A UCLA Sorority Recruitment Rundown
Joining a sorority means a lifelong sisterhood. Girls you meet will be your bridesmaids and you’ll be theirs. However, joining a sorority isn’t just the parties and boys like in the movies. It is a commitment to be a fellow sister, to have each other’s backs, and a big time commitment. There are weekly meetings, philanthropy events, and committees that you can join. The work that you put into the sorority is what you will gain back from it. UCLA sorority recruitment is the best!
Recruitment is an exciting and grueling event that includes awkward conversations and situations, dozens of blisters, the loss of your voice, and door chants that will be stuck in your head for months afterward. Over a thousand of girls make this 5-day journey to get the house of their dreams, letters that they will be proud to wear. If you are a potential new member wondering what you’re getting into or looking to see just how grueling the fall recruitment process is, here’s what you can expect at UCLA sorority recruitment.
Day 0: Orientation
Orientation is mandatory. This is where rules of conduct for both yourself, the Rho Gammas, and the sororities will be discussed. A contract will be signed by yourself that you will follow the rules. Another important event that happens is that you are assigned a Rho Gamma. Your Rho Gamma will be in charge of your schedules, so it’s important to meet her and know where you’re meeting (Psst. It’s the inverted fountain. It’s always going to be the inverted fountain.). You will, also, create a Rho Gamma group chat so you will know which house your Rho Gamma will be at for the next several days.
After this, you’ll probably go to get food and, then, go to one of the many Bruin Welcome Week activities planned since you’ll miss most of the other ones.
What to Wear
Don’t worry about getting dressed up or doing your makeup. You’re not going to be judged on what you’re wearing.
Day 1: Open House
Open House is the day where you visit all the houses on the row. You trudge your way down the hill, after getting ready, to meet at the inverted fountain on time. You meet your Rho Gamma and group somewhere nearby and get your schedule for the day. You realize that you have to last until late at night before you can finally make your way back to your dorm and you only spend 25 minutes at each house of the 11 houses. That means that you have 25 minutes to make an impression on those girls. This is a really stressful time at UCLA sorority recruitment but have fun with it!
It’s time to start.
You walk to your first house, anxious with anticipation, wondering how your conversations are going to go at each house. At the house, your Rho Gamma calls your attention and tells you that you will line up by your PNM (Potential New Member) number at each house. They go through the list of numbers, making sure that each girl is there. Once they go through the list, they walk up to the house, a member walks out and they whisper to each other. The Rho Gamma comes back and tries to calm your nerves with a chant. Suddenly, the Rho Gamma goes back and whispers again with a member. When she walks back this time, she yells for a “minute of silence.” One minute before you enter your first house. The countdown has begun.
The door opens and out walks two women dressed to impress all of you just as you have dressed to impress all of them. They announce that they are officers of the sorority and they would love to welcome you to their house. You take the steps and walk up, where you are then escorted to a seat to chat with one of the members.
“How are you?” “What’s your major?” “Where are you from?” “What year are you?”
The questions are basic and your nerves begin to calm. Another member comes and introduces herself and your making the same conversation with her. 25 minutes pass by quickly and, then, you hear a bell ring. They announce that time has come to an end and that their sisters will escort you out. As you walk out, you hear the chanting that will soon be stuck in your head and, as you say good-bye and walk down, all you can think of is how friendly all of the girls were. As the last girl exits, the sisters run towards the door and scream their chant, hoping that some of you will be sisters too. As the door closes in front of the screaming members, you realize that you will have to do this 10 more times that day.
And finally you’re done with all 11 and it’s time to preference after a very long and tiring day.
You make your way to Hershey Hall (where you will do all your preferencing unless you end earlier than the majority of the other girls) and stand in line. When preferencing for this round, you will select your top 8 houses and your bottom 3. Once you’re done, you trudge your way back to the dorms to get as much sleep as you can because you will wake up early again.
What to Wear
Today’s the most casual day, but you are required to wear the shirt they provide you. Pair the shirt will neutral shorts (Black or white are my go to.) and a pair of sandals or flats. You can accessorize a little, a pair of earrings and a necklace, but I wouldn’t go for more.
Day 2: House Tours
You’ll be given your schedule again by your Rho Gamma. Today you were invited back to a max of 8 houses. (If any of your bottom 3 are on there, then you were dropped by one of your top 8. This applies to any of the days. Honestly, don’t mind the houses that you were cut from. If they don’t want you, then you don’t want them.) Your schedule will be completely different than the other girls in your Rho Gamma groups, so it’s okay if you don’t want to share which houses you’re going to or how many invited you back.
