Hey there! Are you a Potential New Member wondering, "What should I be doing to prepare for sorority recruitment?" I get it! I was asking allll the same questions. One of the main things was worrying about what I needed to be doing in the summer leading up to sorority recruitment to prepare. So, today, I will give you a checklist to complete the summer before you go through sorority recruitment!

Hey, y'all! My name is Isabella, and I’m a college student learning how to navigate adulthood right alongside you! Today, I will tell you 13 Things You Need To Do To Prepare For Rush with a summer checklist!

chronological SUMMER Prep checklist

1. Research recruitment for your school

Research the recruitment dates and gather information about how rush works, specifically at your school. It works slightly differently at every school! You can find this on your university's website or the Panhellenic website. (Panhellenic is the organization that oversees all of the sororites on campus, BTW!)

You want to look for answers to questions such as....

• What are the dates of recruitment?
• What is the price to register?
  • TIP: The earlier you register, the cheaper it will be! Prices often go up throughout the summer.
• What are the deadlines for registration?
• What is the deadline for the recommendation letters to be received?
• Are there outfit guidelines or recommendations?
• What do you need to submit when registering for rush?

Want to know more about rush in general?

2. Clean out your social media.

Do a deep dive clean out of ALL of your social media, seriously, all of them. Go through your Instagram posts, highlights, tags, stories, and captions. Go through your TikTok, VSCO, and any other social media you may have and delete or archive any posts that might reflect you in a bad light.

TIP: If you have to question it at all, then you should delete it. Better safe than sorry!

This will often be the first impression a sorority gets of you, so you want it to be memorable for all the right reasons, not the wrong ones. Speaking of first impressions, I recommend going public on Instagram! It makes it easier to find out who you are and if you will be rushing; trust me, it helps!

3. Follow Panhellenic & ALL sororities at your school on Instagram.

Follow your school's Panhellenic Instagram if they have one to stay updated for the weeks leading up to recruitment.

Additionally, be sure to follow ALL of the sororites at your school on Instagram, even the ones you know you don't want. You don't want to show ANY bias towards any sororities because this will hurt you in the long run.

4. Get a professional headshot done.

Get a professional headshot done! If you can, I highly recommend splurging a little bit for a nice photographer. If you get nice headshots now, you will be able to use them frequently through the beginning of college. I still use mine now!

However, you definitely do not need to hire a photographer by any means because they can often be expensive. Try to find a friend or a friend's parents who have a nice camera and enlist your friend to take headshots of you in a classy and fun outfit!

This truly does make a difference! Be sure to be relatively conservative in your outfit choices. I wore two dresses that were "church dress' vibes.

5. Make a rush resume.

Make a custom rush resume! This is just a resume that is a little bit cuter than a standard resume. I recommend checking out some templates on Etsy. Simply type in "Rush Resume Templates".

You could use these as inspiration to make your own on Canva for free, like I did, or purchase one and edit it for cheap!

6. Register for recruitment.

This is an obvious step to take, but you only want to complete this AFTER you have done the first 5 steps. You should be able to do this on your university's Panhellenic website.

Be sure to read and take screenshots of all of the information provided so you don't forget anything.

Also, be sure to really invest time and thought into your video and/or short answer questions because these can be really impactful on your rush experience!

7. Get recommendation letters.

Go through the process of seeking out women to write your sorority recruitment recommendation letters. Ask any of the women in your life or the women in your family members' lives if they were in a sorority. Ask them if they know anyone who was in a sorority who would be willing to write a recommendation letter on your behalf.

For detailed step-by-step instructions on exactly how to find people to ask, how to ask for them, and the nitty-gritty details, check out the link below!

Want to know exactly how to do this?

8. Practice small talk.

Small talk is absolutely critical to the success of your recruitment process, so be sure to practice this ahead of time. The sorority members that you will be talking to will be giving you a rating based on how your conversation flows. You want to make sure to be your authentic self in an engaging way with the member!

Want to know exactly how to master small talk during rush?

Practice how you will answer some of the frequently asked questions that sororities will ask that I have linked below!

Want to know the top 20+ questions sororites will ask?

9. Plan out your outfits & accessories.

Plan out your outfits ahead of time. Pick out every single item that you may need for that outfit: dress, shoes, a specific bra, accessories, jewelry, etc. Plan your outfits down to the tee, so it's one less thing to stress about during rush week!

TIP: Let your personality truly shine through your clothing & accessories!

Want tips & advice for exactly how to do this?

10. Schedule hair & nail appointments.

Schedule hair, nails, waxing, and any other maintenance appointments. Especially if you are waiting to do these things until you get into your college town.

Chances are, hundreds of other girls going through recruitment will be doing the same things, and the salons will be absolutely packed.

Be diligent about investing in yourself and taking the time to help yourself feel confident throughout this process!

11. Practice makeup & hairstyles.

Practice what hairstyle you want to do with each outfit and focus on perfecting your makeup routine to make yourself feel the most confident!

Even consider investing in nicer makeup! I had always been a strictly drugstore makeup girl up until college (and don't get me wrong, I still use numerous drugstore products). Still, upon getting a gift card for Sephora, I decided to truly invest in high-quality makeup to help me look and feel my best. And I am so glad I did!

Ultimately, do what makes you look and feel your best to be your most confident self when walking into each house.

12. Pack your rush bag.

This is crucial! I seriously lived out of this bag through rush week. I packed it full of any item I could have possibly needed, from a portable fan to fashion tape. You can make this as minimal or as maximal as you want, and you should adapt it to your needs for recruitment week.

If you want a complete list of exactly what I packed AND what I wish I had packed, check out my other post below!

Want an exact list of what to pack?

13. Get your nails & toes done.

This is self-explanatory, but be sure to get your nails and toes done or do them yourself. Just make sure they look nice!

I highly recommend opting for a neutral option like bubble bath (light pink), funny bunny (white), or my personal favorite, French tips!

I hope this post helped you feel more prepared and equipped to tackle sorority recruitment! Remember, the most important tip is to be yourself!!!! If you're looking for more advice, check out 14 Must-Know Tips & Advice For Sorority Recruitment or Exactly How To Take Notes During Sorority Recruitment.

With Love,

Isabella XO