A fruity retro recruitment

[GeorgiaGPhiB]

Finals are just over and I think it is a great time to finally pen my retro recruitment story on GC. I hope you like it!

My retro recruitment story …

School – average size, public, smaller Greek system than top SEC schools and much less competitive than top SEC schools

Sororities – 3 (have now since changed, the Greek system feels like it is exploding)

My Background – I had always wanted to “rush”. I would be the first in my family to do so and had a lot of support from teachers and parents. My mom was supportive even though she knew little about process. My dad was clueless; bless his heart, but whatever made me happy! My high school grades were great (3.9) and I was involved in everything under the sun. I have this rule, try it for a year and if it is not for you move on and if so stay.

Why Sorority? – I felt like it would be a good way to make myself more social. I was never anti-social, but a few close friends were all that I needed. I also was in love with the idea of a sorority. Being a sorority girl meant being confident, social, graceful, and more well rounded. I liked the principle so I set off in hopes of becoming one.

First Impressions and Code Names

Strawberries – Impressive! These women were and still are great recruiters. They are the sorority every woman wants coming into recruitment. They are beautiful women and friendly to all those who approach. If you every thought “typical sorority southern belle” these ladies fit the profile. They are well loved by the top fraternity and have exceptional activities. They are the most selective sorority of the group.

Oranges – The unknowns! At the time of my recruitment, they were the newest sorority on campus. It was their first recruitment ever! They had little idea what was about to hit them. They offered the excitement and fear of “being able to help build the sorority”. I was unsure that I wanted to take on that task

Pineapple - Down to earth, these women like to keep a lower profile and focus on sisterhood. They enjoy regular activity with one fraternity and occasionally mix with the other ones. Friendlier than the Strawberries at meet and greets. I remember having great conversations with them during pre-recruitment meet and greets. They were my favorite going into the recruitment week.

[IrishLake]

looking forward to the rest. :-)

[FSUZeta]

me too!

[GeorgiaGPhiB]

Thanks for reading. I really do appreciate your readership!

Before recruitment week started, the office of Greek Life held meet and greets for the new students to meet the GLO’s on campus. The one I went to was a movie night, they were showing a movie I wanted to see, and I was interested in finding out more about the sorority women on campus. By this time I had been up and down every sororities international and chapter website, what can I say I’m a researcher! I talked to each sorority; the flow from table to table was interesting. Strawberry was packed and when you could not meet with a sister there you wondered over to the Pineapples (less packed) and then on to the Oranges. The Oranges had few sisters there so it was not packed but the low sister to PNM ratio made it hard to interact. After a little while, the movie started and I sat down, but left before it ended. Another rule of mine, do not be out after 10 pm by yourself. I did not figure out what the end of the movie was until a couple weeks after recruitment when I went home and asked my movie buff brother.

Day One

The usual first day activities happened. I walked into big room, signed in, had my picture taken, and waited to be placed into my Pi Chi group. I had about 15 girls in my group and my pi chi was nice enough. We introduced ourselves and discussed the rules, what to wear, and the process of recruitment. My group had one legacy her mother was a Strawberry. I was highly surprised at one of the girl’s attitude. She just knew she was going to make it into one of the “good sororities”. I wondered to myself how she was so sure. She was not a legacy; I wondered what she knew that I did not?

Day Two

The flock of women heading to student center was an amazing sight. It was a sea of well-dressed and perfectly groomed girls. The first night was Information night and dress was business causal, but more girls showed up in pretty sundresses than semi-professional wear. I do not remember what I wore; I just know I had an outfit planned out and it was business causal.

Strawberries – Their room was gorgeous and their theme was perfectly pink, Victoria Secret Pink to be exact. The room was covered in floor to ceiling pink paper with white fairy lights lighting up the room. All the sisters were in Victoria Secret Pink pj’s and they even had a bed made up to complete their slumber party theme. I was paired one-on-one with a Strawberry sister and conversation was decent. I was excited to be there and to be going through recruitment, it showed. I would not say we clicked, but she was nice and did her sorority proud. I knew I was not a match for Strawberry, but happy and hopeful to go back.

Pineapple – They did a Tiffany and Co theme, perfectly classy! I honestly found all the door chants to be great, they always make me smile. I was paired one-on-one with a Pineapple sister and we did click. She was from the same area as me, which was a rare find at my school. She knew my high school, my work, and my friends. She just added to all the wonderful things I thought about Pineapple. It was great and I really wanted to come back.

Orange – They did a golf theme and their lack of experience showed. This time I was double rushed, one sister to two PNMs. It was interesting being double rushed, but the conversation flowed and I was able to learn about the new sorority. One thing that sticks out in my mind about this event was a sister directly asking me what my gpa was in high school. It was refreshing being asked a direct question instead of beating around the bush. Orange was growing on me, but the I still did not know if I wanted to be a part of something new or stick with old school? I wanted to come back to learn more

I did not have to rank the fruits but leaving that night I liked them in the following order ….

