How To Survive Sorority Recruitment (+ Tips For Rush Week)

Telling you exactly how to survive sorority recruitment plus tips for rush week!

Sorority recruitment can feel stressful, amazing, and everything in between.

Seriously, I understand if you’re nervous and scared.

I have been through sorority recruitment on both sides. Meaning, I’ve been the PNM and the sister talking to a PNM. However since I dropped (post coming soon), I can tell you exactly what you should be doing and tips to be fully prepared!

How To Survive Rush Week (+ Tips For Rush Week)

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1. Bring Shoes To Change Into

This is the MOST important tip to survive sorority recruitment and I fully swear by it.

If you plan on wearing heels all day, your feet are going to be hurting by day three. I brought a bag with all of my essentials and would just throw my Birkenstocks inside them. To ensure no bid promising, you are not allowed to bring items into the room/house. This means they will never see your Birkenstocks!

You can find everything I put into my sorority essentials bag here.

2. Have questions to ask

You can be talking to someone for 45 minutes.

I once had to talk to one person for a full 60 minutes. It is not common but you should be prepared in case.

We have a post on questions you can ask for each round here.

3. make no other plans during rush week

I made the mistake of watching my parent’s dogs the exact same weekend of sorority recruitment. I had to drive home halfway through recruitment and then again at the end. This was so stressful and I highly do not recommend it.

Instead, make sure you have the full 3 days or week, clear of any requirements.

4. keep yourself grounded

During sorority recruitment, you can feel like no one likes you and you should just drop out of the race.

You will talk to so many people during rush and some you feel like you had genuine good conversations with. If you are dropped by those girls, that does not mean the conversations were fake or they were just pretending to like you. Sometimes a sorority drops a person because they were looking for something more specific like GPA or clubs you were in.

It’s important to stay grounded and remind yourself you will end up where you are supposed to be.

I know everyone is telling you that so I will give you some “evidence.” I was dropped by my second choice and I was so UPSET. However, I ended up in my top choice and met five of my best friends (no joke, I love them so much).

5. Watch how you feel

Many people go through recruitment and try to pick the top sorority or the people they had the best conversations with. Instead, look into yourself and see how you feel when you’re talking to the sisters.

When I was picking my sorority, I was choosing between two and I had no idea who to pick. But at one, I felt calmer and more like myself. So I recommend, you think about how the sorority makes you feel.

6. They are just as nervous as you are

As someone who also interviewed PNMS, I can promise you they are just as nervous as you are.

I even remember, some sisters and I staying up the night before memorizing questions to ask.

So just take a few deep breaths and remember these are college students as well, who are just as nervous.

7. eat & Hydrate

It’s going to be a long day where you are talking for at least 8 hours.

Your mouth will start to get dry if you don’t hydrate and you’re going to be hungry with the amount of walking you’ll do.

So bring a water bottle and a snack.

8. stay engaged during conversations

Sorority girls talk and you do not want them telling another sorority that you we’re ignoring them or disengaged.

Yes, this happens and the girl does not get a bid.

I understand it’s a long week but you HAVE to be engaged.

9. wear cute outfits

An insanely easy way to break the ice in any conversation is to compliment the girl’s outfit.

A great way to stand out during sorority recruitment is by what you’re wearing! They will remember the girl who had that black dress and remember your conversation.

You can read our post on insanely cute sorority rush outfits here. We go into the do’s and don’ts when it comes to what you decide to wear.

I hope this helps. Good luck during rush week and leave a comment if you have a question about anything!