As the new semester sets in, so comes the second round of one of college’s most well known events: spring sorority recruitment. But while fall sorority recruitment is a week-long process, jam-packed with opportunities to meet the chapters, spring rush is different in a variety of senses.
“Spring is a lot more informal than the fall,” Delta Gamma member Nicole Howard said. “(In the fall) there’s a lot of rules. It’s very strict, it’s long days and it’s very, very overwhelming.”
The fall process includes a spirit day, values day, philanthropy day, preference night and a bid day. In the spring, the process is much more relaxed and typically includes a Meet the Chapters event as well as informal individual events hosted by each of the chapters, though notably, not all chapters accept new members in the spring.
Despite it being a more relaxed process, potential new members still find themselves swamped and unsure during spring recruitment.
“A lot of girls worry about their looks, or maybe that they’re not wealthy enough or don’t fit a certain standard,” Alpha Omicron Pi Chapter President Brooke Donovan said. “Historically, sororities were for white rich girls.”
Many of the sorority chapters hold sets of values in high regard, the most prominent of the set being sisterhood.
“We don’t care what you look like. ... We really just want genuine, valuable members who want to be leaders and in general want to be here to contribute and have fun with us,” Donovan said.
And despite sorority rush’s fame, there are many misconceptions about it that go undiscussed, such as the importance of values in Greek life.
“Our community really values our philanthropy," Panhellenic Vice President of Recruitment Marissa Toney said. "Our community raises a ton of money each year for different philanthropies. ... So, I think the whole Greek life stereotype, the fraternity and sorority life stereotype, is a hard one to break past, but I think we’re progressing. I think every year is better.”
Spring recruitment also has less open spots for new members to fill. This spring, there are just under 270 open spots amongst the chapters.
“Fall recruitment is a lot more open and a lot more girls get bids in the fall, so don’t get discouraged after spring recruitment if you don’t find your home,” Toney said.
Sorority recruitment can be rewarding for some.
“It’s one of the most amazing parts of my college life so far,” Donovan said. “It’s given me leadership opportunities that I’ve never been able to experience … nothing has really felt as impactful to me as this.”
In addition to promoting leadership, many chapters pride themselves on fostering friendship and sisterhood.
“I’ve found really genuine friendships,” Howard said. “It really gets you into other things and keeps you busy. And I think that’s important in college because it’s so easy to get, kind of, stuck in the same routine.”
Though recruitment can be a grueling process, sororities meet hundreds of potential new members and continue to provide reassurance and advice to those who choose to participate.
“Be open-minded, I know it’s so cliche,” Panhellenic President Sophia Verzosa said. “Find somewhere that wants you for you, not for you to be like them.”
