Sorority Recruitment Advice from a College Senior

Two posts in one day?! I wasn’t kidding about blogging like mad this month! This video actually took two tries to film because I wanted to give y’all the best advice I could. There’s just so many things I wanted to say! My Recruitment Look Book was a hit last year. And since I’m no longer in a sorority, I wanted to create this advice-post to help your recruitment experience be the best one possible!

I went through recruitment as a freshman, at one of the largest universities for Greek life. Last year, I was on the recruiting side as a member of my chapter. Now, I’m about to be a graduating senior! Nope, we’re not talking about that, nope. Let’s move on.

WATCH: Sorority Recruitment Advice & Tips

For as recruitment outfits, my three words to keep in are: cute, comfortable, confident. Whatever you wear should be those three things to you! As I’ll say throughout this post and video, recruitment is about you, not your sister or best friend or the hundreds of other girls going through it. You. At the end of the day, it’s your decisions and ultimately the chapter you could end up calling home for 4 years!

There’s so many surface-level things to distracted by throughout recruitment, but I truly believe it’s about finding the home, chapter, and group of women that you’re most excited to call ‘home’.

When planning outfits, I’d check out your college’s Panhellenic or recruitment site to see outfit recommendations/restrictions for each round. Whether you’re wearing sandals, wedges, or heels, try to be as comfortable as possible!

On one of the days I wore heels, I walked over 7 miles. In heels. Yiiikes! On the heels-days, definitely bring a pair of flip-flops or sandals to change into for walking between houses if you can! The trendiest options are not always the most practical, so I advise finding a balance of your personal style and things you’ll be comfortable in (or as comfortable as possible).

At FSU, the sorority houses are located around campus, which can make for lots of walking in the less-than-delightful Florida heat. If you’re in a similar situation, prepare for long hot days! By the end of the week, I was carrying a portable fan, small towel, water bottle, flip flops, powder, and blotting papers to keep myself as comfortable as possible.

TBH, I also wore my hair up every single day. Even for preference round! My long, thick hair was not going to look how I wanted by the end of the day if I left it down. While I might have gotten some not-so-nice looks for being ‘that girl’ rockin’ the up-do, I knew my hair would still look put-together in the humidity.

Don’t let others’ opinions change your personal style! They aren’t going to be the ones choosing where you run home. You are.

Beyond the heat and long days, the rounds and conversations themselves are ultimately what matter! My biggest strongholds for recruitment were an open mind and a confident spirit. I don’t believe recruitment is all about ‘looks’, but I do believe an outfit you love can help you feel more confident! And that confidence will be a huge help in being your best ‘you’.

I didn’t want to walk into a house with incorrect stereotypes or a defeated spirit. I wanted to bring forward my absolute best self and give each and every house the best possible shot.

Believe it or not, I’m an introvert at heart. So recruitment was waaay outside anything close to resembling my comfort zone. Talking to that many women, for that long, for that many days?! Inner-Kristen wanted to run away and hide! But I didn’t! I put on my best smile and gave each round my best shot. The best things happen outside your comfort zone, my friend.

I wanted to finish the recruitment week knowing I’ve given it my absolute best. And I hope you’ll do the same!

I recommend taking notes between houses and writing as much detail as you can. Jot down who you talked to at each chapter, what you talked about, or even just how you felt leaving the chapter, so you can jog your memory later when it’s time to narrow down your chapter choices!

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just go with your gut. If there’s one, or a few houses you’re just plain excited to return to, or a few you just didn’t feel great about, trust those feelings! They’re usually not wrong :). And again, those feelings are yours and yours alone! It’s tempting to spill your experience with your close friends or other women going through recruitment, but they aren’t having the same experience as you!

Lean on ‘your people’ for advice when you need it, but trust your own opinions, girly! You know you best. You so got this!

If you give it your best shot, keep an open mind, and put your best self forward, I know you won’t regret it. Whether or not you choose to join a sorority by the end of the process, I hope you can be confident in choosing what’s best for you. When I started college, my ‘best’ was going through recruitment. At recruitment, my ‘best’ was joining my chapter. This summer, my ‘best’ was choosing to leave and being bold and brave enough to choose my mental health and happiness instead. Of course it doesn’t have to be an either-or, it just has to be what’s best for you in your season.

I hope this post and video were helpful or at least encouraging in pushing onward towards your recruitment experience! I wish you the absolute best of luck, but I know you won’t need it :). Praying for you!