What to Expect for Recruitment
RECRUITMENT IS ALMOST HERE! For some girls the word “rush” brings excitement and confidence to their minds but for a lot of girls it brings nervous and anxious feelings. It is completely normal to be a little nervous going into rush, but I can honestly say that there is no reason to be nervous. Recruitment is a fun and exciting experience when you get to meet so many different girls who have gone through the same exact process. As long as you remember to be authentic and have confidence, you will be able to enjoy rush and have fun with it! Get ready to have an amazing experience, create everlasting memories, and establish friendships that will last a lifetime. Now, it’s time to get you prepared. First up, convocation.
Convocation
Convocation is the evening before the first day of recruitment. This is when everything really starts to sink in. Cramming 1,000 girls into Hogg Auditorium is a bit of a stretch but it’s fun and upbeat. Make a point to become friends with the girls sitting next to you and in your rush group! You never know who could end up being one of your sisters in as little as a week. Plus, it’s nice to start the “getting-to-know-you” convo’s now, because you’ll be having quite a few of them over the next few days. You will also receive your Open House t-shirts and tote bag to carry your belongings in throughout the week. Tonight, just wear the normal comfy clothes.
Tip: Pack your tote after convocation and get your clothes ready prior to each day.
Things to put in your tote: Deodorant, comfy slip-on shoes to wear in between houses, toiletries, small make-up touch-ups (if needed), mints (no gum), and a fan (if possible). Be sure to check the weather each day, in case it rains (it did last year) and you need an umbrella. It is also helpful to download the Texas map application on your iPhone.
Open House
The Open House round is split into two days and you will visit all 14 sorority houses. Don’t try to skip one! Panhellenic requires that you go to every house you are given an invitation to. You will go from house to house with your rush group and stand in alphabetical order waiting for each party to start. When the recruitment counselor knocks three times, you have to be completely silent. (Don’t worry, your counselor will give you cues.) Nothing happens for about three seconds until the house explodes with cheering and girls banging on the walls as the door swings open. I’ll be honest when I say that I jumped — it was so unexpected! The president of the sorority, as well as a few members of the rush team, will step out on the porch and welcome you to their house and the house will again erupt in chanting. As you walk through the door, you will be greeted and picked up by the girl who will be talking to you that day. Every house does it differently, but at the Zouse — get ready for some hugs.
Tip: There will be water provided outside each day that you can drink in between houses. Be sure to HYDRATE. FYI, It gets very loud in the houses on these two days so there is a good chance you may lose your voice.
Once you complete the second day of open house, you’ll go to the UTC (University Teaching Center) and rank the 10 houses you liked the best!
Tip: You will be meeting a lot of girls so it is helpful to take notes after each house to remember who you talked to and what about. (It’s easiest to just jot down some notes on your phone right after you get out of each house, while it’s fresh on your mind.) You’ll be surprised how little you might remember!
Philanthropy
Philanthropy is another two-day round. You will receive your schedule early in the morning and can attend a maximum of 10 parties. Your schedule won’t be the same as everyone in your Open House group, so you’ll be going to each house on your own. If you can, try mapping out your route from house to house ahead of time.
Tip: Try your hardest not to miss the bus that goes from DG to Kappa/ Alpha Phi. Trust me, it’s a long run in the summer heat. Also, avoid University Towers on 24th and Rio Grande at all costs. It’s filled with bored, freshman boys looking for trouble.
You can really start to get an idea of each sorority on these two days because everyone’s personality really starts to show through! Each house will have you complete a small craft or participate in an activity that is centered around their philanthropy. Many houses also prepare either a short presentation, skit or dance to illustrate their efforts in raising awareness for their philanthropy.
This is also the first round that the houses are allowed to offer refreshments, other than water. You will typically receive a refreshing, fruity drink (lots of fancy lemonades and Shirley temples). Make sure to keep hydrated at each house you visit. You don’t want to be the girl that passes out from heat exhaustion. These two days are hectic, but don’t worry because you’re halfway through and the best night is yet to come!
Sisterhood
Sisterhood night is the night where you really start to get an idea of which houses you think you will fit into best. Each sorority’s true colors come out this night and you are able to see how bonded and close all of the sisters are within each house. This is the night before Pref, so conversations will get a little deeper and you really get a feel for what it would be like in each sorority. You become closer to the girls and get to know more and more of them. At the Zeta house, we always play a fun game to get to know all of the Zistas!
Tip: At this point, it is extremely important to look around you and try and get to know some of the girls who are going to the same houses as you because you are getting closer and closer to potentially becoming sisters for life! It is also important to be open in your conversations and let your amazing personality shine through!
Preference Night
This is the very last night of rush and can sometimes be a little stressful because you, potentially, have some difficult decisions to make. This is the night everyone is waiting for and an extremely important night. The significance of Preference Night is realized when you walk into each of the final three houses that extended an invitation. Each house will be decorated very elegantly and everyone will be dressed more formally than previous days. Each house will usually present some form of program with testimonials on how their sisterhood has transformed their lives. Beware… lots of girls will be crying, both PNM’s and actives. You may even tear up yourself!
Tip: The best advice I ever got for pref night was to look around at the other PNMs and talk to them while you’re on the porch while you’re waiting to go inside. Do you get along well with them? Are these the kind of girls you would want to be your potential sisters the very next day? Also, it is very important to completely open up during your conversations because it is the very last night.
A few more helpful tips:
· Try to accept, pre-rush, that your hair won't stay in place and you'll sweat all of your makeup off probably before the first house. We ALL sweat our little hearts out for rush but it's most important to be comfy in your own skin that week because we're looking for personality. Not perfect hair.
· You’ll hear these questions every day, whether it be Open House or Bid Day:
o “Where are you from?”
o “What is your major?”
o “What are your hobbies?”
o “What did you do this summer?”
· So really try and have fun with it! If you have something fun or crazy to talk about, throw it out there. You never know what you might have in common with someone.
Prepare yourself for long days and nights, lots of running and lots of small talk. Recruitment is a long week but the sisterhood that comes as a result will last forever. We’ve been waiting for you all summer! Go Zeta!
Zeta Love,
Jessica Bowman
Recruitment Team 2017
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