Breathe and be calm: Know that although you are a nervous incoming freshman {or whatever year you are} that is coming into the process, we are all just as nervous… Although I have not been on my the side of recruitment I am on this year yet, I am still nervous too!! We all have to think of things to talk about that are not boring {or exactly like the house before}. We all are in search of the PERFECT pledge class, and a lot of us are in search of the PERFECT LITTLE. I have been on the side of house hopping, and yeah that is nerve-racking not knowing who you will talk to, what you will talk about and if you even get called back, BUT everything DOES happen for a reason. You will end up where you are supposed to belong!!
Pamper yourself BUT be yourself: Yes, this is the time of the year where you can get spray tanned, get waxed, get your nails done, etc… BUT if that is NOT you, do NOT put on a face just for us. You need to be one hundred percent yourself in order to end up where you belong. You need to know that by not being yourself and putting up a certain front, you will be called back to the houses you will eventually not enjoy. All the houses are good and unique in their own ways, so no matter where you end up, you will have parties {mixers and formals}, you will meet a lot of amazing girls, you will make memories that will last a lifetime, etc… Oh and do NOT forget to shave because the girls that are recruiting you will be on their knees sitting in front of you {most likely}, and personally I do not want to be stabbed with any prickly leg hair or see that I can braid it either. ALSO, do NOT forget to put on deodorant {and perfume if you want} because you will most likely be in a group with over sixty girls entering a whole chapter room full of girls and you will get hot throughout the day {depending on where your recruitment process takes place}. I know that because I was in Texas, heat was going to be a MAJOR deal, and nobody wants to talk to a stinky girl. Idk though… if you're going through recruitment in Antarctica, that could be another story.
Make friends: You will be standing outside {and sometimes in waiting rooms} for long extents of time… MEET THE GIRLS NEAR YOU!! Every girl has an equal shot of getting the house you are striving for, and not only that, but they are also your possible sisters. Personally, I met some AH-MAZING girls standing in line waiting to enter houses, and as I neared the end of the process, I thought to myself, “Who could I potentially see myself being sisters with for eternity,” because sisterhood is forever. Ultimately, I believed it helped A LOT with my final decision on bid day because to this day, I could not see myself in any other sorority. OHHHHH and you are also making friends with the girls IN the sororities!! We are looking for littles, and I know I want my little to be awesome… so be real with me and just relax and enjoy the process.
BID DAY: This will probably be one of the MOST exciting and exhilarating days and moments of your life. This is it. This is the day you find out what sorority you belong to, and you get to “officially” meet all your sisters. For my school {I believe it may vary}, the way the process works is they put all the girls in one room that have made it to the end of the recruitment process. Then comes the anticipation… you must SIT on your bid card {which is an envelope with the sorority that has chosen you as a sister on the inside} until EVERYBODY has received their card. You are then given a countdown and may open your card ONLY when they say you can… Once you open it, there will be tears of happiness {for girls who got their number one} and there may also be tears of sorrow {for girls who got their second or third choices} BUT ALL SORORITIES ARE GOOD IN THEIR OWN WAY!! You then join your entire {new} pledge class {aka: new sisters} at a common area where you are given a shirt with your sorority on it, and then you must wait until your sorority is called. Once your sorority is called {MAKE SURE YOUR SHOES ARE TIED TIGHTLY}, you RUN across the commons, where students are circling the sorority tents, and more sisters are there to meet you!!
Recruitment is such an exhilarating time, so just focus on being yourself and enjoying every moment of it, because before you know it, you will be on the “other side.” Know that EVERYTHING does in fact happen for a reason, and no matter what the results are, you will have an amazing time. What sorority or fraternity you are in does NOT define who you are as a person, so do not let people stereotype them for you. Go in with an open mind and just have fun!!
