Fall 2022 Sorority Recruitment
Registration for the 2022 Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment process opened May 1 and will close July 31.
Questions? Email the recruitment team at uscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com.
Things to know before you register
We recommend reviewing all the information below prior to registering for recruitment but have highlighted info as "must know" prior to your decision to go through recruitment. If you have questions about recruitment or the sorority membership experience, including financial, time, and academic requirements, contact the recruitment team at uscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com.
May 1: Registration opens
July 31: Registration closes at 11:59 p.m.
August 5: Mandatory online workshops must be completed by 11:59 p.m.
August 10: PNM Move-in and PNM Orientation
August 11: Round 1: Go Greek Round
August 12-14: Round 2: Philanthropy Round
August 15-17: Round 3: Sisterhood Round
August 20: Round 4: Preference Round
August 21: Bid Day
August 22-23: New Member Summit
All dates are subject to change.
The Greek community at UofSC has more than 45 member organizations. We encourage you to learn more about themembership intake processfor our NPHC and multicultural Greek organizations. If you have any questions, call 803-777-3506 or email us atuscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com.
Registration opened May 1!
In order to participate in sorority recruitment, as well as guarantee on-campus housing, registration must be received by July 31. Unfortunately, we will not be able to make exceptions to this deadline.
If you aren't able to attend the formal recruitment process but are interested in joining a Panhellenic organization later, please emailuscsororityrecruitment@gmail.comwith your contact information.
The registration fee is $200.
Includes several meals, a recruitment T-shirt, a small backpack, and a water bottle.
Unfortunately, we are not able to refund fees associated with registration. Once registration is submitted, a cancellation or reimbursement cannot be processed.
Info you'll need when sitting down to register
- General Resume Information (GPA, activities, community service, etc).
- Guardian Contact Information (for emergency contact and family orientation).
- Legacy Information (names, chapters and schools for family members who have been in sororities).
- A way to pay electronically.
- Approximately 30 minutes to complete the form. Accounts are not saved and registration is not complete until payment is accepted.
Register now!
All dates are subject to change.
- Women participating in sorority recruitment will move into their on-campus housing room early on Aug. 10. You will move into your assigned on-campus housing room.
- You do not need to contact University Housing to set up early move-in, as it will be set up for you once you register for recruitment.
- For more information about your move to campus, visit theUniversity Housing website. The website contains information including what you can and cannot bring to campus, dimensions and a floor plan of a typical room in your assigned residence hall, directions and more.
- Later in the summer, you will receive communication from University Housing informing you how to sign up for your move in day and time.
- Please direct all questions regarding housing to University Housing at 803-777-4283.
Fees
An early move-in fee of $100 will be charged to your UofSC bill.
Immunizations
You will not be allowed to move in if the university hasn't received yourimmunization record.
Students Living Off-Campus
You will need to make your own arrangements and coordinate your early move-in with your landlord or leasing company. The university does not make arrangements for students living off-campus. For more information about off-campus housing, contact theOffice of Off-Campus Livingand Neighborhood Relations.
You should be prepared to be occupied from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day during the recruitment process. Your schedule will be unique to you.
Schedule Conflicts
Conflicts can be excused for academic commitments, but schedules can't always be changed. It's important to remember that excused absences may affect your next round schedule. Recruitment is an opportunity for a potential member to meet active members in organizations and for those active members to get to know potential members. Missing these opportunities may affect invitations made for the next round of events. Missing recruitment events for an unexcused reason is cause for removal from the recruitment process completely. Speak with your "Pi Chi" recruitment counselor or contact Recruitment Staff at uscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com.
Women who do not feel well or are experiencing any symptoms of an illness should visit Health Services immediately and contact their Pi Chi to let them know about their expected absence. Rescheduling or virtual options will be on a case-by-case basis.
There is no specific GPA required to participate in recruitment, but each sorority chapter has its own GPA requirements. If your GPA is below a 3.0, you may be considered a "grade risk" and get fewer invitations during recruitment than those with higher GPAs.
GPAs are verified through the university once your registration is complete.
Sorority Membership Expectations
Academic success is greatly valued in all fraternities and sororities. Each chapter has a minimum GPA requirement to join and maintain membership in their organization. In addition, each chapter has an elected/appointed officer dedicated to connecting women in the chapter with campus resources to ensure they excel academically.
In order to operate, chapters charge membership dues once a semester. First semester dues are more expensive due to initiation fees and new member fees. These fees strictly cover chapter dues and do not include chapter apparel, philanthropic donations, housing, meal plans, and other incidentals.
