Preparing for Recruitment

Step One—As Soon as You Commit to a School:

Register for recruitment at your chosen campus.

You must register with the Panhellenic organization at your college or university to participate in sorority recruitment. You will find web pages and or contact information for them within the student life or student affairs section of the school’s site. To assist you, some universities have provided AAPA with a link to their recruitment registration sites.

Pay close attention to registration deadlines and fees. Once registered, you should receive information about the dates, dress guidelines, and schedule for recruitment during the summer for fall recruitment campuses, or in late fall for deferred, spring recruitment campuses. Substantial information appears on most schools’ sites, and college orientation is also a good time to ask questions.

Note: The AAPA no longer maintains its own registrations by potential new members prior to recruitment. Only registration with your college Panhellenic is required.

Step Two—In Spring and Early Summer:

Research the NPC sororities on your campus. What information do they want from you, and from others who can recommend you?

Start by visiting the school’s own site for Panhellenic recruitment, as in Step 1. Many will provide very specific information about what each sorority chapter on their campus requires and accepts. Try to meet each sorority’s requirements with what you prepare, submitting it according to the method they prefer. Particularly at large campuses with many women participating in recruitment, this early introduction to you really helps the collegiate members.

Campus-specific websites offer the best resource to you. However, if you do not find specific guidelines there, you may want to research specific sororities’ requirements using their national websites found at thesororitylife.com.

Step Three—In Spring and Early Summer:

Obtain personal recommendations or referrals from women you know, according to what each sorority requires.

Use the research you did with the campus and/or national sites in Step 2. Make a detailed list of the type of written recommendations each requires, from whom, using what form, and how to submit them. Many national groups have recently changed their policies on recommendations and letters of support. You are responsible for securing your own references or recommendations.
Then, reach out to your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, coaches, teachers, and others who know you to find those who can recommend you. Social media and the web can help to accelerate this process.

A reference from someone who knows you personally offers the best impression to the sororities. The individual who agrees to recommend you may need some information about you: high school, activities, interests, service, and employment to complete the process. The easier you make it for her, the stronger your recommendation is likely to be.

Some women may find that they have one or two sororities for whom they can find no connection that satisfies the requirements. In these cases, AAPA may be able to refer you to an alumna contact for the sorority. As we do not have Austin representatives for every NPC sorority, we cannot guarantee assistance. To inquire with AAPA, send an email to recruitment@austinpanhellenic.org . Contacting the national sorority can also provide a solution.