Q: I’ll be rushing this fall as a freshman and I was wondering if you have any suggestions as to what to avoid wearing during recruitment.
A: what to wear and what not to wear does depend on where your campus is located and what the accepted “style” is. a PNM would dress one way at a southern SEC school and a different way at a small school in the pacific northwest. always research the norms and acceptable styles at your future college. in some places recruitment is very dressing, and in other places jeans are the norm. here are some general guidelines for what to avoid ~
sorority recruitment ”what NOT to wear”:
- any item of clothing that is faded, torn or worn out. check for frayed and drooping hems, armpit stains, snags, pilling and holes. no tattered clothes period.
- no glitter, sequins, sparkles or beauty pageant wear. preference night is dressy, but not a formal dance, night club or wedding. dressy and elegant yes ~ red carpet glam no.
- avoid plunging necklines, backless dresses, cut-outs, mini skirts and super short shorts. rush is an all-girl event and you don’t want to look like a lingerie model. it’s not the time to look “hot”. think classy and gorgeous instead. no one wants to see your bottom or your boobs!
- keep the jewelry and accessories to a minimum. the sisters should focus on YOU, not your overpowering jewelry. it’s ok to wear one signature piece, but please don’t pile on the sparkle. just say no to wearing chandelier earrings, statement necklace, multiple bangles and rings on every finger ~ all at once! especially annoying is banging bracelets during rush conversations.
- keep it classy and simple with your make-up and nail art. rush is no the time to trick your nails out in multiple colors, flowers and gemstones. keep it simple with lighter colors, a french manicure or clear gloss. a mini-pedi is a must. keep your make-up daytime appropriate and not too thick. the goal is to have the sisters interviewing you focus on your personality, not distracted by your heavy eye shadow or purple fingernails.
- super high heels can be a killer. even if you love high heels, keep in mind you will be doing a lot of walking and standing. blisters and sore feet make it almost impossible to remain cheerful and bubbly. wear sandals/flats when you should and save the heels only for the dressiest rounds. avoid any shoes that could be referred to as stripper heels.
- steer clear of all white and all black dresses. frequently chapters wear these colors during some rounds, so it’s best to just avoid those colors all together. you want to shine in your prettiest, most flattering colors anyway.
- don’t try to dress as a ‘sorority cliche’. if you don’t normally wear preppy headbands, bows or pearls, now is not the time to dress in costume. if you dress in a totally new style, (just for the chapters to like you), you will probably look unintentionally funny and feel very uncomfortable. if you show up in lilly from head to toe, the chapters may think you are trying too hard. it’s ok to buy a lilly dress and incorporate it with your other fashions, just don’t go crazy trying to be the ultimate sorority girl.
be true to yourself and let your style shine, while at the same time presenting yourself to your best advantage. recruitment is one giant job interview and you don’t want anything to detract from the sororities seeing your inner beauty. xoxo ;)
So, I have a question about the term "Legacy". (I'm still in high school). So, in order to be a legacy, do you have to be going to the same university as the legacy? For instance my momma was an AOII, but I am not applying to her school, so could I still be a legacy to AOII at a different school?
Asked by
singing-soul
you can be a legacy at ANY school, not just the college your mother or sister attended. it’s about the organization as a whole, not just one or two chapters. so you are an AOII legacy at any college that has an AOII chapter for you to rush. xoxo ;)
Q: My little sister will be heading to University of Oregon this fall as a freshman and she’s excited to join a sorority after I joined one this spring semester at my college. The only sad thing is that she doesn’t want to become my legacy. At my school we only have 4 sororities and 3 of them are NPC and my sorority is at Oregon. Just curious, is she only allowed to join my sorority to become my legacy, or go through recruitment without stating what legacy she is?
A: first and foremost, your sister should reveal her legacy status to any and all chapters at oregon that she qualifies for. that includes your sorority and the chapters from other close female relatives like your mother, grandmother and aunts. she is under NO obligation to join a legacy chapter. it just gives her a step-up with those chapters during recruitment. she can join with or without being a legacy, but the information is a little “bonus” in the competitive world of sorority rush. she should take the advantage, she has nothing to loose.
please convince your sister that she will never know what the sororities are like until she experiences recruitment. even looking at pictures is not like the real thing. she may end up loving your chapter at oregon and want to join. that’s when her legacy advantage could be a boost. if she doesn’t click with your sorority, then she can drop them during rounds and move on to another chapter. no harm done. legacies do not always join the family chapter and not all legacies get a bid from the family chapter. it goes both ways.
i’m sure your sister wants to ‘be her own person’ and not blindly following you into the same sorority. but chapters vary so much from school to school, so she cannot possibly make that decision before rush. please share this post with her, or explain the benefits of declaring her legacy. she is then free to make her own decisions as she goes. i wish her all the luck in the world. xoxo ;)
Asked by
timelessprep
no worries! there are probably more girls without legacies than those with family ties. to be a legacy you need a close female relative to be in a sorority which is also at the college of your choice. so it’s a bit limiting, even for those who have mothers and sisters in greek life. many, many PNMs go through recruitment with no connections, and they do just fine. in the end, the sororities want wonderful girls they can call sister, not just a piece of paper or past history. focus on your BEST ‘total package’, and don’t worry about being legacy-less. put those fears aside and go for it!! xoxo ;)
what's the difference between formal and informal recruitment? i'm interested in rushing my sophomore year and at my school there is informal recruitment in the fall and formal recruitment in the spring. only sophomores or older can rush in the fall, but my gpa took a hit this past semester that lowered it to a point where it is too low for one of the sororities. if informal recruitment didn't work out, would it seem desperate to then try formal in the spring? my gpa should recover by then.
