Sally received her schedule for Pref [last round of sorority recruitment]. It has two sororities on it. One of the sororities she likes, and the other sorority she does not know if she is the right fit.
She knows all of her options. It helps her make the right decision.
Throughout sorority recruitment, you need to know your options. It helps you know what decisions to make for the best outcome.
DO YOU NEED HELP GETTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE AND STANDING OUT DURING COB?
This ebook is based on a proven process to get invited to sororities you like and stand out during COB.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS
There are several different things that can happen in sorority recruitment. These are the options.
You accept a bid --- YAY!
You do not accept a bid
You accept a bid. Then, you drop out of the sorority.
You drop out of sorority recruitment before Bid Day
You get dropped from all the sororities during sorority recruitment
You go through COB
You join the new Panhellenic sorority on campus.
Let’s dive into these options
OPTION #1. ACCEPTING A BID
This option is what everyone hopes for!
Here is the breakdown
You go through recruitment. You find your dream sorority. Then on Bid Day, you get a bid to your #1 sorority.
OPTION #2.NOT ACCEPTING A BID
Here is the breakdown
You go through recruitment. Then at the end of Pref, you rank your sororities. During mutual selection, your first sorority does not pick you. However, your second sorority picks you. When you open up your Bid Day card, you see you received a bid from your second sorority. You choose NOT to go to Bid Day. You do not accept the bid.
On Bid Day, everyone wants to see their first sorority, but it does not always happen. I always recommend you go to Bid Day and give the sorority one more chance! You never know, you might love it!
If you choose not to go to Bid Day, you are going to limit your choices. You signed the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA). Therefore, you have to wait a year to go through recruitment again.
Read more about the mutual selection, HERE.
OPTION #3. ACCEPTING A BID AND THEN DROPPING THE SORORITY
Here is the breakdown
After you accept the bid, you are labeled as a new member. You have to go through a process before you become an initiated member. If you drop out of the sorority BEFORE you are initiated, you can go through recruitment the following year.
If you drop out of the sorority after you have been initiated, you are NEVER able to go through recruitment again!If you do not like the sorority you joined and you feel like another sorority is a better fit for you, you NEED to drop out of the sorority before initiation.
Should you go through sorority recruitment for a second time?
It depends on your college. If your college, does not have a secondary quota or an upperclassmen quota, it will be much more difficult to receive a bid. Many of the sororities will not extend bids to sophom*ores or upperclassmen.
How to see if your college has a secondary or upperclassmen quota
You want to email Panhellenic at your college and ask. To find the email for Panhellenic, Google “college name Panhellenic sorority recruitment.” Once you are on the website, search at the bottom of the homepage or in the contact section.
Colleges that do not have a secondary or upperclassmen quota [It will be very difficult to receive a bid as a sophom*ore, and you will have limited options]
Auburn
Indiana University
LSU
University of Miami [FL]
Indiana University
Oklahoma State University
Ole Miss
University of Arkansas
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt
OPTION #4. DROPPING OUT OF SORORITY RECRUITMENT BEFORE BID DAY
Here is the breakdown
You go through recruitment. You do not like the sororities left on your invitation schedule, or you do not want to join a sorority. You decide to drop out of recruitment. You can drop out at any time. All you have to do is talk to your recruitment counselor and fill out some paperwork.
If you drop out of recruitment before Bid Day, you can either:
Going through COB → highly recommended! COB is offered in the Fall and Spring
Join the new Panhellenic sorority (if your college offers it)
Join a non-Panhellenic sorority
Get involved in other ways
It is important to note that not all sororities participate in COB.
OPTION #5. GETTING DROPPED FROM ALL OF THE SORORITIES DURING SORORITY RECRUITMENT
Here is the breakdown
You go through recruitment, and all of the sororities drop you. This option can happen during any of the rounds (even after Pref - only with a suicide vote).
On a more positive note, you have options.
You are eligible for COB.
You are eligible to join the new Panhellenic sorority (if your college offers it).
You are eligible to join a non-Panhellenic sorority.
OPTION #6. GOING THROUGH COB
COB stands for continuous open bidding. This process starts 72 hours after formal sorority recruitment. If sororities do not reach quota and, or are under chapter total, they can extend bids to potential new members who either:
Dropped out of recruitment
Got dropped from recruitment
Did not go through sorority recruitment
It is important to note that not all sororities participate in COB. Do not bet on this option to join a particular sorority.
What is a quota?
Panhellenic requires each sorority to extend a certain number of bids to potential new members. This number is the quota.
The quota is determined by the number of potential new members who sign the MRABA and voted after Pref divided by the number of sororities on campus. For example, if 1,000 potential new members sign the MRABA and there are 10 sororities on campus. Each sorority has to take a minimum of 100 new members.
What is the chapter total?
Every sorority on campus has to maintain a certain number of members. If they fall below this number, they have the opportunity to give bids out to women.
A sorority can meet the quota but still be under the chapter total.
How does COB work?
Usually, there is an interest form you need to fill out. If your college does not have an interest form for COB, email your Greek Life Office.
Once the sorority decides to go through COB, the recruitment team looks at the interest form and the names that the Greek Life Office gave them. If a sorority thinks you are a good candidate, they invite you to an event.
After the event, if the sorority thinks you are a good fit, the sorority will give you a bid. You decide if you want to accept the bid or not. Usually, you have 24 hours to accept your bid.
OPTION #7. joining the new Panhellenic sorority on campus
At some colleges, a new Panhellenic sorority founds a chapter. This is a great option for potential new members who either:
Dropped out of recruitment
Got dropped from recruitment
Did not go through formal recruitment
The new sorority has reps on your campus. You have to attend a second recruitment. The good news is it is informal. It is much more laid back and fun! This recruitment process starts a couple of weeks after formal recruitment. The reps ask you questions to make sure you are a good member for the sorority.
This option is a great opportunity. Not only are you able to join a sorority, but you can become a founding member. You get to experience all the founding moments!
It is important to know your options as you go through sorority recruitment. These options help you to make the best decision for your college experience.
DO YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK HELP YOU STAND OUT DURING SORORITY RECRUITMENT?
When you depend on Youtube and TikTok for advice, you prepare like everyone else. When you look like everyone else, you do not stand out. If a sorority can only invite back 30% of all PNMs, how will you show them that you deserve to be in the top 30%?
Instead of using advice and being the Overlooked Potential New Member, you want to use a step-by-step plan to gain Rush Crush status -- stand out, have options, and run home to a sorority you love. Click the video below to see how CRUSH [sorority recruitment coaching] can help you create and implement your plan.
Learn more
Good luck with sorority recruitment! I am rooting for you!
Sloan
You have a math test in two weeks that is worth 90% of your grade for the class. You want to get an A. You are looking for guidance on how to get your A.
First, you ask a friend, not in your math class, “How do I get an A+ on my test?” She says, “You need to study.” This answer leaves you frustrated.
Then, you ask your teacher, “How do I get an A+ on my test?” She gives you a step-by-step plan.
Who was more helpful?
Your teacher, right?
To get an A, you need to know the right information and have a step-by-step plan.
To get a bid to a sorority you love, you have to communicate you are the right fit for the sorority before and during sorority recruitment. A step-by-step plan tells you how and when to communicate.
BUT… why do so many women going through sorority recruitment ONLY use the advice they find on Youtube and TikTok? Does it help them stand out and get a bid?
Click the video below to see how The Ultimate Guide to Sorority Recruitment can help you create and implement your plan.
Click here to get your copy as an ebook