Pineapple
Strawberries
Orange

My Pi Chi said she would call if we were dropped from all the sororities by noon.

[thetygerlily]

Loving this! In a way it's similar to my experience with three sororities and one that was building up to maturity. I can find reasons you'd go to any of them. But hurry it along, I'm impatient today and this is a fun one

[AXiDMeesh]

I'm actually excited about this one because I know the school
Can't wait to hear the rest!!

[honeychile]

I'm in!

[GeorgiaGPhiB]

I will be updating soon!

[GeorgiaGPhiB]

Day Three
I had not received a call from my Pi Chi, so I headed back that night to Recruitment. The time had come to find out where I had gotten invited back to and …..
Strawberry
Orange
Pineapple

I was over the moon about getting invited to all three sororities. This night was another get to know you night and dress was business causal. So I headed off to all three feeling great about having my pick of the sororities. Sorry but this night was a little lost in memory.

Strawberry – Pleasant conversation, but it was feeling forced. I was happy about being invited back and want to keep my options open, but I just did not feel like this chapter was for me.

Pineapple – Great conversation and feel in love with them all over again. I really felt this maybe the place for me

Orange - Getting to know them better and warming up to them more and more.

I never had to rank sororities, but in my mind …

Pineapple
Strawberry
Orange

[TriDLove]

YAY! I love a good sorority story!

(Congrats on Gamma Phi Beta, by the way, you all have such beautiful pins!)

[GeorgiaGPhiB]

Day Four

Welcome to Philanthropy Night. I was very interested in seeing whom I was invited back to for this night. The reason being is I received a very interesting question from the Strawberries on day three. One of the Strawberries asked me, “Why should I be Strawberry?” I was completely floored and unprepared to answer her. I like upfront and honest, but that was a bit too much, even for me. Throughout the process, I had realized that Strawberry was not my home, but in the spirit of recruitment, I continued to have an open mind. That question closed my mind.

Invites where…
Pineapple
Orange

Pineapple – This was the chapter I was in love with, but the girl I had that night offered no conversation. The conversation was forced and we ended up talking about the teachers we hate. I had clicked with so many girls in this chapter, but was unable to find any connection with her. I left wondering if my chances where over at Pineapple.

Orange – This was their night to shine. I loved what their philanthropy stood for. For the first time I was truly about to see what this sorority was about and who the sisters where as people. I had a great conversation with my girl that night, she seemed truly happy to have me there with her.

I left that night unsure about where my home was ….



Day Five

Welcome to Pref Night! I was excited to get this far, knowing that my chances of actually getting in where very high now. We were called over one by one and told our parties; I had been invited back to only Orange. I was sad about not getting Pineapple, I had loved them dearly the whole time, but Orange had grown on me more and more. I guess my conversation had done me in.

Orange – They had a lovely ceremony and their president and other member sang a song, which brought the room to tears. I was quiet this night, but really had a chance to think. I had loved their philanthropy, their values, their diversity, and their lack of “image”, the only thing I had not loved was the task of helping build a new chapter. “There is a reason here for a reason above” that I had be asked back to Orange and I was willing to see what that reason was.

My Pref Night was easy, I only had one choice, so I signed my card and left.




Bid Day!






















I’m an Orange!

To be honest I was not expecting a call. I have no reason why, other than I just did not want to get my hopes up and have them crushed. I was still in bed when my Pi Chi called and told me I had a bid! I had 45 min to take a shower and become sorority fabulous. I walked into bid day with wet hair and no makeup. The pictures where not too bad though. It was a bit weird knowing who my bid was from and everybody else on pins and needles, but the situation somehow fit me.

I am happy and proud to be a Gamma Phi Beta and I know that their was truly “a reason here for a reason above”.


Some updates ....

The girl that just knew she was going to make it, was completely dropped after the first couple of rounds. My Pi Chi was a Pineapple. The girl who was a Strawberry legacy became a Pineapple and the wonderful girl who I had on Day Four became my Big! Orange was the best decision I ever made.








Strawberry - Phi Mu
Pineapple - Delta Phi Epsilon
Orange - Gamma Phi Beta

[IrishLake]

Congratulations on finding such a wonderful home! Great story!

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Congrats to you and Gamma Phi!
I <3 how I was rooting for Strawberry and they turned out to be my own people! If this is the school I think it it my "auntie" is an adviser for them there.

[als463]

What a great story! Congrats on Gamma Phi Beta! It is an incredible organization and some of the sweetest girls I have ever met are Gamma Phis! Since you did not say anything that would be seen as inappropriate or offensive, would you mind saying where you went through recruitment? If not, that is fine. I just wanted to say Congrats!

[GeorgiaGPhiB]

No I do not mind. I went through at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. At the time we had Phi Mu, Delta Phi Epsilon, and a brand new Gamma Phi Beta. We just welcomed the Beta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi this year.