During the two weeks of sorority recruitment at Clemson, you will experience a whirlwind of emotions. It seems overwhelming, especially as an incoming freshman who’s still trying to adjust to college life. But don’t worry; here is a guide to sorority recruitment at Clemson to prepare you for what to expect. Don’t let it scare you; it’s worth it!
Open house round will take place in multiple locations on campus. Over the two days, you will visit all 12 chapters for 25 minutes each. This round goes by super quickly, but gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself to girls in each chapter to see where you feel most comfortable.
What to wear: This round is the most casual. You will be given a t-shirt that every girl going through rush has to wear. You can pair the t-shirt with cute shorts or a casual skirt and sandals. No matter what you decide to wear, make sure you’re comfortable, because this is an all day event that spans two days in a row.
Philanthropy round will take place in various locations on campus. Each party during this round will last 40 minutes, and you can attend up to nine parties. During the philanthropy round, chapters will focus on their individual philanthropies and how they give back to the community. This round gives you the opportunity to decide which philanthropies interest you, and to discuss any community service you have participated in. Since this round is longer than round one, it will give you more time to get to know the chapter.
What to wear: the philanthropy round is still pretty casual, but since you don’t have to wear the t-shirt anymore, it gives you a chance to start expressing yourself. For this round, girls going through rush typically wear a skirt and a top, or a sundress with (comfortable) sandals.
Sisterhood round will take place in different locations on campus. Each party during this round will last 45 minutes, and you can attend up to six parties. Chapters typically talk about their values and showcase what sisterhood means to them. You will also receive financial information about dues required for membership. In my opinion, this round gives you the best demonstration of which chapter you feel most comfortable with.
What to wear: This round is more dressy than the previous one. Girls usually wear nice dresses or skirts with wedges or heels. However, it’s extremely important to make sure you can walk and stand in your shoes for long periods of time. You don’t want to be the girl stumbling into a round in six inch heels.
Preference round will take place in various locations on campus. Each party will last 50 minutes and you will visit up to three parties. Since it’s the last round, it is the most formal and personal round. The sisters will share what their Panhellenic experience means to them, and show you the opportunities that membership could provide you.
What to wear: This round is the most formal round during recruitment. Usually, girls wear fancy dresses and dress shoes (either heels or nice wedges). But once again, make sure you can walk in them!
Bid day is the best day! It will take place in Tillman Auditorium and on Bowman Field. You will receive your bid and a t-shirt from your Pi Chi sometime before the bid day ceremony. There will be a short ceremony in Tillman Auditorium where you will find out what chapter your Pi Chi is in. Then, you will run onto Bowman Field with your pledge class to meet your chapter!
What to wear: As I said before, you will be given a t-shirt or tank top from your sorority. You can wear this with bottoms and shoes of your choice (usually sandals or Converse).
Here are a few extra tips for your sorority recruitment at Clemson.
Do: Look presentable. I understand that looks aren’t everything, but it’s important to look put together to show the chapters that you’re taking this seriously.
Do: Plan and try on all of your outfits before rush even starts. You’ll realize that you have little to no free time once rush starts. It will reduce your stress and give you time to make sure you like the way you look.
Don’t: Wear uncomfortable shoes or heels that you can’t walk in. You don’t want to be the girl that face plants while walking into a round.
Do: Personalize your outfits with jewelry, especially during round one when everyone is in the same exact t-shirt.
Don’t: Wear a watch. You don’t want to appear to be waiting for the round to end. Try to enjoy the time you have to get to know each chapter. Trust me on this one.
Don’t: Talk about your opinions of each chapter with other girls going through sorority recruitment at Clemson. It’s important to keep your opinions to yourself and not let what other girls say influence how you feel about a chapter.
Do: Utilize your Pi Chi! They are an unbiased resource to talk to about how you feel about each chapter after every round. They won’t hold it against you or judge you for your opinions, so make sure you talk it out with them!
Don’t: Get discouraged. You might not get asked back to your “favorite” party from round one, but don’t let that discourage you. All of the chapters are great, so give each one a fair chance before ruling any of them out.
Do: Trust the system! There is a method to the madness of sorority recruitment at Clemson. You might not get your first choice on bid day. But you should go to the ceremony and meet as many people as you can before making any irrational decisions. There’s a reason you got that bid, even if you don’t realize it right away!
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