Sorority recruitment. This may be the most important decision you make this year, just after choosing where you want to attend college. If you have heard anything about recruitment from older sisters, friends, or alumni, you may have heard that it is a crazy stressful process or that it is the most fun you have all year. Whatever the case, I am here to help you learn the ins and outs of Cal Poly sorority recruitment.
Sorority recruitment has changed for this upcoming year at Cal Poly, and the process is now going to be a week long. This may sound dreadful for some of you, but I have some tips on how to make it a little easier.
Fall in the Central Coast of California is HOT. For some reason, every year, the hottest week always ends up being recruitment. You are going to be walking around outside, all dressed up, possibly in heels for hours at a time. You are going to make sure you’re comfortable. For house tours, the dress code is the most relaxed it will get during the whole week. I suggest sundresses that have very breathable fabric and sandals that are comfortable to walk around in. This is a perfect example of the perfect type of dress.
Tip: As each day of recruitment gets more formal, you’re going to want to plan outfits accordingly. Be sure to pick colors and fabrics that will not show sweat stains.
Your recruitment counselor will provide you with a drawstring bag. This bag is your new best friend. Pack it full of the things you think you might need for that day in between house visits.
An RC is a recruitment counselor or at some other schools they are called Rho Gammas. This is the girl who will be guiding you through the whole process. She is a member of Greek Life, but for the time of recruitment until bid night, she is disaffiliated with her house so she can help you get an unbiased opinion of each house. Do not be afraid to ask her questions, that is what she is there for! She wants to make sure you end up in the house that will make you the happiest and where you will fit in best with the girls. At the end of each day you will talk with your RC and give her the selections of the houses you would like to go back to. My RC was amazing, and how lucky was I that I ended up in the same house as her with the same big!?
One of the biggest mistakes a girl can make is going into recruitment with only one or two houses in mind. To make sure you end up where you will click best with the girls and be happy for next four years and beyond, go into the week with an open mind for all the houses on campus. Although many sorority reputations and personalities are similar across the nation, there are always little things that make each chapter stand out on their own.
Tip: If there is something bad you have heard from someone about one of the houses you will be visiting, put it out of your mind for now and be open and willing to talk to the active girls. Many rumors circulate during recruitment. I had to see tears shed by my friends when the one house that they had their eye on did not ask them back. Later on after bid night, they realized they ended up in the house that they were supposed to and now they are happier than ever with their new sisters.
You will be told this many times, but do not bad talk any sorority throughout recruitment! Somehow it could get back to active members, and no one wants a mean gossip in their sorority. The RCs prefer if you just do not talk about the houses at all with each other in between visits, but if you must, only talk about the things you liked about the house. Talk about how you really connected with their philanthropy or how cute their decorations were. Make sure you do not say anything bad about any of the houses out loud- you never know who you may be insulting without realizing it. Remember your ideal house may be different than someone else’s view of an ideal house. Being a part of a sorority is all about sisterhood and togetherness, be sure to try and emulate that in all aspects of your life.
The one thing you absolutely do not want to do is try to be someone you’re not. Whenever you’re talking to an active, be yourself and be honest. Do not try to mold your answers to questions based off of what you think they want to hear. They will appreciate you being honest more than they will appreciate you trying to force yourself to fit their house.
After the long process of recruitment, on Bid Night you will finally find the house in which you will spend the next four years. These new sisters will be your best friends, so prepare to make many memories with them. If you’re lucky enough to have a house close to campus, you will sprint from Chumash Auditorium to the house with your sisters, chanting and singing all the way there. You’re home, enjoy it!
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