Imagine you interview two women to be your roommate. You prepared three questions to ask each woman. Based on their answers, you will pick which woman is the better fit. First, you interview Sam.
You: Where are you from?
Sam: Atlanta.
You: What do you like to do in your free time?
Sam: Hang out with my friends.
You: What are your passions?
Sam: Yoga.
Next, you interview Brooke.
You: Where are you from?
Brooke: I am from Atlanta. I love living in the city so much. For college, I wanted a different experience. I wanted to be in a small college town that loved football and had an incredible community. When I toured the University of Alabama, I fell in love with all the opportunities. I have not been to a football game yet. I am so excited about the first game!
You: Me too! I went to the Auburn game last year, and it was so much fun! I have already planned out all of my game-day outfits.
Brooke: No way! Me too! I think that is the most fun part about the games! Which football games did you buy?
You: I bought the package with the Auburn game. My dad went to Auburn, so it is a big deal in our family.
Brooke: That is the package I bought too!! We have to go to the game together!
Before you know it, time is up. You asked Brooke one of the scripted questions. Throughout your conversation, you got off-topic and talked about the football games, your goals for college, the things you hope to accomplish, and the memories you hope to make.
Which woman will you pick to be your roommate? Sam or Brooke?
Most likely, you picked Brooke.
Why did you pick Brooke?
You could see her as a friend. You could see yourself hanging out with her on the weekends and going to the games together. You were able to have a conversation with her and connect with her. You want to do the exact same thing during sorority recruitment.
During sorority recruitment, most of your score derives from your conversation. To get a good score and be invited back to the sorority, you need to connect to the members and allow them to see you as a friend.
TIP #1. UNDERSTAND HOW THE MEMBERS PREPARE FOR SORORITY RECRUITMENT
The members spend weeks practicing for sorority recruitment. During this time, they learn how sorority recruitment works, practice door chants, practice conversations, and more. Since the members practice conversations, they have created a script of questions to ask each potential new member. They will not break from the script unless you force them to break it.
Why will the members not break from the script?
#1. Having conversations with strangers can be difficult.
It is easy to ask the same ten questions to each potential new member. It is easy to be on autopilot mode.
#2. The recruitment team puts a lot of pressure on each member.
They want every potential new member to feel welcomed and have great conversations. When many have great conversations, it helps the sorority drop a higher percentage of potential new members. If a sorority invites back a small percentage of potential new members, it is easier to find the best fits for their sorority.
Why do most potential new members not break from the script?
Here is an example of the average potential new member’s conversation during sorority recruitment.
Member: Hi! Welcome to ABC! We are so excited you are here! My name is Kate! What is your name?
Potential new member: Hi! My name is Sam!
Member: Where are you from?
PNM: Atlanta
Member: What did you do this summer?
PNM: I worked and hung out with my friends.
Member: Where did you work?
PNM: At a restaurant
Now, give Sam a score of 1 to 10 [1 = I would never be friends with this woman, and 10 = I found my new best friend].
What score did you give her?
Most likely a 3 to 5.
Why did you give her this score?
You only learned FACTS about her. These facts did not help you see her as a friend.
During sorority recruitment, when Sam answers questions with facts, the member has a hard time asking random follow-up questions. If the member cannot think of a follow-up question, she asks Sam another scripted question. When Sam is stuck in the script, it is hard to get a great score. If she does not get a great score, the likelihood of her being invited back to the sorority is LOW.
How do you get an above-average score?
Let’s look closer at Sam’s first answer. She said, “Atlanta”. That is a fact. When you answer questions with facts, it makes it hard to keep a conversation going.
This type of answer leads to a potential new member study in the Average Conversation Cycle. If you stay in this cycle, the member goes on autopilot. When a member is on autopilot, you are asked 10 scripted questions.
The main takeaway is that the member will not break the script. You have to force them to break it. If the member does not break the script, you will most likely get an average score. Your average score may get you dropped from some sororities.
TIP #2. FORCE THE MEMBERS TO BREAK THE SCRIPT
How do you force them to break it?
That is where your small talk strategy comes into play.
The 4 parts of your small talk strategy are:
#1. Mindset
#2. Excitement
#3. Signature stories
#4. Connecting with the members
When you use this strategy, the members see you as a friend. If they see you as a friend, they see you in the sorority and give you an above-average score.
Let’s look at an example of how you force the member to break the script.
Member: Where are you from?
Potential new member: I am from Atlanta. I love it there, but I am so so excited to be here. When I was touring the campus, the tour guide mentioned all of the incredible opportunities at [college name].
