Spring Recruitment Tips

As winter break begins to come to a close and those of us in the Northeast prepare to trade in our fur coats and Uggs for flip flops and bikinis-a record number of girls are heading back early to take part in the amazing process that is Spring Sorority Recruitment. Unlike most schools, spring rush at the University of Miami is our pride and joy as most sororities are not allowed to recruit during the fall semester. I can remember it like it was yesterday-anxiously texting my best friend pictures of possible outfits, reading hours on end about the different reputations of the sororities at the University, and nervously biting my nails as everyone in my Rho Gamma group waited outside our first party. This spring will mark the two year anniversary since my freshman recruiting days and now that I am on the other side of things, I’d like to offer a few spring recruitment tips that I wish someone would have told me. 

As silly as this tip may sound, I couldn’t even begin to tell you the number of times I would start breathing frantically before, during, and after each recruitment party I attended. As hard as it may seem, relaxation is the key. If you go into recruitment psyching yourself out, chances are you will miss out on the opportunity to truly connect with the sorority women who have worked tirelessly to ensure that this spring recruitment is one of the best. Before entering a party, close your eyes and slowly begin to countdown from five while picturing yourself as a tight roll of paper that is slowly beginning to unwind. By the time you reach zero, you should feel calm and collected. Plus, believe it or not-the ladies on the other side of that door are just as nervous as you are! So walk into that sorority suite with confidence and in turn, you will project confidence and ease everyone’s nerves-including your own!

Although it is not explicitly stated in the dress code they give you prior to recruitment, most girls choose to wear their best pair of heels during the different days of recruitment. While those cute Jessica Simpson’s look amazing on and compliment your outfit, your feet will secretly be dying inside by the time you reach your third party. Standing up for six hours at a time does begin to take a toll-at least it did for me. After a while you start focusing on the pain shooting up the arch of your foot and begin concentrating more and more on walking then at the conversation at hand. Enter my lifesaver: Dr. Scholls for Her! This amazing brand offers a high heel insole that, when put in each heel, offer a whole new world of comfort. What is even better is that you can purchase this product at your local CVS or Walgreens! If you haven’t been introduced to the wonderfulness that is this product-I definitely recommend it; your feet will thank you later! 

By definition, a Rho Gamma is a sorority woman who has chosen to disaffiliate herself during recruitment so that she can help facilitate the recruiting process, answer any questions you might have and ultimately aid you in the decision of choosing what sorority is best for you.  During recruitment, my Rho Gamma was like a goddess-she was on call 24/7 in the event we wanted approval for outfits and was so easy going and understanding that talking to her was like talking to a childhood friend. While not all Rho Gamma’s will be like the one I was fortunate to be paired with-they are all there willing, ready, and able to help should you let them. A Rho Gamma has to apply and be interviewed before being chosen so rest assured that you are in great hands as seen by Panhellenic Council. While it may seem strange to open up to a complete stranger about what you’re feeling about certain sororities-your Rho Gamma is there to listen to you and, if you allow her, guide you to the right sorority! 

While the urge to be as prepared as you can for recruitment should and will be there, venturing onto sorority ranking sites such as www.greekrank.com is not the way to quench your curious mind. While it may be nice to see what other people are saying about the different sororities you are interested in, you have to keep in mind that most posts are outdated, can be written by the sorority women themselves, and cannot even begin to accurately sum up the heart and soul of every chapter. If you truly are interested in a sorority and want to know more, try visiting their official website, Instagram, Twitter, or  their Facebook page. Each forum is an excellent way to gauge just what that particular sorority is all about! 

You’ve chosen the most perfect outfits, you’ve done your (correct!) research, and you’ve watched any and all movies that have to do with sorority recruitment. Whatever the case may be, the one and perhaps most important tip I can leave you with is to have fun! The way recruitment at Miami and many other schools are set up is a system that both benefits you and the sororities. It is designed so that in the end, you do end up where you truly belong. If you have faith in the system like I did, then I can guarantee the rest of your time in college will be spent with the best group of women-whatever letters they may wear! So have fun, laugh a little, and use everything the Panhellenic Council and this article have given you. You only go through recruitment once-make it the best it can possibly be! 

See you ladies all on Bid Day!