Sorority Recruitment
Recruitment
We try to inform you through our website so that you feel comfortable with recruitment at the College of Charleston. If you or your parents have any further questions, concerns, or just need advice please contact the Office of Greek Life at (843) 953-6320.
ABOUT RECRUITMENT
Panhellenic Recruitment is an exciting opportunity that enables women interested in joining a sorority the opportunity to learn about the meaning and benefits of sorority life. Sorority Recruitment, sponsored by the Panhellenic Council each Fall, is organized, coordinated, and managed by the Panhellenic Council. It takes place the first two weeekends of school and involves four rounds of parties. During these parties, sorority members will meet and converse with potential members.
The first event is a mandatory Recruitment Convocation in Physicians Auditorium the Monday before recruitment rounds begin. The suggested dress is not to dress up. Potential New Members (PNM) will not be meeting sorority women. You will meet and be introduced to the Executive Board for Panhellenic and the Panhellenic Recruitment Counselors that have worked long and hard for recruitment to be a huge success. All questions will be answered and schedules for the weekend will be distributed at this meeting.
- Expect to be nervous and stressed. It’s natural to have those butterflies in your stomach when you approach a new chapter house, but it will get easier as the days progress. And remember, the sisters are just as nervous as you! They also feel a lot of pressure to find their new sisters for their chapter. Just relax and smile, and Recruitment will just breeze by...
- Expect to meet a lot of new people! One of the best parts of Recruitment is all the new people you meet, both peers and upper-class women. You may find your new best friend right in your Recruitment group. At any rate, you’re guaranteed to exit Recruitment with a whole bunch of new friends.
- Expect to be asked questions. Recruitment relies a lot on conversation and interaction to help you meet the sisters and for them to meet you. They want to know more about you, so don’t be surprised if they ask you questions. At the same time, we encourage you to ask your own questions of them. You’re trying to find out more about them too!
- Expect to have fun! Recruitment is not always serious. Your new sisters will be a lot of fun to meet!
Open House consists of 8 parties that last 20 minutes where the PNM will visit all 8 chapters for a meet and greet type setting. At the end of round 1 the PNM will go with their Recruitment Counselor to a computer where the PNM will rank the 8 chapters 1 through 8. The following morning the PNM will pick up her schedule and will have up to 5 chapters to visit the following round, Philanthropy.
Philanthropy Day consists of up to 5 parties lasting 30 minutes. In this round, the PNM will participate in an activity (usually making a craft) that will support each individuals chapters Philanthropy. This is wonderful opportunity to ask more in-depth questions. At the end of round 2 the PNM will go with their Recruitment Counselor to a computer where the PNM will rank up to 5 chapters 1 through 5. The following morning the PNM will pick up her schedule and will have up to 3 chapters to visit the following round, Sisterhood.
Sisterhood consists of up to 3 parties lasting 40 minutes. This round is where most chapters either do a presentation of some nature that gives you insight into the sisterhood bonds that exist between the members. At the end of round 3 the PNM will go with their Recruitment Counselor to a computer where the PNM will rank up to 3 chapters 1 through 3. The following morning the PNM will pick up her schedule and will have up to 2 chapters to visit the following round, Preference Round.
Preference Round consists of up to 2 parties lasting forty-five minutes each. This round is where the chapters welcome the PNM into their party for a glimpse of their sisterhood and traditions. At the end of the round the PNM will go with their Recruitment Counselor to a computer where the PNM will rank up to 2 chapters 1 and 2.
Bid Day On Sunday, the PNM will receive a bid or invitation to one chapter. From that point the PNM is a New member of the chapter. The PNM doesn’t have to be initiated into the chapter until weeks after bid day. These weeks allow the PNM to get a better feel of the chapter and make the decision to become an initiated member of the chapter.
Pi Chis - Who They Are, How They Help
Upon registration for Recruitment, each potential new member is assigned a Recruitment Counselor (Pi Chi). Recruitment Counselors are sorority women, who have chosen to disaffiliate from their sorority during the Recruitment period, in order be a trustworthy resource and source of aid for the women going through Recruitment. Since their sorority membership is unknown, potential new members should feel comfortable discussing their options and asking candid questions of their Recruitment Counselors.
Recruitment Counselors will usually oversee a group of approximately 15-20 women during Recruitment. Pi Chi’s will meet with their advisees before and after each round, both to provide them with their schedules for the round and to offer guidance to the women.
You should feel free to ask Pi Chi’s any questions you have before, during, or after Recruitment. THEY ARE THERE TO HELP! All of the Recruitment Counselors have gone through the Recruitment process themselves and have many more sorority experiences to share.
