Sorority Recruitment: Where First Impressions Last Forever

First impressions tell others everything they need to know about who we are & what we’re all about.  It must also be said that the first impressions we make are also going to be the ones others will remember us by.  And more often than not, those first impressions drive home the truth about us more than we’d like to believe/admit.

During Formal Recruitment, making positive impressions is a big deal – as a matter of fact, making a first positive impression is something we need to take seriously.  Remember, this advice doesn’t just apply to the potential new members – it’s also applicable to each woman out there who wears her Greek letters proudly on her sleeve & heart.  As we all know, first impressions are lasting ones – always have been & always will be.  So if we mess up one time, we can’t redo the damage we did the first time around – getting a second chance to make that first impression stand for something awesome is well beside the point during events like sorority recruitment!!  (I say this both to all the potential new members out there as well as the initiates.)

Getting things right the first time around is imperative during Formal Recruitment:  not just during our conversations with the PNMs but also in other aspects such as our recruitment presentations, how we conduct ourselves on & off campus during Sorority Recruitment, as well as in how honest we are about being Delta Zetas/Chi Os/Kappas/Pi Phis/etc.   Think about it:  the first impressions we make can either encourage/inspire other women to go Greek or turn them off on even wanting to give sorority life a go.

Sorority Recruitment: Getting The Picture

(another post for all the potential new members out there.)

A picture can say more than a thousand words.  And when you’re registering for sorority recruitment, an amazing (& beautiful) picture of yourself can tell plenty of Panhellenic women a lot about you in more ways than one:  not only does it tell the actives a lot about you as a person, but it’ll also exponentially improve your chances on getting invites from chapters or even getting a bid during Sorority Recruitment. 

Here’s some advice to keep in mind when you’re selecting a picture to submit with your recruitment registration form:

First of all, choose a picture which genuinely & vividly captures your personality!!

Second, make sure you select a pic which is current (since it’ll depict how you’re going to look during Recruitment Week).

Third, select a picture of you & you alone!!  When it comes to group pics, Panhellenic women are always going to have a hard time figuring out who is who, let alone which face is yours – just to let you know while you’re ahead.

Fourth, find a pic which is up close & personal (i.e. one where you can easily be identified).

Fifth, don’t select a picture of yourself dressed up in a Halloween costume or in an outlandish outfit – it’s just the wrong attire in helping the actives put a face to your name!!

Sixth, select a pic which is 100% modest, a photo which you wouldn’t mind showing others closest to you.  That means not submitting a photo of you in provocative outfits or in your Spring Break swimwear!!  (Remember that women in sororities/fraternities are looking for their next sisters; they’re not searching for America’s Next Top Model or SI’s future Swimsuit Models.)

Last but not least, find a picture of yourself which won’t appear fuzzy/grainy when it’s maximized – a quality pic equals quality results!!

Think about it:  a beautiful picture does say much more than a thousand words & will make a lasting impression on the actives like none other.  (Moreover, these women will keep coming back to your pic every chance they get during Recruitment Week.)  So choose your picture wisely & with the utmost of care – it’ll make a difference between an awesome recruitment experience & one which is not so memorable.

Sorority Recruitment: A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

At who knows how many colleges/universities, when potential new members are registering for recruitment, they’re required to attach a picture of themselves with all of the other pertinent must-have items they need for Formal Recruitment (e.g. recommendation letters, grade transcripts).  Hard to believe, but it’s true.

At this point, you’re asking yourselves, “What? Huh? I need to send a pic of myself along with all my recruitment info?” 

Here’s the thing:  depending on how many PNMs are going to go through the recruitment process at your college/university, the actives need to connect faces with names (along with the conversations you had with them during your chapter visits).  By submitting a picture of yourself with your other recruitment information, the actives’ work during Formal Recruitment will be a little more easier in conveying to their chapters & Panhellenic Council that you’re an amazing & perfect candidate for chapter membership!!  (In addition, it’ll increase your chances of getting invited back to this sorority/fraternity or that, as well as receiving a bid for chapter membership – seriously, since the actives will be more sure about who you really are.)

A picture is worth a thousand words, especially during Formal Recruitment.  It’ll not only help the actives connect your name to your face & the conversations you had with them; it’ll also make their work a little more easier in determining if you’re an awesome candidate for sorority/fraternity membership!!