[carynie13]

That Sunday night, we met with our Pi Chis who gave us a little info on what to expect for the coming week. While it helped settle my nerves a bit, looking at all the lovely, outgoing girls around me only made me feel more nervous as I thought it was a competition in some way. These girls were also those that I would be living with the rest of the year as they were from my floor and the floor beneath me. So we all trekked back to our new home, chose our outfits, and tried to get some sleep.

Each morning of recruitment, we had to meet in the huge auditorium to hear speakers talk about the importance of greek life. This only intensified my nerves as our group sat in the top balcony and I could look down and see the hundreds of other girls also participating. It was very overwhelming, but then we got our schedule and learned where we would be going that day.

Day 1: Open House

Spruce: This chapter was going through their first recruitment, which put me at ease knowing that these girls were probably just as nervous as the girls lined up outside. They had recently obtained a huge house due to the closing of a fraternity and had done a lot of renovation work to make the home beautiful. I talked to three girls here, all were very sweet and kind and two were cheerleaders like myself. Most of our discussion came from our common activity, how excited they were to have a home (and one being built for when the fraternity returns), and why they chose Spruce even when it was so new. The girls were very nice, but I just did not feel a connection.

Cedar: We made a short trip next door, and were greeted to an amazing, unified walkout. I was so impressed at their walkout and how every girl seemed to be so pretty and bubbly. I talked to three girls here, who each kept that same stereotype, but it made me love them even more. They talked with me about cheerleading, as they were also, our common love for Coach outlets (I was carrying one at the time) and fun accessories, like my flower headband. I felt a great connection with these girls, and wanted to come back and meet more fun, sweet girls.

Ash: I knew going into this house that the chapter already had a strong idea of who I was from the large recommendation letter that I had written for me. I was paired with a girl who just happened to have family living in the small town right next to mine. At the time I thought it coincidence, but I was very mistaken. I thought this girl had an amazing sense of humor and really liked her attitude. However, I was bumped to one other member who was not quite as talkative and I had a hard time making conversation throughout the rest of the social. I knew I wanted to give them another chance, however, since I did have a strong rec and the first girl was so funny.

Oak: This was my second house visit to where I had a rec letter and I was really excited to visit here. I was picked up by someone not so memorable. We had a very basic conversation, which was mainly just about major and why I chose the school. However, when bumped I began talking to a hilarious and loud lady who I fell in love with. We talked about MADTV, our love for Stewart, and other comedy shows. We really connected and we were so busy talking that when it was time to separate we were still discussing Chelsea Handler's books. She quickly looked at my name tag and said she needed to remember it. I left there so in love with Oak.

Hickory: This house had a very showy walkout complete with a flip of the hair, and the most dramatic girl of the walkout was the one I was picked up by. Needless to say, I was slightly intimidated, especially when we began discussing our common major. She seemed to be very involved and outgoing. I was bumped to two more girls here, but they did not stand out as much as the first I spoke with. While I wasn't completely sold on the house, I just knew they would ask me back because rumor had it that their first cuts were only done on grades and my GPA was sure to get me an invite back.

Redwood: Another strong house (from what I had heard), but also one that had a really great philanthropy and grades. I was already interested in them because of this and only became more interested after talking to two really awesome girls. The first did not have much in common with me, as she was more of an athlete, but she was really easy-going and made great conversation. I felt like I was talking to someone I had known for years. I was sad when I was bumped to another girl, but not for long. This girl was gorgeous, looks and personality. She was a Texas bred cheerleader and shared the same journalism major as I had. I really had a great time at this house overall. I knew I wanted to return here.

Pine: This was the last house of the day and while I'm sure I looked a hot mess from the humidity and misty weather, I was so excited to be here especially since I had a friend in this house. I only talked to one member here, which I worried about at first but seeing that no one else in our room bumped, I thought it was normal. She was a senior and somewhat shy, but I really liked her as we casually talked about going away to school and missing our dogs just as much as our family. The time seemed to fly here as we had a nice, comfortable chat. When I left, the President winked at me, which I'm still unsure if that was done to everyone as I tried not to talk about my time at houses with others. Also, my friend waved goodbye and those surrounding her seemed to be very interested as I waved back.

