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