Intro to Recruitment

If Greek life is new to you, it can be a confusing topic. Neither of my parents were in a fraternity or sorority, and although they were extremely supportive when I told them I wanted to rush as a freshman, they did have many questions. Many of their questions I didn’t have answers to because I didn’t know myself. This article has all you need to know to prepare for the months leading up to recruitment week.

I first wanted to start off by saying that the way Greek life is portrayed in movies and in the media is definitively not an accurate depiction of what being involved in a fraternity or sorority is like. The reality is that the men and women in these organizations are dedicated to community service, academics and building a strong network amongst themselves and the rest of the community. As a member of one of these organizations, you are held to a higher standard and you are expected to have the same ethics and values that they are based on.

With that being said, Greek life is not for everyone. A lot of time goes into being in a sorority or fraternity. There are weekly meetings that the entire chapter is required to go to, and there are many required philanthropy events and volunteer work throughout the semester. However, this does present the opportunity to strengthen time management skills.

There are many pros and cons of participating in Greek life, and sometimes you won’t know if it is meant for you until you try it out. If your son or daughter isn’t sure if it’s for them or not, it doesn’t hurt to go through recruitment just to test the waters. If at the end of the week they realize that this is something they don’t want to participate in, then that’s okay.

I’m going to leave a few helpful tips for you parents, as well as attach some links that goes into great detail about how to prepare for recruitment. The University will be releasing more information in the coming weeks which we will share - stay tuned!

Tips for parents:

If money is an issue, you’re not alone. During rush week they are upfront about how much dues will cost throughout the four years. Most fraternities and sororities offer payment plans as well to ease the cost.

Before, during, and after rush week is a stressful and confusing time. Offer support and listen to your student about their experience, and that will not only help them, but it will help you to understand what they are going through.

Try to stay as neutral as possible when it comes helping your child choose which Greek organization is right for them. It can be a really hard decision at the end of the week and they may ask for you advice, but at the end of the day it should be their decision.

Me on bid day - such a fun day!

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