While we’d each like to believe that sorority life at our campus is “unique,” the fact of the matter is that it’s all pretty much the same, especially when it comes to recruitment. Philanthropy round, sisterhood round, house tours round, and then preference (RIP, Skit Day). Maybe the order or the execution is a bit different, but generally, it’s pretty standard. And tired, if you ask me.
It’s time to shake it up a bit. Break out of our recruitment rut and start doing things a little bit differently. Here are some ideas for alternative recruitment rounds that would be way more fun than the standard ones we are using now.
1. Dance Party Round
Doesn’t matter if you can actually dance or you have absolutely no rhythm, but attempt to make an effort. As long as you move, you’re okay in my book. Double points if you are able to carry on a convo while dancing — it’s a skill that will come in handy in the basement of a fraternity during a mixer. But if you’re too cool to dance, well, you’re no sister of mine.
2. Pizza Party Round
Does anyone else find it ironic that very little food is served during sorority recruitment, but yet almost everything else we do in a sorority absolutely resolves around food? This is one thing the frat guys have totally on point. So fuck it, let’s just have a pizza party round. Plus, you can tell a lot about a person by how they eat their pizza. With a fork and a knife? Way too uptight. Crust first? Business first, party after. Blots off the grease? Borrrrrrrrrrrrrring. Asks for a side of ranch? Bid.
3. Pet Party Round
Originally, I called this “The Puppy Party Round,” but I guess all people don’t like dogs. Sure, those people are likely psychotic, but we’ll humor them here. So instead, we will have a pet party. Given how recruitment is stressful and pets are proved to reduce anxiety, what could be better than having 20-minute parties were we chat while snuggling puppies or patting cats? And if someone’s not a pet person? Well, are those really the kind of people you want in your chapter?
4. Netflix and (Platonically) Chill Round
Instead of forced conversation for 30 minutes, a PNM and a sister are paired up and given a laptop. Judgements about the PNM are strictly based on what they chose to watch during the party. SATC? Tryhard. House of Cards? A smartypants who may be good for her your chapter’s GPA. Fuller House? May be slightly immature. Narcos? Could be a frequent visitor to standards. Friends? Automatic bid.
5. Craft-Tryout Round
Every organization has its own criteria for membership, but there is one unspoken standard that we look for in all potential members: the ability to craft. After all, no one wants to be stuck with the little (or eventual big) who can’t make a decent paddle, and everyone needs to be able to pitch in and make a banner at some point. So a round where all of the PNMs make a small craft would help us be able to weed out those that can’t cut it in our glue-gun-and-glitter world.
6. Brunch Round
Recruitment almost always goes over a weekend, so why would we not include the meal that is the staple of sorority girls everywhere? The girl that mumbles about how she doesn’t do brunch because of all the carbs is out, whereas the girl that looks around for a bloody is 100% in.
On that note: while there’s no booze in recruitment – just before, after, and sometimes in the bathroom during – you can tell a lot about what a girl orders to drink during brunch, so it’s totally acceptable to drink during this one round, as long as it’s for research…right?
Now, don’t these sound a lot more fun and revealing than a house tour?.
Nice Move204
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Jenna Crowley
Jenna used to be known as 2NOTBrokeGirls, but then one of the girls actually went broke, so she's struck out on her own. Jenna spends her free time saving the world, one sorority girl at a time (usually while wearing yoga pants), questioning why she decided to get a doctorate, and documenting her love of all things cheese related. You can ask her anything you want about football, using your boobs to get what you want, and pizza at @JennaLCrowley on Twitter or via email at JennaLCrowley@gmail.com.
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