Sorority Savvy #rushtok

If terms like "PNM," "work week," "preference round," “#rushtok” and "bid day" are unfamiliar to you, this is your place to learn about Recruitment or Rush.   This is the annual process of selecting new members for the National Panhellenic Conference sororities at Texas A&M University. It takes about a week, during which potential new members attend parties at sorority houses, meet members, talk about themselves, and rank their favorite houses at the end of each day. The members also select the PNMs they want to invite back after each round, leading up to bid day, when selected PNMs receive an official invitation to join a chapter. Although sororities may not be of interest in real life, watching people go through recruitment on TikTok and social media can be fascinating. It's like a reality show that unfolds over a week, but it's easy to forget the long hours, heightened emotions, and stress the women experience, especially given the...

What is it? A sorority letter of recommendation is different from a recommendation for a job or scholarship. It serves as an introduction to a chapter by an alumnae member of a sorority. The letter you use to introduce yourself to alumnae can emphasize aspects of your life that demonstrate your potential to be an involved and committed member, as well as your alignment with the sorority's values and expectations. These aspects may include volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and academic achievements. The rec can supplement the information that chapters receive through recruitment registration and distinguish you as an individual. It's important to note that a letter of recommendation is not a guarantee of further opportunities to engage with a chapter or a bid of membership. To explore all the sororities on campus, it's essential to fully participate in the recruitment process with an open mind. Ok great - so where can I find one? If you're seeking recommendatio...

Getting to know women in each sorority is great and thanks to social media, you can do it virtually as well. Once all socials are cleaned up, follow each sorority on Instagram and double tap on some posts. NOTE: if you double tap on one, you should do the same for every sorority, to show that you are open to getting to know each group. But you might say "But I don't know where to find all these IG accounts!"  Don't fret, I've got you! All TAMU Sorority IG Accounts Panhellenic Council @tamupanhellenic Aggie Greek Life @aggiegreeklife Alpha Chi Omega @aggieaxo Alpha Delta Pi @aggieadpi Alpha Epsilon Phi aggie_aephi Alpha Omicron Pi @aggieaoii Chi Omega @tamuchio Delta Delta Delta @tamutridelta Delta Gamma @aggiedeltagamma Delta Zeta @aggiedeltazeta Gamma Phi Beta @aggiegammaphi Kappa Alpha Theta @aggietheta Kappa Delta @aggiekappadelta Kappa Kappa Gamma @kappatamu Pi Beta Phi @aggiepibetaphi Zeta Tau Alpha @aggiezta

You've found some alumnae members who might be willing to write you a rec! Hooray!  First things first: what is a rec? A "rec" or recommendation, is synonymous with the word "riff" and they are used interchangeably. A letter of support is an extra letter, not necessary. The rec is done by a sorority ALUMAE (not a current active member) via each sorority's national website. Which sororities require recs? Visit the  TAMU Panhellenic page  and roll over "Chapters" and you'll see all the sororities and each of their national and local websites.  Here are some example emails to edit with your own information. The words in ALL CAPS should be edited and updated as appropriate First Email Dear Mrs. LASTNAME,  It’s so nice to meet you <virtually>. My name is NAME, senior at SCHOOL, attending COLLEGE next year and am so looking forward to sorority recruitment in the fall. I understand that you are a SORORITYNAME alumae and was wondering if you woul...

A one-page social resume is exactly how it sounds - an overview of community service, volunteering, ways that your daughter has participated in things like sports, activities, fundraising and any awards and accolades that will position your daughter as a great prospect and addition to any group! A social resume should include personal contact and educational information, all social media handles, clubs & committees, honors and awards, community involvement and sports and hobbies. For recruitment, if a parent was in the Greek system, you can also include that. Below is my daughter's social resume: To access this Canva template, click here and make your own copy and save it.

Our girls are growing up and it's good for them to develop and polish their self-marketing skills. LinkedIn.com is a great way to make professional connections and to get recommendations so that when they graduate, they will have a resume of accomplishments and a positive digital footprint. What's a good example? https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileypenney/   Notice the friendly photo, a complete resume and recommendations. Questions or need help? Comment below!  

Frequently Asked Questions Will the sororities stalk your socials?  Yes! Assume they will start NOW and they don’t prioritize overtly garish party girls.  Is there a no-contact time? Can I talk to members before rush? It depends on the school and yes during rush. NOTE: during rush, it’s usually a blackout time for hanging out with boys. If they say no boys, that means NO BOYS.  Is it OK to ask girls on coffee / lunch dates to get their perspective on their sorority? Yes! If they can, according to Panhellenic rules, they will. If they can’t they’ll tell you. There is usually a blackout time as well, so ask early and often! What’s a letter of support? It’s an additional alumnae endorsement letter - not really necessary but if you have several family members or friends who would like to do a rec, you might ask some to do a letter of support. Just look up that chapter and see their particular procedure for more information. If I know I want to be a <insert a sorority here...

Recruitment is only SIX months away! It seems like a lifetime from now, but it will be here sooner than you know! What should you be doing? PHOTOS and NETWORKING are key! The trick is to get in front of current members that you know or with whom you have a connection and get to know them and refine your talk track. What's a talk track? That is your "elevator speech" or a quick 60-second overview about you, what you stand for and how you would positively impact a sorority with your leadership, talents, GPA, sports prowess and your general joie de vivre!  How do you practice that talk track? You can role play, sure. BUT, asking active members on coffee "dates" (you offer to treat) is a great way to refine how you define yourself and how you can practice conversational skills that you will need during recruitment! (more on this later) What about right now? What to do? Send the first email in your drip campaign (more on that in a separate post) and if the alumnae ag...