GOING THROUGH RECRUITMENT AS AN UPPERCLASSMAN
The following post was written by guest blogger Alex Basile, Membership Growth Specialist, for the Fraternity.
Going through recruitment can be nerve-wracking, and even more stressful when you are an upperclassman. As a second, third—or even fourth!—year student, you may face some challenges, but never lose sight of why you decided to join. Here are a few tips to consider as you embark on the recruitment process:
- Be confident in your choice to wait. Real talk: many groups want to recruitment members who can commit to four years of collegiate membership. However, being older doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for you in sorority life. You’ve established yourself academically, proven that you want to be involved on campus and gained valuable experiences that have shaped you into the woman you are today—any chapter would be lucky to have you! Let each group know you are excited to be actively involved. Express enthusiasm for things such as making lifelong friends, taking on a leadership role, playing intramural sports, participating in Homecoming festivities or other activities that you’re looking forward to in your remaining college years.
- Be bold. Going through recruitment (no matter your age) takes courage, but remember you have the added benefit of having at least one year of school under your belt. Rather than stressing about finding your classes and worrying about if you’ve chosen the right dorm, you can focus your energy on finding the sisterhood that is right for you. That confidence will show and benefit you in the process.
- Be open-minded. You may not have participated in recruitment as a freshman because you weren’t sure if sorority life was for you—or maybe you recently transferred from another school. No matter the reason, the recruitment process is a great opportunity to make new friends and grow as a woman. While you may have already formed opinions about some organizations, give every chapter a fair chance. Find women who will make you better, who make you feel at home and who will support you. Find women you want to be forever friends with.
- Be yourself. Being true to yourself is the most important thing! Don’t change the person you are because you feel like you need to. Have genuine conversations, talk about hobbies you love and show them what you’re passionate about. Members will appreciate you being your authentic self and enjoy getting to know you.
No matter your classification, embrace this exciting time, make new friends in every organization and enjoy participating in one of the most unique experiences of your life.
Read more about the recruitment process here.