When it comes to sorority recruitment there are a lot of unknowns.

Each house has their own personalized way of how they are going to recruit new members into their sisterhood.

And although much of this process is held secret, one thing is for certain: at the end of the week hundreds of girls will stand alongside their new sisters in a place that they can now call home. 

While the actual process of recruitment, what goes on behind the sorority house doors once the potential new members (PNMs) step inside, is unable to be discussed due to Panhellenic and chapter regulations, there is a set schedule for the week so that the girls know what to expect for each day of recruitment.

The first two days of recruitment are the “Open House” round.

During “Open House” every PNM will visit each house on campus to be given a general introduction to all of the sororities.

This is a great opportunity for the PNMs to ask the members about their particular sorority, why they chose it, their favorite memory since being an initiated member, etc.

Through the discussions with the PNMs, the members will also get to learn more about each girl and see if they would be a good fit for their sorority. The “Open House” round is like the “get to know you” session of recruitment. 

The next two days are dedicated to teaching the PNMs about each sorority’s philanthropy, which is a central aspect to each chapter.

The girls will get to see and learn more about how specific causes have truly impacted and changed the lives of the members of each sorority.

Members will often share personal stories of their experiences with their specific philanthropy, and the PNMs should contemplate whether or not they could see themselves standing alongside these members, sharing in those experiences, and working for that particular cause. 

The “Sisterhood” round takes up the next two days, and is the perfect opportunity for the members to open up to the PNMs about why they joined Greek life, what kinds of things they do with their sisters, and what made them stay in their sorority.

Despite what some might think, girls don’t necessarily join a sorority for the stuff, they join for the people and the long-lasting relationships they will build with their sisters.

This round serves to highlight those genuine relationships that can only be formed through the unbreakable sisterhood that each sorority shares with its members.

During these two days, the PNMs will be deciding on which sisterhood they really felt a connection with and which one they could see themselves being a part of. 

The last day of recruitment before the girls receive their bids and decide on which sorority to join is called “Preference.”

The girls are invited back to certain houses and they will only go back to visit again their top choices.

This round is particularly for the PNMs to be able to ask any last minute questions and to get rid of any hesitations they may have before making the decision on which sorority they want to join.

During “Preference,” it is usually a more intimate environment to show the PNMs the sincerity with which the sorority takes when welcoming new members into their sisterhood.

And just like that the stressful days of recruitment are over and Bid Day is here, the day every PNM has been waiting for.

The PNMs have been extended bids to join a particular chapter and become new members.

They will have the option to either accept or decline the bid. Once they’ve made their decision to accept a bid, the girls are welcomed to some sort of Bid Day celebration, which marks the first day with their sisters in their new home. 

Most of these girls who decide to go through sorority recruitment are looking for their home away from home that they feel comfortable in while they are away at college.

This is the place that gives them that feeling of being surrounded by people that genuinely care about them and love them unconditionally.

And this feeling is why these girls get up early every day for a week, do their hair and makeup, put on that perfectly planned outfit, and walk around from house to house in 90 degree heat or the pouring rain.

It is all in an effort to be welcomed into that place that they can truly call their home away from home when Bid Day finally comes and sorority recruitment week is over.