BY JESS McCLANAHAN, MG INTERN
Going through Recruitment can be scary and overwhelming, especially if you are going through during your first week of college. I went through recruitment in 2016 at the University of Tennessee and joined Kappa Kappa Gamma. After going through once and then being on the other side of recruitment going on three times I wanted to compile my tips for recruitment for any incoming PNMs!
-
Be Yourself
This seems like an obvious and easy thing to do but it can be hard to remember to be yourself when you feel like you need to put on a show for all of the houses. I think it is important to know that if you are being true to yourself during all the rounds you will find a house that wants you for you and not for you think you have to pretend to be. -
Set your values before recruitment and look for a house that has those same values
At Tennessee we have a “Values Based Recruitment” this means that all the PNMs write down what values or traits they are looking for in a sorority. This makes it easier when going through to find a house that have the same values that match up to yours. When having conversations during rounds ask the girl in front of you what values are important to her and her chapter. -
Choose the house that makes you feel comfortable
When I walked through the doors at Kappa on the first day I did not know that is where I would end up. I did know that everyday I went there I had easy and fun conversations. Looking back Kappa is the house where I felt most comfortable and where I had the most meaningful conversations. Look for a house that makes you feel comfortable the moment you walk through the doors. -
Stay off your phone
If you are allowed to have your phone during recruitment make sure you are not on it during rounds. It is very rude to be checking your phone or apple watch while a chapter member is trying to have a conversation with you. This goes the same with apple watches. -
Do not be rude to a chapter member
If you find yourself in a situation where you do not want to be at a certain house never be rude to the girl sitting in front of you! They are excited that you are back even if you are not. You never know they could see something in you that you don’t or you could end up loving that house at the end of the week. -
Do not choose a house off of stereotypes
Never ever choose a house based on stereotypes or what other people say about that chapter. You have to make decisions based on what you think and on your experiences. Stereotypes about houses are usually never correct anyway. -
Have Fun!!!!!
Joining a sorority is seriously one of the best things I did during my college career. I have made some of my lifelong best friends and made the best memories. Make friends along the way, recruitment week is a great week to meet new people. This week can be stressful but remember to have fun and don’t take it too seriously!
Xoxo,
Intern Jess