What to Talk About and What to Think About

Don't panic! Conversation at the parties/events is not as hard as you may think. For one thing, you are going to be asked many questions about your interests, your major, what you think of the university so far, how is your dorm, isn't it hot, did all the boys try to get you to talk on your way here....All you have to do is respond to questions, ask questions back and be yourself. After you've seen their skits, learned about their philanthropies and toured the house, you'll have plenty of things to comment on. Be positive, be complimentary. Our number one piece of advice: TALK.

The sororities have only a few minutes to get to know you; make the most of it!

Questions You May Want to Ask

¨ What about this chapter encouraged you to join?

¨ How long is the new member program?

¨ What meetings will I have each week?

¨ What are the most fun things you do?

¨ What awards has your chapter won on campus?

¨ How do you help new members keep up their grades?

¨ What other campus organizations do you participate in as a result of your Greek experience?

¨ Tell me about your philanthropies.

¨ What types of activities are planned with other Greek organizations?

¨ What is the availability of housing and what are the rules pertaining to living in the sorority house?

¨ What was your favorite part of being a new member?

¨ How will Greek life benefit me in college?

Where Do You Belong?

It is important to remember that you are making the choice. The sorority that is best for your friends or family may not be the best one for you. (Boyfriends can be particularly bothersome this week, which is why you may have "silence" as part of the Recruitment week policies.) Here are some thoughts to help you make your decision:

¨ Why do you want to join a sorority? Are these qualities present in the groups that you are considering?

¨ Where do you feel most comfortable? Why do you feel comfortable in that particular group?

¨ Take a look around at parties at the others who are invited. The women that you are standing with could be your pledge sisters. What qualities do you share with these people?

¨ Consider not only what you can gain from each organization but also what you can contribute.

¨ Ask questions. Get to know everything you can about each organization.

¨ Don't listen to anyone, but listen to your heart.

The One Thing You Should Not Say

Do not ask (even if it is your best friend): "Do you think I will get in your sorority?" No one person can guarantee you will receive a bid from her sorority; depending on the size of the chapter, 30 to 200 women could be voting.

We Asked Last Year's Class About Recruitment

Did you really need References?

• "Your school will say that you don't need them, but you do. It is really important to get one for each house."
• "Plan on the entire process of compiling your packet and meeting with the women writing your references and letters to take about a month."
• "Get your packet done ASAP so you do not have to stress about it!"
• What are your tips for the week?
• "The first day is very overwhelming."
• "Get plenty of sleep. Carry flip flops to change into."
• "Don't stress out and have a good time at the parties."
• "Even when you’re tired, KEEP SMILING! They are tired too."
• "Smile, be polite, have a mint, body splash and deodorant on yourself at all times."
• "Go with your heart and have fun with it."
• "Recruitment can be very emotional because it is such a tiring week."
• "Keep a positive attitude no matter how hot, tired or cranky you are."
• "Disappointments during the week are bound to happen, but you'll find one that you like even better!"

How did you make a decision?

• "Look for a sorority with girls that have similar interests and values as you do."
• "Do not make your decision based on your friends, roommate, or others. It's your decision and yours alone."
• "Don’t dismiss a sorority because of something someone else said to you."
• "Keeping an open mind about each sorority was the best tactic I used.”
• "Some houses will 'wow' you with huge productions, but look around at the girls in the house. Are these the girls you will want to call your sisters?"
• "Don’t be afraid to follow your heart."
• "Accept all invitations you can, because you never know."
• "I know that at any of the last three sororities that I pref’ed I would have been extremely at home and content with."
• Don't get set on one after the first day. A lot of things change throughout the whole process, and you can't make up your mind at the beginning."
• "Don’t judge a sorority before you even step foot in the door."
• "Don't try to be someone you're not just to get into a particular sorority. In the end, you are going to want to be with the girls who love you for YOU."
• "If you are friends with girls in sororities, they will still be your friend if you don't go what they are."
• "Trust those who keep inviting you back. They know that you're right for them even if you aren’t*t sure."
• "Don't be embarrassed to cry; they aren't judging you on whether or not you put on the water works. If you don't cry, that is fine too, but you might feel really emotional just because you are so exhausted."

What's the number one thing you learned?

• "Try to remain calm and just be yourself."
• "It's not about which is the top sorority or what you’re a legacy in, it’s about where you feel at home."
• "Let the sorority of your choice know that’s who you want."
• "Everyone is as nervous as you are."
• "Don't take the whole process too personally. There are many factors that determine whether or not a girl gets released from a house that have nothing to do with how much they like her. They could have too many girls from that city already, they could have a large number of legacies, or they could even be looking for a particular SAT score and GPA."
• "Do not listen to rumors about the sororities and give all them a fair chance."
• "Everything happens for a reason."
• "Stay open minded and know that nothing is for sure, but at the same time nothing is impossible."
• "Before, I thought most sororities would be the same: a bunch of girls that like each other and like being together. On the first day I realized that each house has its own personality, and recruitment week became less stressful as I realized that there was going to be one sorority that would ‘fit’ me."

Overall I want to say . . .

• "Rush got very tiring and sometimes very stressful, but it has all proven to be worth the effort."
• "Stick it out through the whole week, because you will meet wonderful girls, even if you don’t pledge."
• "It’s not really like anything else you will ever do."
• "Do not give up due to financial difficulties, because there are scholarships and things that will help you pay for it."
• "Everything that Fort Bend Panhellenic did helped me to be well prepared."
• "Be true to yourself and what you want, whether you choose to go through rush or not, because this is a time to mold yourself, not to let others mold you."
• "I am so glad I went through it because it was a positive experience and it was a lot of fun. If I had done it, then I would always be wondering."
• "It is such a great way to meet so many girls in such a short amount of time."