All members of the fraternity and sorority community pay a $50* Greek activity fee.
*Note that this was the fee for the 2021-22 academic year and may change for the 2022-23 academic year.
To learn more about each chapter’s dues, housing, and meal plan costs, visit the annualFSL guide.
The time commitment generally varies from chapter to chapter and from member to member, but you can expect to invest more time in your first semester of membership as you go through the new member education program. New member education focuses on learning the history and facts about the organization, developing leadership and time management skills, and spending time getting to know sisters. Although it can be time intensive, it should not interfere with academic commitments.
Sorority members have the opportunity to live in the chapter house in Greek Village during their time in the chapter. Additionally, all chapters with houses in Greek Village have a meal plan for members starting the semester after a student joins the organization and lasts the duration of a student’s college career. For more information about the cost of housing and meal plan for each chapter, visit the Greek Village webpage.
Things to know after you've registered for recruitment
We’re excited that you’re interested in going through Panhellenic sorority recruitment this fall at UofSC! We’ve compiled the information below to help guide you through the rest of the process. If you have any questions, you can contact the recruitment team atuscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com.
This year, we’re excited to continue our partnership with NPC and Launchpoint to offer potential new members with online orientation prior to moving to campus. In July, you’ll receive an email prompting you to complete a series of mandatory online workshops. There will be a short quiz at the end of each of the 10 sessions which will require a passing score of 80%. There is not a limit on the number of times required to take the quizzes. We anticipate that viewing the 10 sessions videos and completing the quizzes will require approximately 1hr. You will not be required to complete all sessions and quizzes in one sitting. If you can’t complete them during one sitting, you can log back into your account and finish them at a later time. All videos must be watched and quizzes passed no later than 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 5.
In July, you’ll receive an email prompting you to complete this two-part course, learning how to recognize, prevent and report hazing. The real-life scenarios prepare students, group members and bystanders to make informed decisions, ultimately empowering them to prevent hazing. The first part of the course is titled Hazing Prevention: It’s Everyone’s Responsibility 101 ™. This is the prerequisite for the second part of the course, The Fraternity and Sorority Life Module, designed for university students in fraternities and sororities. We anticipate that completing the two modules will take approximately 90 minutes. Both modules should be completed no later than 11:59pm on Aug. 5.
During the recruitment process, each potential new member is assigned to a recruitment counselor group, along with approximately 30 other potential members. Each group has two assigned recruitment counselors (Pi Chis) who will be a point of contact for the PNMs throughout the recruitment process. These are upperclassmen sorority women who are temporarily disassociated from their chapter to assist with the recruitment process. They are great resources for potential members to learn more about the sorority experience, membership expectations, and recruitment events.
The Pi Chi role involves a very competitive selection process as well as a leadership retreat in the spring and several days of training in August prior to the start of recruitment. Women in this role work closely with Fraternity and Sorority Life staff, the recruitment team, and a 2nd year Pi Chi who serves as Head Pi Chi.
After each round of recruitment, the potential member has the opportunity to select which organizations she'd most like to visit during the next round of events. The chapters also make invitations to invite potential members back to their next round of events. Through this, both potential members and the sorority chapter make a mutual choice about membership.
How shouldPNMs make their selections?
- Conversations with members during recruitment events.
- How the chapters’ values align with the PNMs personal values.
- How the chapter can help members achieve their greatest potential.
- What a PNM believes to be the best fit for them.
- Independent and pressure-free from family or friends opinions.
How do chapters make membership decisions?
- Academic, leadership and community service accomplishments.
- Conversations with their members during events.
- Sorority membership requirements.
- The chapter's founding values.
After attending Round 4 (preference) recruitment events and at the completion of the recruitment period, all potential members are given the option to sign a membership recruitment acceptance binding agreement (MRABA). In order to receive a bid from a sorority on campus, the MRABA must be signed. This document is used on every campus that has National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) member organizations and is upheld by NPC and the 26 international member organizations, including the 13 on UofSC’s campus. By submitting selections on preference, a potential member is agreeing to the points below. In addition, this information will be covered in the mandatory orientation webinars, throughout the recruitment process, within Pi Chi groups, and prior to chapter selection on Round 4.
By signing the MRABA, a PNM agrees to the following terms:
- I am willing to accept an invitation to membership (a bid) from any sorority I list on this form.
- I will list the sorority(ies) in order of preference for receiving a bid.