Asked by
baxtersbuddy
it’s great that you have several recruitment options for next year! many girls go through rush more than once, so it would not seem desperate if you need to do it twice. it doesn’t matter if you do informal or formal recruitment, the goal of attaining membership is exactly the same. (one system is “formally” organized and one is more relaxed and loosely structured). let’s break it down and think about the best course of action… here are the pros and cons of your 2 choices ~
- option 1: rush informally in the fall with the chapters where you qualify. pro: you might make a match and get started on greek life asap. and, if it doesn’t work out, you have another shot in the spring. con: you are limited as to which chapters will take your GPA in the fall, and even then you may be cut for being on the “low end”.
- option 2: wait until you get your grades up and formally rush all the chapters in the spring. pro: you will be a more attractive PNM and be able to consider all the chapters. con: if you don’t get the grades high enough, or you don’t find a match, there is no 2nd chance for sophomore year. you will have to wait until junior year to try again.
personally, i would go with option 1. it provides you with the most chances for success. ideally, you will find a sorority home in the fall and get going on greek life. but if not, you have the safety net of spring recruitment. if neither option works out, you CAN rush again junior year and still join a sorority. do your best and keep an open heart! xoxo ;)
Asked by
missmayer
sorority life does have its expenses. i always recommend working hard during the summers to help pay dues and fees. a flexible part time job during the school year is also an option. some chapters offer some assistance with costs, but it depends on the sorority.
if you and your parents can agree on a financial plan, which includes you working to contribute your share, then it usually works out. it takes some extra effort, but many girls help pay for their sorority experience! xoxo ;)
Asked by
heartlandhealthy
it really depends on the school and the type of recruitment you are participating in. at some colleges rec letters are hardly needed at all, and at others they’re a must. if you need them, one for each house meets the requirement. if you have more, it just adds to your PNM profile. having a balanced number is the goal. better to have solid, meaningful recommendations from friends and relatives, than a whole basket full of letters from strangers. quality counts as much as quantity. xoxo ;)
Asked by
lumiered
really a hand written thank you on your personalized stationery is the ideal way to express your appreciation. if you want to include a small token of thanks to your closest relatives or friends, you could include a pretty flower or a petite box of chocolates. but a “gift” is not really necessary. taking the time to express your gratitude is all anyone would expect in return. it means a lot.
as for the timing…. before distributing them to your letter writers, you should confirm the dates for when the sororities are accepting them. since they are sent directly to the chapters, you want to make sure the rush calendar is established, and they are ready to process the letters. check your panhellenic recruitment site for a timeline. you should give your packets to the letter writers when they can act on it promptly and not have to wait several months. your excellent organization will be much appreciated by everyone involved! good job! xoxo ;)
active sisters need to be friendly, outgoing and interesting in order to attract the best PNMs during rush. if your chapter is having trouble retaining girls during recruitment, maybe it’s time to brush up on your personal recruitment skills! keep PNMs coming back to your house by being attentive, engaged and super skilled…
❊ top 7 ways to be a better sorority recruiter: ❊
- be at ease:. the more nervous you are, the more you will tend to stammer, stand stiffly, forget what to say, or do awkward things. make sure each member of the chapter is totally familiar with the recruitment space, the schedule of events and all the procedures in advance. practice makes perfect. a comfortable sister is a better recruiter.
- be welcoming: when you approach a PNM, always give a pleasant smile and show that you are extremely interested her. lean towards the girl, give her your full attention and make her feel like she is the most important person in the room. charm and focus go a long way to making each PNM feel extra special. when a girl feels wanted, she will return for more rounds.
- maintain eye contact: while talking to a PNM, continue to look her in the eyes. it shows your respect and interest. this will make each of the PNMs more interested in you too. avoiding someone’s gaze is taken as a sign of boredom or a lack of attention. if you dart your eyes around the room, it appears as if you are looking for someone more interesting to talk to ~ a terrible breach of recruitment etiquette.
- focus on making friends: the stressof making quota can really put the pressure on a chapter’s members. consider recruitment to be more about making friends instead. it will help reduce the stress and encourage everyone. if you think about recruitment as just ‘expanding the sorority’s circle of friends’ ~ it’s a lot more fun!
- be positive about life: establish your chapter as the girls who are upbeat, optimistic and sunny. PNMs want to be in the company of positive people who make them feel positive too. this attitude should reflect in all your recruitment conversations and interactions. before rush, establish a ‘positive slogan’ for the week and repeat as a chapter chant each day. this will keep the positive vibes going. remember, PNMs don’t want to be around pessimistic complainers. there should be no negative views shared during rush.
- set attainable goals: the chapter should set recruitment goals which can be reached. give the sisters credit for doing things right and it will boost everyone’s confidence. every recruitment is a chance to improve your chapter’s reputation. better decorations, better theme, better skit, better conversations, better PNM retention, etc… success and chapter elevation happens one step at a time.
- stay the course: chapters who remain dedicated to their goals for improved recruitment eventually reach them! keep the motto in mind ~ “try, try, try again, until you succeed”. there may be some stumbles, but the chapter with vision and discipline will attract the best PNMs, keep them coming back for more and pledge the highest caliber new members!
❊ ❊ ❊ ❊ ❊
