor?
- what color do you think santa’s hair was before it turned white?
- if you could only give one gift to 1,000 people, what would it be?
- what has been your greatest blessing since last christmas?
- you must add a new reindeer to santa’s team. what would you name him?
- how many christmas word beginning with the letter “c” can you name?
- if you were going to create an ice cream for christmas, what would the flavor be?
- which job would you least like to have at the holidays?
- what is the most unusual christmas tradition you’ve ever heard of?
- how naughty or nice have you been this year? (scale of 1 - 10)
- would you rather go to a ski resort or tropical island for christmas?
- if you could spend christmas day with one tv family ~ which one would it be?
- if you were santa, what food & drink would you want left for you?
- if you could record a christmas duet with any singer, who would you choose?
- what christmas song drives you nuts?
- for a perfect romantic holiday evening, where would you go?
- what is your favorite christmas decoration, besides the tree?
- what part of preparing for christmas do you like the most? the least?
- if someone gave you a $100 gift card, which store would you want it to be from?
- if you could invite any famous person to christmas dinner, who would you invite?
- if you could go back in time to revisit any christmas moment in your life, which one would you choose?
- if you could eat only one type of christmas cookie, which cookie would it be?
- if you had a baby on dec 25th, and had to name him/her a christmas name, what name would you choose?
- how do you envision santa’s workshop?
- if you could shop-til-you-drop in only one store, which store would you choose?
- does your pet have a stocking?
- if you won $5,000 the week before christmas, what would you do with the money?
- would you rather sing christmas carols at a children’s hospital or a convalescent home?
- if you could spend christmas in any european country, which one would you choose?
- have you ever eaten fruitcake?
- you are the author of a new classic christmas novel, what would you choose as the setting?
{list edited from “the christmas conversation piece”}
★☆★☆★☆
BOWL-O-QUESTIONS:
Sometimes all you need is a bowl filled with fun questions to create a quick & easy “get to know you” icebreaker! Or you can incorporate these questions into a more complicated game, or even use them for PNM conversations during rush…
- If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?
- If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
- What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime?
- What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?
- If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be and why?
- What’s your favorite cartoon character, and why?
- What’s the ideal dream job for you?
- Are you a morning or night person?
- What is your #1 pet peeve?
- What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
- What is your quirkiest habit?
- If you had to describe yourself using 3 words, they would be ______
- If someone made a movie of your life would it be a drama, a comedy, a romantic-comedy, action film, or science fiction?
- If you could be anybody besides yourself, who would you be?
- What thought would you put in a fortune cookie?
- If you had to give up one favorite food, what would be the most difficult to give up?
- What is one food you’d never want to taste again?
- If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?
- If you had a time machine, where and when would you travel to?
- If you could add one person to Mount Rushmore, who would you add and why?
- What award would you love to win and for what achievement?
- If you could transport yourself anywhere instantly, where would you go and why?
- What is one item that you really should throw away, but probably never will?
Asked by
beachgirllll92
you don’t have to theme your questions for each day, but for the philanthropy round you may have some additional questions since it such a specific activity for the sorority. these are some things you might ask an active sister after the philanthropy round presentation……
- how much time does the chapter spend on philanthropy work each month, or each semester?
- what is your favorite volunteer activity? why?
- what does _______ charity mean to your chapter?
- are there any new things planned for fundraising this year?
- what leadership positions are available in the philanthropy area of the chapter?
- what does your chapter charity mean to you?
- how do you balance course work, social activities and volunteering?
by asking some follow up questions you will get a feel for how involved the sisters are in their philanthropy, and if it will be a good fit for you should you pledge. xoxo ;))
Asked by
beachgirllll92
i would balance your answer between what you are looking for and what you can offer a sorority. your goals should not be all about you, but also about what you can bring to the chapter. it’s a 2 part question!
why you want to join a sorority:
- making lifelong friends
- from personal experience - you see the special bonds of sisterhood & know that it would mean a lot to you too
- you admire the volunteer work they do for ____ philanthropy
- you respect the leadership & achievements of greek women - they rise above the rest
- you feel that having a “home away from home” is the right thing for you
- you really respect the mission & goals of _____ sorority
what you can bring to a sorority:
- you are proud of your academics and you will be a top student in sorority
- you are crazy for sports and you are really excited about leading the sorority intramural team
- your close family member had a personal experience with _____ and you are extra motivated to volunteer for the chapter’s charity
- as prom chair for your HS, you fell in love with event planning and you can’t wait to be involved in the theme socials & events
- as the top fundraiser for your HS club, you are eager to plan some new fundraising projects for the chapter
- you are a happy girl with a big heart and you want to share your friendship with all the sisters in the chapter
be sincere in your answer, and be unique by adding a specific reason for wanting to join, that applies directly to YOU. this will make your answer more memorable. ;)
edited question from a follower who wishes to remain anon ~
Q: i need your advice!! :D after being in my sorority for one semester, i ended up transferring because of various important family reasons. when i transferred colleges, many sisters including my big, didn’t really like it. they cut off ties without even asking me why i had to make a change. at my new school, i see they have a chapter of my sorority, and i’d love to be active again. do you think it’s wrong of me to want to transfer chapters?
A: how could it be wrong to be active again?!! assuming you haven’t broken any sorority membership rules, and you are still able to transfer chapters ~ i say go for it! it would be the best thing possible for getting over the sting of loss from your original chapter. and please know that the new girls may be quite different from your other sisters - in a good way. i think rekindling your sorority fire would help you adjust, help you make new friends, reinforce your decision to transfer… ALL GOOD. i would only say “no” if the new chapter is completely filled with undesirable members, but i can’t imagine that’s the case.
*a word about changes… your sisters did not act with good manners when you had to transfer. I’m sure that hurt your feelings. some people are not comfortable with goodbyes, or they may have felt betrayed in a weird way. instead of sucking it up and being nice to you, they chose to just ignore the situation. sadly, this happens, and you will find that every time you leave a job for a new one, or move to a new city ~ the old friends tend to fade away. this shouldn’t be the case with sisters, but it does sometimes.
sooooo…. NEW SISTERS are just what you need! please look into it, and let me know how & when you can get re-greeked!! xoxo ;)