- I do not have to rank all the sororities that are my remaining choices if I am certain I will not accept a bid from them and cannot see myself as a member of that sorority.
- I understand that should I choose to limit my choices, I might not receive a bid through this recruitment process.
- After submitting the form, I cannot change my ranking. I also cannot add or delete any sorority.
- If I do not receive a bid from any sorority I have listed, I understand that I am eligible to join any sorority through COB if there is an opportunity. I also understand that not all sororities will recruit through COB.
- If I do receive a bid from a sorority I have listed, and I choose not to accept that bid, I understand that I am NOT eligible to join any other sorority on this campus until the start of the next primary recruitment period (Fall 2023).
A legacy is the daughter or sister of an initiated or alumna member of an organization. Some organizations also include grandchildren or other family members when considering someone a legacy.
If you're a legacy of one of our 13 chapters, we recommend having your family member use the national website to submit a legacy form to ensure required information is submitted.
Beginning in 2021, our chapters collectively decided not to request letters of recommendation for recruitment 2021 as we feel that the time spent with chapter members during recruitment is more beneficial in learning more about you! Letters of recommendation have not historically been required for membership to one of our chapters on our campus and by continuing to eliminate them from the selection process will assist in our vision of getting to know the potential new member personally.
If you are aware of an alumna who is looking to write you a letter of recommendation to a specific chapter, you are more than welcome to submit that through the national organization. Please check the national organization’s website for more information about their specific process.
If you have a diagnosed disability or medical condition that warrants or requires special accommodations, including a health condition that makes wearing a face covering risky, you must register with theStudent Disability Resource Center no later than 5 p.m. on Aug. 5.
Please contact 803-777-3845 if you have questions about special accommodations during sorority recruitment.
In order to accommodate food allergies and other food-related needs, all restrictions must be registered in advance with theStudent Disability Resource Center no later than 5 p.m. on Aug. 5.
Please contact 803-777-3845 if you have questions about food-related accommodations during sorority recruitment.
What to expect during recruitment
Each round of recruitment provides the opportunity to visit with members of each chapter on your schedule. We recommend sharing information about yourself that lets the chapter know about your interests, goals, and values. We also strongly recommend asking questions about membership expectations, benefits of membership, and chapter values.
All active and potential new members participating in the recruitment process are required to follow all public health directives. Campus policy related to physical distancing, event caps, and face coverings must be followed. Anyone not following policy may be removed from the recruitment process.
To review the current guidelines, visit the University Health Center website.
Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022
The recruitment team will host an orientation session on the day you move in. At this event, you’ll meet your Pi Chi recruitment counselor, other women going through the recruitment process, and learn more about the sorority experience at UofSC. You’ll receive more information and where to meet your Pi Chi for this event in early August. Dinner with your small group will be provided. This event is scheduled on move-in day so dress is very casual.
Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022
During Round 1, you will watch a video made by each of the thirteen chapters. You will also have the opportunity to make a video to share a little about yourself with the chapters. This first day is very casual and will be outside with your Pi Chi group so please wear your recruitment T-shirt, shorts or a skirt, and comfortable shoes for walking across campus.
In addition to watching chapter videos and recording a personal video, potential members will participate in Sorority 101 programming. Sorority 101 is educational program designed to outline the membership commitment within the Greek community here at the University of South Carolina. Our goal is to share the importance of the lifelong commitment you make when joining a Greek letter organization, as well as provide you with a transparent picture of the expectations of sorority membership on our campus. The sessions are designed to share various components of Fraternity and Sorority Life as well as prepare PNMs for their first weeks on campus. PNMs should gain knowledge and tools to allow them to successfully manage expectations of their future chapter, become educated about campus norms surrounding the new member experience and learn about the philanthropic efforts of sorority women across the country.
Friday, Aug. 12 - Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022
During Round 2, you will visit a maximum of ten sororities. You will spend about 30 minutes with each chapter on your schedule to learn about their philanthropic causes and activities. Please wear your recruitment T-shirt, shorts or a skirt, and comfortable shoes.
Monday, Aug. 15 - Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022
During Round 3, you will visit a maximum of six sororities and spend about 40 minutes with each chapter on your schedule while they show a video that highlights their activities, traditions, and friendships. Attire for this day is still casual but a little dressier than previous days. Additionally, during this round, chapters will review their financial expectations with potential members.
Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022
This round is a special opportunity intended for chapters to showcase the bond they share as sisters. You will visit a maximum of two sororities and spend about one hour with each chapter on your schedule. Due to the more formal nature of this day, we recommend dressier attire, similar to a cocktail or Sunday brunch dress, and something you’ll be comfortable in. As always, wear comfortable shoes or bring a pair to change into between your scheduled events with chapters.
Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022
This day is the grand finale of recruitment. Membership bids are given out to the women who finish the recruitment process and recruitment counselors reveal their chapter affiliation and reunite with their sisters. Please wear comfortable attire as this is an active and exciting day. Each sorority will give their new members a T-shirt or tank top to wear when they receive their bid.
After receiving bids, chapters typically host sisterhood events that evening for their new members.
Monday, Aug. 22 - Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022
Once recruitment concludes, chapters will host events for their new members to get to know one another as well as the active members of the organization. In addition, new members will be required to attend an event at the beginning of the week. The date and time of the meeting based on the chapter schedule. New members will get their schedule on Bid Day.
All dates and information are subject to change.
FAQs
What are the 5 types of fraternities and sororities? ›
- Social.
- Service.
- Professional.
- Honors.
- Religion/Ethnic.
While Panhellenic recruits are required to go to all 11 houses at their assigned time to give each house a fair chance, IFC recruits may choose which house they do or do not visit. If a Panhellenic PNM fails to visit all the houses, she can potentially be dropped from the process entirely.
Is Greek life good on a resume? ›Students often want to know if they should add Greek life to their resumes, and if so, how they can highlight such experiences in professional and relevant ways. It is recommended that you always include sorority or fraternity information on your resume, as many components of your membership are selling points.
What is a fraternity recruitment? ›Fraternity and sorority recruitment is the process of current chapter members recruiting new members into their organizations. This usually happens at the beginning of a semester during what is known as “Rush Week” or “Rush.”
What is the youngest sorority? ›Interesting Facts About the Largest Sororities
The youngest sorority on either list is Alpha Gamma Delta, founded in 1904. The youngest sorority on both lists is Delta Zeta, founded in 1902.
Most schools require you to be a full-time student physically enrolled in order to participate in pledging one of these Greek organizations, but in recent years college campuses have experimented with the idea of fraternities for online students.
What makes a sorority Panhellenic? ›Panhellenic Sororities (NPC Sororities)
Panhellenic is derived from the Greek word meaning “All Greek” which now is used as a term for the social sorority community. Sororities came to be in the mid 1850's where women came together to achieve higher education, social, and moral standards.
Panhellenic (comparative more Panhellenic, superlative most Panhellenic) of or relating to all Greece or all the Greeks. of or relating to the Greek-letter fraternities or sororities in American college and universities or to an association representing them.
What are the 4 sorority and fraternity councils? ›The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life is composed of four governing councils: the Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Panhellenic Association.
Does Greek life help you get a job? ›“Greek life recruitment season primes you for social skills and emotional intelligence that employer's covet,” she says. “Simply stated, you'll figure out how to work a room.”
What should I wear to a frat interview? ›
Do dress in dark, neutral colors. At this age, you should have at least one suit in your closet. Don't worry if you only have one—I only had one suit in college, too. But at this stage in the game, you should have one single-breasted black suit, one dark navy suit, and (my favorite) one charcoal/dark gray suit.
Does being in a sorority look good for med school? ›But honestly, being in a sorority has been really great practice for my med school interviews! Med school interviews are similar to sorority recruitment. You have to be nice to random people for several hours straight. You have to nod, smile, and listen carefully for several hours even when it gets tiring.
What is the purpose of sorority recruitment? ›A Closer Look at Sorority Recruitment Goals:
Use Recruitment to Make Greek Life Better on Campus. Recruit Sisters Who Want to be Students First. Avoid Common Recruitment Pitfalls. Connect with Sorority Recruitment Software Tools.
Recruitment is the process women interested in joining a sorority must participate in before being extended an invitation for membership.
Why is recruitment important to a fraternity? ›You can think of recruitment as a way to find the most interesting brothers and sisters on campus. But really, recruitment should be an extension of your philanthropy. Your fraternity or sorority was founded to do good in the world, so use rush to find the people who will continue your legacy.
What is the coolest sorority? ›- Delta Sigma Theta.
- Kappa Alpha Theta.
- Alpha Kappa Alpha.
- Alpha Chi Omega.
- Alpha Delta Pi.
- Phi Mu.
- Alpha Omicron Pi.
- Zeta Tau Alpha.
Beta Delta Kappa
She even wore the Greek letters on her yellow sweatshirt.
- 1Alpha Kappa Alpha.