The process from yesterday will repeat. You line up by PNM number in front of each house, the President of the chapter and one or two other girls will walk out, and you’ll be assigned a random girl to talk to. The only difference is that you will be guided around the house by the member and, then, after the tour, another random girl will be assigned to you until the bell rings. Today is the day to ask any questions about the house, finances, and live-in requirements. Again as you exit, the girls will begin their door chants and once the doors close you will need to move on to your next house.
After you’re done, you preference your top 5 houses and head back to your dorms.
What to Wear
Today is still casual, but dressier than Day 1. You can wear shorts/skirts with a nice blouse, a sundress, or a cute romper. Keep it simple. I would still advise for sandals since you will be walking for most of the day. Accessorize as you please, but I still recommend just a pair of earrings and a necklace.
Day 3 & 4: Philanthropy
Today is the day where you will be introduced to the sorority’s philanthropy. You will have been invited back by a max of 5 houses.
The process from the previous days will repeat. As you enter the house, you will be paired with another member to talk to. You will be guided into a room and given a presentation on the sorority’s philanthropy. Each presentation is a visual of what their cause is and what major events they host to support it. After the presentation, you will be given a short time to talk to the member you were assigned to before you are escorted to the door. The order in which the sorority does this may differ and you may have less time to talk to the member because of the presentation, but you will be given a last attempt to impress these sisters to invite you to preference round.
After you are done, you make your way to preference for up to 2 houses and then head back to the dorms again. Things can get a little stressful at UCLA sorority recruitment.
What to Wear
For these two days, you will need to dress up a bit more than what you already have. I would recommend a sundress or romper, but a skirt or shorts and a blouse are fine for this day. I would pair these with wedges or cute sandals or flats.
Day 5: Preference
Tonight is the last day before Bid Night. You will be invited back to a maximum of 2 houses for UCLA sorority recruitment.
The beginning process will be the same, except instead of a random member, it should be someone you have talked to before. The conversations will hopefully be more meaningful because you should have already talked to one of these girls. If you haven’t already talked to these girls, it is still going to be more meaningful because of how long the conversations will be, but first, you might need to answer the basic questions again. These questions will help decide if the sorority will pick you.
After this conversation, it’s all over. All you need is to preference your house and, then, you are officially done with recruitment and are waiting to see which house will be yours.
What to Wear
Today is the day to dress to impress. Put on your cocktail dresses or semiformal dress, bright red lips, and heels and strut your way to Hilgard. However, be careful to avoid white or black dresses as the sorority sisters will be wearing these colors. You can wear them, but it’s advised that you don’t. I would, also, recommend that you bring a pair of sandals so you’re not walking in heels in between houses.
Day 6: Bid Night
Tonight is the long, anticipated bid night. The night that you finally know if the house you chose, chose you. You will walk to the Ackerman Grand Ballroom (or whatever room they have chosen), where the sorority sisters are already waiting inside, and sit down in a row with your Rho Gamma group. There will be a small presentation of the Rho Gammas revealing which houses they belong to and, when they return, you will receive an envelope that contains which house chose you. Once you open it, you “run” back to where your sisters are waiting, receive a shirt, and “run” back to your house, where you will party!!
What to Wear
Just wear a cute pair of shorts and either sneakers, flats, or sandals. Keep the top as something you can pull a shirt over, like a sports bra or a tank top, since your new sorority will provide you a shirt. UCLA sorority recruitment should be a fun time to express yourself!
Tips for Your Own Good for UCLA Sorority Recruitment
- Always remember to smile and have good conversations. Never complain about how tired you are or how much your feet hurt.
- Go through until the end of recruitment. It doesn’t matter if you only have one house or you have almost every house. Go through until the end. Don’t drop until preference night and only if you can’t stand another minute of your houses and after you’ve talked to your Rho Gamma. They’re there for a reason. Also, if you didn’t get a bid, that’s okay. Know that there is a quota for all of the houses for how many girls they can choose and that there is continuous open bidding (COB occurs throughout the year, but be warned that if you do receive a bid and decide to drop from that sorority, you will have to wait one year before you can join another Greek organization).
- Don’t pref the chapter, pref the sisters. They might be your sisters one day and, if you’re only in the sorority for the house or the reputation, you might regret your decision.
- Carry a bag with water (always have water), snacks, sandals, and any makeup you may need. Remember to bring your guidebook with you as you walk the row. Wear sandals when you can, even in between houses.
What’s your experience with UCLA sorority recruitment? Got any tips? Comment below and share the article!
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