Recruitment Survival Guide

Recruitment is coming up, so get excited! It’s an amazing experience where you will get to know each chapter here at UT, and ultimately, you’ll find the house that you will call home. I know that I was intimidated going into recruitment week, so here are some tips that will eliminate some of that stress and make your week go as smoothly as possible!

• Be yourself! Every girl is excited to meet you, so make sure that they are meeting the most authentic version of you. Nerves are inevitable when going into recruitment, but just remember that the women at each house have been waiting all summer to meet you! Stay true to yourself; it will allow you to make genuine connections at each house and see which chapter is the best fit for you.

• Go with your gut! Don’t worry about the opinions of anyone but yourself. Throughout recruitment, you may hear about which sororities are “top tier”, but do not let this sway your opinion! Keep an open mind as you visit each house and make sure to choose the house that YOU like best, not the house that all of your friends may be leaning towards! Each house has something great to offer, so make sure you are thinking about what will be best for you in the long term.

• Not everything will go as planned. You may have a wardrobe malfunction, spill a drink, or take a fall, but every girl has been through it in some way or another and will be there to help you. While going from one house to another during recruitment last year, my umbrella flipped inside out while it was pouring down rain. One of the girls walking to that same house with me rushed to my side and let me stand under her umbrella with her--she is now one of my best friends! You are never alone in this process, so if something goes awry, someone will help you out!

• Ask questions! You can ask things such as, “What has been your favorite memory so far with your chapter?” or “What made you choose your sorority over the others?” Just as much as each house wants to get to know you, you should want to get to know the women at each house!

• Be prepared! Weather can be unpredictable, so make sure to pack a poncho or an umbrella in the case that it rains (like it did last year)! From Texas heat to rain storms, it is almost impossible to keep perfect hair and makeup all day. Confidence is key. Houses care about your personality and the conversations you are having, so do not fret if you don’t have enough time to touch up throughout the day! But it never hurts to keep an emergency kit with some body spray with you :) (see next bullet)

• Pack your essentials! You will receive a bag at the beginning of recruitment, so make sure to fill it with things you may need to touch up throughout the day. I packed deodorant, a hair brush, ponytail holders, oil blotting sheets, and an extra pair of comfy shoes (you will be doing a lot of walking)! Also--make sure to personalize your bag so that you’ll know it’s yours. You will be throwing the bags into a big pile before you enter each house, so it helps to have some sort of ribbon or tag on your bag that will help you find it later!

My best advice for recruitment is to not stress and have fun! This is such a unique experience that you will never get to do again, so have a good time while doing it! We have all gone through recruitment and found a house that we love, just as you will. Go Zeta and Hook ‘em Horns!

Zeta Love, Madeleine Ausburn

PC ‘17

Recruitment Team 2018

What to Wear During Recruitment

My name is Reagan Walker! I am a second year Advertising major, and I’m also on Zeta Tau Alpha’s recruitment team. From Open House to Bid day, here is a day-by-day guide to help you prepare for recruitment week!

Day 1 and Day 2: OPEN HOUSE

The night before Open House, Texas Panhellenic will provide you with the t-shirt you’ll wear for the first two days of recruitment. Add some khaki shorts and tennis shoes and you’ll be ready to go! I recommend J.Crew’s 3” Chino khaki shorts. They fit well and are the perfect length! Since all the sorority houses are spread throughout West Campus, I would take advantage of wearing your most comfortable sneakers! Feel free to express yourself with simple jewelry, such as studs or a small necklace, but remember, your best accessory is your smile!

Day 3 and Day 4: PHILANTHROPY

During the next two days of recruitment, you’ll learn about each sorority’s national philanthropy. Each round gets a little more dressy, so I would recommend wearing a cute sundress with simple jewelry. Think of a dress you would wear to church, brunch, or a graduation party. Pair it with some wedges or sandals and you’re ready to go!

Day 5: SISTERHOOD

This round is my personal favorite because each sorority gets to show off their unique sisterhood which gives you the opportunity to see if you could picture yourself in their chapter. A classy dress with some heels will be the perfect outfit for this round. When I went through recruitment, I wore chunky nude heels because they were cute but still easy to walk in. During this round, you may have up to six houses in one day, so it is important to stay comfortable! A dress you would wear to a banquet or award ceremony would match this occasion. Finish off your look with jewelry that compliments your individual style.

Day 6: PREFERENCE NIGHT

This is the last day of recruitment before Bid Day! Preference night is the most formal and intimate round of recruitment, so pick out your favorite classy, black dress. Pair it with heels and your finest jewelry and get ready for a night you’ll never forget.

Day 7: BID DAY! The moment you’ve been anxiously waiting for!!  On bid day, you meet in Hogg Auditorium to open your bid day card and run home to your new sisters and soon-to-be best friends! Wear a fun, bright romper or dress with sandals or wedges, and get ready for lots and lots of pictures! I recommend wearing sandals since you will be running to your newly announced sorority house. Bid day is the best day of your life and a day you will never forget. No matter how stressful the week was, everything will be worth it when you meet your new sisters!

I hope this fashion guide will be helpful to your recruitment experience. No matter what happens during recruitment, have fun and be yourself! We can’t wait to meet you, PC ‘18!   

Reagan Walker

PC ‘17

Recruitment Team 2018