Day 2: Open House

Hawthorn: This chapter has a beautiful house that made me so interested before even entering. I was picked up by a girl who I felt very similar to in looks. This house had the trendy braid in the front of her hair. We discussed how cute the look was, but how each of us were terrible at getting the look on our own heads. Not long after, I was bumped to another member, who I also felt I looked similar to. She was a senior and her bubbly persona really stood out. I decided I really liked this chapter as we talked about our love of all things girly, especially accessories. I knew I wanted to return here for skit day.

Ginkgo: A quick walk across the street took me to the next chapter, which was one that I was super excited about. During these two days I stood between two PNMs who were high school friends. The one informed me this day that she was a legacy of around five times and her friend was also well known here. I felt a little nervous standing between them, but I knew that I had a really nice rec here too, so I hoped that would help me stand out. I talked to a girl here who was sort of a "tomboy," but I didn't mind as we shared a common love for watching football and basketball. I was really impressed after speaking with her and when bumped I received another girl, who although I did not have much in common with, I really liked. I had a good feeling about this house.

Maple: This house had the cutest outfit thus far in recruitment and me being obsessed with fashion, I was already beginning to like this house. I was picked up by a girl with the cutest short, blonde haircut. This really stood out to me as most of the girls I had talked to had long hair. She had a very edgy look and I really enjoyed talking to her even though our conversation was pretty basic. I was bumped to another girl who had a twin also in the house. She seemed to be a very athletic person and did not seem really comfortable in the dressy outfit. However, she was a really great person to talk to and very memorable. I left this house very happy.

Dogwood: This house was home to several girls currently and past from my town. I had actually been inside the year before when visiting a friend two years older. I was greeted by a member and seated in a chair that almost made me feel excluded from the rest of the girls in the room. We had a nice conversation, and several older members, including the recruitment chair and her helper (forgot the title) came and introduced themselves. They said they were happy to have me in their home, which made me feel really special. My friend also came over to say hello and I left there so happy as I felt like I stood out in this chapter. However, I became upset when I learned that most girls had talked to two to three members and I had only talked to one. This tent talk made me very nervous.

Locust: Arriving at this chapter, it began raining, which was really difficult for both the members walking out and the PNMs trying to stand so close together, with such big umbrellas. During the walkout, I saw two girls I had met while visiting my boyfriend's fraternity last year. In fact, I had rode to a formal with one of the girls and both were really nice girls. My first girl I talked to was close friends with the girl I had met at formal, who was also from a town near mine. I talked with this girl about her visit to the very small town, since I also visit there frequently. My acquaintance came over and said hello, and I was bumped soon after seeing her. The other girl was sweet, but really did not stand out for me. It was a very basic conversation, and I left there unsure of whether I wanted to return.

Walnut: This house did not look like a traditional sorority from the outside, but when the walkout began I noticed a girl who looked very familiar, but couldn't put my finger on where I'd met her before. I was picked up by a very petite, but very outgoing member. We had a pretty good conversation and then I was bumped to the girl I thought I recognized. Sure enough, we had met before though none of us could remember where exactly. She was from a small town near mine. She was a member of her school's awesome dance team, so we just decided that was probably where we had met, since I was a cheerleader, but I think we both knew it had probably been at some party months earlier. I really liked both girls here, but just didn't know if the chapter was for me.

Poplar: This was another house that did not look like a traditional sorority house from the outside, but the inside was absolutely gorgeous. The first girl I talked with seemed so nervous. She quickly asked if I like the show that their skit was about for the next day and told me I would really enjoy it since I did like the show. Our conversation was pretty short and pretty lack-luster, though the member seemed very nice. Next, I talked with a girl who seemed to be also very nervous. She laughed quite a bit as she searched for things to ask me about, and although it was a bit awkward, I could tell she was a real person, which I liked. The last girl I was bumped to seemed to be very composed in comparison to the previous members. We talked about her heritage and her travels abroad, which I was very jealous of. We had a nice conversation but I was not sold on this house.

It was time for preffing. At my school, we circle the ten chapters we'd like to go back to and rank our bottom four. I quickly circled Cedar, Ash, Oak, Hickory, Redwood, Pine, Hawthorn, Ginkgo, Maple, and Dogwood. I ranked 1. Locust 2. Walnut 3. Spruce and 4. Poplar. One being the one I would most like to return to and so on.

I went back and chose my outfit carefully for the next day. Sleeping was not successful that night, or the rest of the week for that matter.