- 2Delta Sigma Theta.
- 3Zeta Phi Beta.
- 4Sigma Gamma Rho.
- 5Alpha Omicron Pi.
- 6 Chi Omega.
- 7Gamma Phi Beta.
- 8Kappa Alpha Theta.
Pledging is an intensive orientation and probationary period for students pursuing fraternity membership. Over the course of six weeks or more, pledges study all facets of fraternity life and the Greek system. You'll also spend time bonding with your new brothers.
Is pledging a frat hard? ›Overall, pledging a fraternity comes with both good and bad, and it isn't for everyone. Being a pledge requires time management skills and resilience. Pledges have to navigate their first semester of college classes, countless hours of fraternity activities and manage to get some sleep along the way.
Can you quit a fraternity? ›
When you quit a fraternity, you will essentially be telling the fraternity that you no longer want to be friends. Common protocol is informing the president and giving him your fraternity pin. Many people also give the president a letter indicating that they are quitting.
How many different frats are there? ›Today there are over 1500 fraternities and sororities in existence that use Greek letters in their name. Many Greek organizations are informally known more by their nicknames than their Greek letters. For example, Alpha Epsilon Pi is more commonly referred to as 'A-E-P' and Kappa Alpha Order is known as 'KA'.
How many sororities are there? ›Our Member Organizations and Affiliates
The members of the National Panhellenic Conference are 26 inter/national sororities. They are private, women's-only social member organizations. They have collegiate chapters across the U.S. and Canada. Sorority alumnae live and are organized across the globe.
Fraternity is usually understood to mean a social organization composed only of men, and sorority one of women, although many women's organizations and co-ed organizations also refer to themselves as fraternities.
What does frat stand for? ›The word frat is short for fraternity, and both words mean "body of men associated by common interest," from the Latin root fraternitatem, or "brotherhood." A frat will usually have their own house and a name made up of two or three Greek letters.
What is hazing in frats? ›Hazing is a ritual that involves risk, pain, or harm, typically as part of initiation into a group. College hazing often entails excessive alcohol consumption and ritualized pain endurance. Over half of college students involved in sports or clubs have experienced hazing.
Why do people join fraternities? ›It encourages individual development within a smaller group of friends while attending the institution. Fraternities & sororities supports students that espouse a common set of values, including brotherhood/sisterhood, academic excellence, character/leadership development, a sense of community, philanthropy & service.
How many white sororities are there? ›There are over 100 “white” sororities and fraternities most of which practice community service, activism, and sisterhood or brotherhood.
What is the most elite sorority? ›- Delta Sigma Theta.
- Kappa Alpha Theta.
- Alpha Kappa Alpha.
- Alpha Chi Omega.
- Alpha Delta Pi.
- Phi Mu.
- Alpha Omicron Pi.
- Zeta Tau Alpha.
The cost of sororities and fraternities is much higher than many newly initiated sisters and brothers realize. From rushing registration fees and social fees to chapter dues and room and board charges, the cost of going Greek typically ranges from $600 to $6,000 per semester, plus rush and alumni fees.
Why do you want to join a Panhellenic sorority? ›
You'll join a community of like-minded women.
Sorority membership provides a community of women who share similar values, goals and aspirations. These women will support you as you navigate your collegiate experience.
Dirty rushing is when a Greek chapter specifically tells a PNM that if they want that chapter, it's theirs. It can also include drinking/partying with PNMs and speaking to a PNM during the 'silent period' - the period after final party but before bid day where members of Greek Life are forbidden to speak to PNMs.
What does DD mean in sorority? ›You don't have to pretend to be a student, we know there are parents on here. DD or DS means “darling daughter/son” or “dear daughter/son” or “damn daughter/son”.
What is the president of a sorority called? ›A sorority president at her core is a chapter manager.
What are frat girls called? ›Sororities (originally termed "women's fraternities") began to develop in 1851 with the formation of the Adelphean Society Alpha Delta Pi, though fraternity-like organizations for women didn't take their current form until the establishment of Pi Beta Phi in 1867 and Kappa Alpha Theta in 1870.
What sorority girl means? ›Definition of sorority
: a club of women specifically : a women's student organization formed chiefly for social purposes and having a name consisting of Greek letters.
Frat boys prefer colored shorts in either pastel hues or bright colors, which can be paired with a top in a similar color tone. When dressing like a frat boy, don't be afraid of color and don't hesitate to mix and match them. Put on a pair of pink chino shorts and pair it with a blue or green polo shirt.