Q: Do the recruitment counselors, or the gamma chi/rho chi’s, still have special traditions similar to regular chapters even though the members are from different sororities? ~ cheerhealthstyle
A: no, not really. members from the different chapters get together to prepare, train and lead the PNM groups during formal recruitment, but they do not participate in ‘rituals’ like regular chapters. there is an orientation, practice sessions and lots of learning about how to help the rushees through the process. it’s more like a volunteer experience or sisterhood retreat. there can be some fun traditions like revealing their affiliation/greek letters on bid day, or attending a rho gamma wrap-up dinner, but nothing too formal or ritualistic. xoxo ;)
Q: I received the position of Rho Gamma at my school this year and I was planning on making little paddles or crafts for the other Rho Gamma’s from my chapter. Do you possibly have anything that would be good suggestions? Thanks!
A: i love the mini paddle idea! another cute gift for a rho gamma is a decorated clipboard! they are handy during recruitment, and can be decked out with rhinestones, paint and/or decoupaged.
other cute recruitment friendly gifts include ~ laniards, notepads, decorated pens, koozies, croakies, rho gamma “survival basket”, friendship bracelets, panhellenic hair ties, painted water bottle or tumbler, painted picture frame, sorority slippers or socks (after a long day walking & standing), go greek sunglasses, fanny packs, decorated make up bags, key fobs, decorated binders/notebooks, canvas tote bag and favorite food/drink treats to enjoy after a full day of rush rounds! xoxo ;)
Asked by
youremeganmecrazyy
every panhellenic has a slightly different schedule for recruitment rounds and their dress codes. but as a rule, the fashions get progressively more “dressy”. so if your ‘go greek’ round is before the philanthropy round, you would be more casual staring out… and then get fancier each day. it’s usually ~ casual shorts, sundress, business/interview style dress, cocktail/party dress, and then casual shorts again on bid day. to be certain, check your recruitment website for suggested attire for the week. xoxo ;)
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 ;)
