Potential New Member (PNM)…You Got This!

A blog for women participating in sorority recruitment
By Dr. Lori Hart

Dear Potential New Member (PNM),

This is a note to all women who are entering into the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sorority recruitment process. And I pause before you read this to tell that your university or college offers many additional options other than sororities for you to get involved with. While I hope a sorority is in our future, I hope your story in college is full of experiences both inside and outside of the classroom.

However, with that said, I am so glad you are considering joining a sorority. Once upon a time, I was young and entering college ready to take on the world! Joining a sorority was something I wanted to do—maybe because my mom was in one, or maybe because I wanted my giant campus to feel a little smaller. Fast forward a few years: I had a great sorority experience, served as president of my chapter, enjoyed an incredible college journey, and made friends for life. Somewhere along the way, I became a college speaker.

I hope you find your passion and purpose in college and a career you love. In my work, I have the privilege of standing on many stages, speaking to potential new members who are interested in the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sorority recruitment process. The brave, intelligent, and amazing women I meet give me hope—if you are the future leaders of our world, we’re in good hands. So, let me share a few lessons with you as you consider joining a sorority.

First, take a deep breath.
Push out all the information you’ve heard about sororities—whether from older friends, relatives, Instagram influencers, or even “rush” consultants. Now let’s get started with a clear mind.

Emotional contagion is real.
This is the process by which people “catch” or adopt the emotions of others, often unconsciously. It’s well documented in psychology and neuroscience, and it applies to family dynamics, leadership, education—and yes, sorority recruitment. What “emotion” are you carrying into this process? If it’s stress, doubt, or fear that you’re not good enough, drop it. Look in the mirror and see yourself, your amazing, capable self. Carry that confidence into recruitment.

Words matter.
The process to join an NPC sorority is called Recruitment, not Rush. By definition, “rush” means “to move with urgent haste,” and while recruitment might only last a week, there are plenty of moments where you’ll wait for the next party, the next day, or the next set of invitations. Recruitment, on the other hand, means “the action of finding new people to join an organization or support a cause.” That’s exactly what this is. Changing your words can help change your mindset.

Things have changed.
If your mom, grandmother, or family friends were in a sorority in college, know that the process looks different today. Many NPC organizations have revised or eliminated legacy policies and recommendation requirements to promote a more equitable experience. Each of the 26 member organizations have their own guidelines, which you can find on their respective websites. Pay attention to information from your College Panhellenic, read the official websites, and tune out the outside noise. Source: Our Member Organizations - National Panhellenic Conference

Every sorority is a good sorority.
There are no “best sororities,” “top chapters,” or “bad sororities.” When people rank organizations, they imply that not all women are good—and that’s simply not true. Women already face enough challenges growing up. The last thing we need is messaging that some groups of women are less valuable than others. We are all good.

You will likely get released.
Just like an internship, job interview, or college application, you won’t always be selected during a mutual selection process. If you’ve ever watched The Bachelorette or Love Island, you know it’s a narrowing-down process. Your job is to keep an open mind.

Think of this as your first interview.
Recruitment is like fast-paced, on-the-job training for real life. Soon you’ll be submitting resumes for internships and jobs. Companies will recruit (notice the word?) and you’ll interview—and you may not get every opportunity. Remove the drama and treat recruitment like your first professional experience.

Recruitment is a mutual selection process.
The Release Figure Method (RFM)—created by a brilliant sorority woman and MIT graduate—keeps recruitment fair and balanced. It uses data to make sure every chapter meets its goals and that as many PNMs as possible find a chapter where they belong.

Your College Panhellenic will walk you through everything. If you want more details, head to the NPC website (The Sorority Life) or your campus Panhellenic social media for accurate, consistent information. Source: The Sorority Life - National Panhellenic Conference

YOU GOT THIS!
You’ve worked hard to get here. You have dreams and aspirations. This is your time to shine and be yourself. Don’t let outside voices influence how you show up. Use your voice. Be confident. Trust the process.

After Bid Day.
This is when the real work begins—showing up, paying dues, participating in philanthropy and service, and building relationships. While recruitment may feel hard, the true value comes from being an active, engaged member.

What if it doesn’t work out?
If sorority recruitment doesn’t go as planned, good news as I said in the beginning, campuses offer many other opportunities—culturally based sororities, service and professional organizations, and countless clubs. College is about finding your own unique path. Everyone’s story will be different, but everyone’s story has potential to be great!

What’s the point of college?
Here’s what I believe: the point of college is to learn how to use your voice. Lean In and McKinsey & Company’s Women in the Workplace study—particularly their “Broken Rung” research—shows that the biggest obstacle for women in leadership happens at the first promotion. Every year, women fall behind at that first step. That tells me college should prepare women to know themselves, speak up for what’s right, and build communities that help them thrive.

So, to every Potential New Member reading this—know that you are enough, just as you are. Whether you find your home in a sorority or somewhere else on campus, your college experience is yours to shape. Be curious, be kind, and be courageous. The journey ahead is full of possibility, and I believe in your ability to make it extraordinary. You’ve got this—and I can’t wait to see where you go from here!