[mittens]

I don't think it could hurt to attend informal recruitment, just be aware that you have a chance of getting a bid to this house. If you decline it because you want to keep your options open for formal recruitment, it could look bad on you from that chapter and if you go through formal and you actually end up liking your friend's house the most, well, you might not have a chance to get a bid from there again. You said you know several sorority women. Do you know other sorority women in other houses or is it just in your friend's chapter? If you like the women in your friend's house I don't see why you wouldn't want to join this house. Are other sororities doing informal at your university? If there is then I would check out other houses as well. As you previously stated, you want to keep your options open and you know being a sophomore you will receive cuts and this could possibly be your friend's house as well. This is really a decision that you can only make.