7 Things Every Girl Should Know Before Recruitment

Recruitment can be such a nerve-racking and joyful experience all in one. No girl ever goes into this process completely prepared for all that it entails, but I’m writing this in hopes that I can offer you just a little bit of comfort, confidence and extra knowledge of this process!

1. Prioritize what YOU want!

Recruitment is all about YOU, YOU, and Y O U ! This decision will only affect you, so be selfish and make sure you do what makes you happy during the process. Follow your own heart, and do not do something just because others tell you it’s what you should do! Ask the questions that YOU want answered, make the decisions YOU want, and go with YOUR gut! Did I mention this is all about YOU?

2.  It’s normal to be overwhelmed !!!

It’s totally normal to be nervous during recruitment week (and in the weeks leading up to it), and it can be mentally overwhelming at times! EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, gets nervous about one thing or another, so you are never alone! Since Recruitment is all about you, remember that it is so important to also make time for you. Taking a few minutes to relax and unwind after each day will help calm those nerves and lead to a better experience overall. Go for a quiet walk around your new campus or grab some cheese fries from the Bin with your roommate! Sometimes you may just want to think about something besides Greek life, and that is totally ok and normal! Taking care of your mental health should be your upmost priority.

3. Keep your experience private !!!

No two experiences are the same. Each party, conversation, and opinion will be so different from one girl to the next. As hard as it can be, it’s best to keep your experience to yourself. Why? Simply because it will help you avoid so much unnecessary stress! In the thick of rush, comparison might leave you with self-doubt and influenced opinions, which are two added stresses that you don’t need! The beauty of this process is that everyone has a different experience! When you have something you need to get off your chest, your loved ones back home are just a phone call away!

4. A smile is the prettiest accessory you can wear !!!

There is so much emphasis on what you wear during the week, and you’ve probably already planned out every detail of each outfit from head to toe. Your clothes and jewelry are an important part of showing your personality during recruitment, but the best accessory you can have is a beautiful smile. A smile shows the beauty that comes from within, which is the most important beauty of all. Have fun picking out alllll the fun outfits, but remember to S M I L E :) :) :)

5. Gamma Chis are LIFESAVERS !!!

When I first met my sweet Gamma Chi, I did not know how much I would need her. Three days later, I found myself with a computer that wouldn’t connect to wifi three minutes before a zoom call. When I was panicking on the phone with her, she helped me work through it and I managed to make it to the call on time (even though I had to sit in the middle of a parking lot). A Gamma Chi’s purpose is to answer every question you have and guide you through every scenario imaginable. They are disaffiliated from their own chapters, and they simply want to help you have the best experience possible. Do not be hesitant to reach out to them for anything, and know that even after rush, they will always be a friend! 

6. You’ll meet some awesome friends during the week !!!

Although my recruitment week was virtual, it was fun for me to see how many of my (future) sisters I had met in passing throughout the week! I had walked to the junction with Fisher, talked to Kathleen for a minute outside of my dorm, and been in a Gamma Chi group with Cate! It was equally as fun seeing where some of my new friends found their home. Between rush parties and hanging around campus, you will meet so many friends that you might not have met otherwise! Be sure to make the most of talking to everyone you meet, and hold tight to the sweet friendships you make whether they end up in your house or across the row!

7. It always works out the way it should !!!

Bid Day will be one of the best days of your college experience! It’s the day for which you’ve gone through the entire week, and you are finally going to run home to your new home away from home. The wait to receive your bid feels like forever, so find some things to make the time pass more quickly: maybe reflect in a journal on all the experiences and emotions or call someone to share the joy and excitement! You always end up where you are meant to be. I can’t describe the joy I felt when I got my bid saying I would run home to Chi Omega, but it was one of the happiest moments I’ve ever had! Soak in the moment, be proud to throw what you know, and get ready for the best four years of your life!