Recruitment has arrived, and you may be starting to think about how to survive the next two weeks. We collected questions from the @MiamiOH_StudentLife Instagram and reached out to women who have been through recruitment before to gather the top five tips for going through recruitment at Miami. Of course, every person’s experience will be different, but we hope to provide insight on a process that can be hard to understand until you’ve been through it.
- Do your research
The recruitment process can seem daunting before it even begins. Doing research to understand the greek community can make recruitment feel a little less scary. Look at chapters’ social media accounts. Obviously, you can’t learn everything about a chapter through their instagram profile, but it may calm your nerves when walking into a room of complete strangers.
Cost may be another factor to consider while going through the recruitment process. Every chapter has some sort of payment plan available, so you won’t have to pay your dues all at once if that is a concern for you. New member dues and active member dues are all available on the Fraternity and Sorority Life Website.
Time commitment is another thing you want to think about before committing to Greek Life. Joining a sorority typically requires 2-8 hours a week due to the education process determined by chapters.
- Be YOU
Confidence is your most important accessory during recruitment (besides your nametag). Try on outfits before the day-of and make sure you feel comfortable. Showing your personal style is way more interesting than wearing what looks good on someone else. Not sure what to expect from each round? Check out this pinterest page from Miami’s Panhellenic Association for inspiration!
- Have key talking points
Even though you will be talking to many different girls throughout recruitment, you will be answering a lot of similar questions. Where are you from? What’s your major? What did you do over winter term? How is recruitment going? Have answers prepared for these types of get-to-know-you questions. The more you tell them about yourself, the easier it will before them to get to know you – so don’t be afraid to give long answers!
If you’re still nervous to talk to other girls about yourself, practice with your friends! And when you’re going through rounds talking to different girls, make a note when you have a great conversation with someone. Not every girl is going to be just like you, so it’s important to remember the chapters and girls that you had the best connections with.
- items
You have some long days ahead of you. Pack snacks, an umbrella and a change of shoes in a purse or backpack. The trick here is maintaining the balance between being prepared and overpacking. You don’t need your entire makeup collection or a whole box of granola bars. Pack light but make the most of your space!
- Trust the process
You’ve probably heard this saying from every girl who has ever gone through recruitment, but it still rings true. Trust the process and trust yourself. Joining greek life is an amazing opportunity. Try to enjoy recruitment as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the Greek community as a whole.
Questions from Instagram:
- Fall recruitment for sophomores?
Not sure about the recruitment process? If you feel unsure about joining a chapter, you can withdraw from the process and go through informal recruitment in the Spring or Fall. Speak with your Rho Gamma or visit the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life for more information.
- Can chapters see your GPA? How much weight does your GPA hold?
Chapters do have access to your first semester GPA during recruitment. Each chapter has different expectations and standards when it comes to GPA. For specific chapter GPA requirements, visit this link: https://miamioh.edu/student-life/fraternity-sorority-life/how-to-join/gpa-requirements/.
Still have questions? The Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is always available to answer your questions, comments or concerns. You can find more information on their website here: https://miamioh.edu/student-life/fraternity-sorority-life/.
Hannah Frier | Marketing
