Going through sorority recruitment is an exciting way to make new connections and get involved on campus! And you don’t have to go through it alone; recruitment counselors will support you throughout the recruitment process.
What is a recruitment counselor?
A recruitment counselor is a member of a Panhellenic sorority that is not recruiting for their chapter. They are trained to help guide potential new members (PNMs) throughout the recruitment process. Recruitment counselors go through training that teaches them about:
- -The Panhellenic and greater campus community.
- -Ways to help PNMs understand their values so they can best support them in connecting -these values to their experience with each chapter.
- -Recruitment logistics to ensure that PNMs are where they need to be during recruitment.
- -Ways to support PNMs when prioritizing chapters after each round.
- -& more!
Their knowledge can help PNMs keep an open mind during recruitment and make informed decisions.
Depending on the College Panhellenic, recruitment counselors may be associated or disassociated. If they are associated, PNMs will know which chapters they are members of. Associated recruitment counselors should not influence PNMs to join their chapter, nor will they share any information about PNMs with their chapter. If recruitment counselors are disassociated, PNMs should respect that and refrain from trying to find out which chapter they are in. Neither association type should impact how you are supported during recruitment.
How to Utilize Recruitment Counselors
When Priority Ranking
When each round of recruitment concludes, PNMs will priority rank the chapters they would most like to return to. Before they complete their selections, PNMs can go to their recruitment counselors if they are conflicted and/or having trouble deciding or differentiating between chapters when prioritizing after each round. Recruitment counselors can help PNMs reflect on their conversations and connect them to their values. They offer a listening ear and are trained to support PNMs in their decision-making process. We recommend this more than talking to other PNMs because recruitment is so personal to each PNM. Each PNM should decide what is best for them and not let other perspectives sway them.
Recruitment counselors may also need to give PNMs an access code to submit preferences, depending on the system each school uses.
When Adjusting to College
They offer more than just support during the recruitment process. Recruitment counselors come from diverse backgrounds and have varied sorority experiences. They can help you adjust to college life in many ways, whether that is by giving advice or just being a friendly face on campus. They have different majors, involvements and sorority stories. This allows them to support a wide range of PNMs.
Ask your recruitment counselors about their involvement and how they balance school with their sorority membership. Although their formal role as a recruitment counselor ends after recruitment, they can still be there for their PNMs after recruitment and will be happy to talk and offer guidance!
When Meeting New People
Leading up to and during recruitment, recruitment counselors may plan outings to get dinner, explore campus or wind down at the end of a long day. It is a great way to get to know them and other PNMs during recruitment. The time with your recruitment group is a great way to build connections, no matter where your sorority journey takes you!
I cannot stress enough the importance of utilizing your recruitment counselors. They chose to take on this role and want to help! I wish that I had used them more when I went through recruitment. My recruitment counselors kept in touch with our recruitment group and became friendly faces around campus. No question is ever a bother! I served as Panhellenic VP of recruitment, and while I was not a recruitment counselor, I loved the opportunity to connect with PNMs, answer their questions and give any guidance I could.