Will the member as another scripted question? Will you get stuck in the Average Conversation Cycle?
She asks you about the opportunities and how you want to get involved. This conversation leads to her getting to know you and connecting with you. When she goes to vote, she sees you in the sorority. AKA. You are getting an above-average score and increasing your chances of getting invited back.
TIP #3. HAVE THEM MEMBERS CONNECT TO YOU
The importance of connecting
When you picked your roommate,
Did you care what her favorite color was?
Did you care how many boxes she was going to bring when moving in?
Probably not. Most likely, you picked someone who wanted a similar experience for college and lived a similar life to you.
The same idea applies to sorority recruitment. The members look for women who are similar to the current members. They want you to join and be able to find immediate friends. To receive a bid, you have to communicate that you are similar to them. You have to allow the members to connect with you.
To learn more about the small talk strategy, check out The Ultimate Guide to Sorority Recruitment. In this book, you learn:
What questions the members will ask you
How to answer the questions [and examples]
Conversation mistakes potential new members make
How to prepare correctly for your college
Click here to get the ebook version
Click here to get your copy on Amazon
TIP #4. PREPARE YOUR ANSWERS
Examples of questions you might be asked.
Where are you from?
What are you looking for in a sorority?
When creating your answers to the scripted questions, it can seem overwhelming. It may feel like you have to say the “right” things. To be completely honest with you, the members do not care what your answers are. They will not pick 5 business majors, 5 psychology majors, 5 teaching majors, etc. The members look for connections with the women they are talking to. When you connect to a member, she can see you in herself and the sorority. This connection will help you get invited back.
Example of how to answer, “What is your favorite TV show?”
Here is how most potential new members answer this question. They say, “My favorite TV show is [insert name]".”
When you only say the name of the TV show, the member might have a hard time keeping the conversation going — asking a random question or having a conversation. If the member does not know what to say next, you are going to be stuck in the script. The member is on autopilot. She is going to ask you the ten questions she has memorized.
You want to stand out, right?
How to stand out with your answer
You share the TV show + a story with specific details (why did you decide to watch it, why did you enjoy it, etc. )
When you add a story to your answer, it allows the member to:
Learn more about you
Connect with you — She is able to relate to you and have a conversation with you.
Ask a unique follow-up question — You break from the scripted questions! Yay!
Example. “I love documentaries. My younger sister and I love watching them together. We have a shared note of over 20 documentaries we want to watch. Over this semester, I know I will miss her. We have made it a priority to pick one documentary to watch each month over FaceTime. I know it will not be the same as watching it together in person, but it gives us an excuse to spend quality time together. My favorite documentary so far was Bad Vegan. Have you seen it?"
Now, the member can ask you about:
Your sister
Documentaries
Family
Staying in touch with loved ones
All of these topics lead to breaking the script and forming connections. Connections are how you get invited back to sororities you love. You need to make connections!
DO YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK HELP YOU STAND OUT OR GAIN RUSH CRUSH STATUS DURING SORORITY RECRUITMENT?
When you depend on Youtube and TikTok for advice, you prepare like everyone else. When you look like everyone else, you do not stand out. If a sorority can only invite back 30% of all PNMs, how will you show them that you deserve to be in the top 30%?
Instead of using advice and being the Overlooked Potential New Member, you want to use a step-by-step plan to gain Rush Crush status -- stand out, have options, and run home to a sorority you love. Click the video below to see how CRUSH [sorority recruitment coaching] can help you create and implement your plan.
You have a math test in two weeks that is worth 90% of your grade for the class. You want to get an A. You are looking for guidance on how to get your A.
First, you ask a friend, not in your math class, “How do I get an A+ on my test?” She says, “You need to study.” This answer leaves you frustrated.
Then, you ask your teacher, “How do I get an A+ on my test?” She gives you a step-by-step plan.
Who was more helpful?
Your teacher, right?
To get an A, you need to know the right information and have a step-by-step plan.
To get a bid to a sorority you love, you have to communicate you are the right fit for the sorority before and during sorority recruitment. A step-by-step plan tells you how and when to communicate.
BUT… why do so many women going through sorority recruitment ONLY use the advice they find on Youtube and TikTok? Does it help them stand out and get a bid?
Click the video below to see how The Ultimate Guide to Sorority Recruitment can help you create and implement your plan.
$34.99
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Sorority-Recruitment-sorority/dp/1674072309
$14.99
https://www.gettingthebid.com/store
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU GET A BID TO YOUR DREAM SORORITY?
