You walk into your first sorority. You are excited and nervous to meet the members. A member walks up to you and says, “Hi! Welcome to ABC! We are so excited you are here! What is your name?”
While you talk to the member, you realize you have so much in common with her. You have the same major and are from the same hometown. The next morning you get your Round 2 schedule. You are invited back to ABC. Again, when you talk to the members, you feel like you are talking to friends. You have so much in common.
This situation could be your reality throughout sorority recruitment. You can find your new best friends and home. Your first step is to get on each recruitment team's radar. A recommendation letter helps you get on their radar. It serves as a formal introduction to the sorority. This introduction helps the recruitment team know why you would be a good member and who you should talk to during sorority recruitment. In the story above, these conversations were not random. They were planned. The potential new member was paired to talk to the member during Round 1 that was from her hometown and had the same major.
What is pairing during sorority recruitment?
Pairing is when the recruitment team picks you to talk to a specific member during sorority recruitment. This member has something in common with you – from the same hometown or area, is involved in similar activities, has the same major, etc.
Why do sororities pair potential new members?
#1. Better conversations
#2. Since you are connected to the members, you most likely will vote to keep the sorority.
What is a recommendation letter? How does the recruitment team use the recommendation letter?
A recommendation letter is similar to a job application form. It is a form that an alumna [some sororities allow members] fills out about you. This form asks for specific information about your GPA, involvement, volunteer work, hobbies & interests, legacy information, etc. It is similar to the form you fill out at registration.
Some sororities refer to recommendation letters as RIF, MIF, or sorority recs.
The recruitment team for each sorority uses your recommendation letter to collect information on you and as a way to learn more about you. Then, they use this information to see if you are a good fit for the sorority and to pick who you should talk to during sorority recruitment.
does everyone need sorority recommendation letters?
No. Every college does not encourage potential new members to get them.
How do you know if you need sorority recommendation letters?
Follow this simple process.
Step #1. Google “your college name Panhellenic”
For example, “The University of Alabama Panhellenic”
Step #2. Find your college’s Panhellenic website
Step #3. Be a detective on the website and look for clues
Did you find a section dedicated to recommendation letters?
Did you find a list of addresses or email addresses?
These are all good indicators that you need sorority recommendation letters.
What does a sorority recommendation letter look like?
Sorority recommendation letters look similar to a job application. It is a form that has specific questions about the potential new member (you). Some of the information they want to know about you is:
GPA
Involvement
Volunteer work
Greek affiliations
Etc
Who can write sorority recommendation letters?
ALL sororities accept recommendation letters from alumnae. Some sororities accept recommendation letters from women who are currently in sororities.
The alumnae do NOT have to attend the same college as you. For example, let’s say you are going to the University of Alabama. Your neighbor went to Arizona State University and was an Alpha Phi. She could write you a recommendation letter for the Alpha Phi chapter at the University of Alabama.
She cannot write you a recommendation letter to Alpha Chi Omega at the University of Alabama.
Also, you cannot write your recommendation letters for most sororities. Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Sigma Sigma Sigma allow ANYONE to write recommendation letters. You can find the recommendation letter form on each sorority’s national website.
Phi Mu does not accept recommendation letters.
How to submit your sorority recommendation letter? Where do you send them?
STEP #1. Create a social resume and find a headshot you want to use
Editable and customizable social resume templates.
STEP #2. Create cover letters and packets (not all colleges encourage packets). Click here to see if your college encourages packets.
Your cover letter is the directions for submitting your recommendation letter.
STEP #3. Decide how you want your recommendation letters sent in
How to decide how to send in each recommendation letter
Step A. See if your Panhellenic website has information (email, online through the National sorority’s website, or through the mail)
Step B. If no information was given, the woman writing your recommendation letters uses her sorority’s national website to submit a recommendation letter
STEP #4. Find women to write your recommendation letters
STEP #5. Send each woman your information -- social resume, cover letter, headshot, and packet (if necessary)
STEP #6. Send thank you card
Once the sorority alumna has written your recommendation letter, she will send it to the sorority. You do not send it to the sorority.
How do you get sorority recommendation letters? How do you ask for them? What do you need to send to each woman who is writing your sorority recommendation letter?
There are many different ways to get recommendation letters. The easiest and most common ways to get recommendation letters are through:
people you know [friends, neighbors, teachers, etc.]
Alumnae Panhellenic Associations in your area
Facebook
How to get recommendation letters through Facebook
You want to create a post asking for them. Then, women who can write them will comment or message you. After, they message you. You will want to send them:
Social resume — read all about social resumes HERE
Picture of yourself
Cover letter— read all about sorority cover letters HERE
Packet [if necessary]
After the alumna or sorority member writes you a recommendation letter, always make sure to send them a thank you note or thank you email.
If you are looking for additional ways to find recommendation letters, you need help creating your social resume or cover letter, you need help prepping for sorority recruitment, and you need help answering the members’ questions, The Ultimate Guide to Sorority Recruitment can help you. The Ultimate Guide to Sorority Recruitment is a book that helps you get a bid. You will learn how to correctly prep for sorority recruitment, gain confidence, master small talk, and understand how sorority recruitment works.
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How many sorority recommendation letters do you need?
If you go to a college that encourages you to get them, you need one recommendation letter to every sorority chapter on your college campus.
You do not need more than three recommendation letters per sorority. The sorority WILL STOP READING THEM.
When are sorority recommendation letters due?
The first place to look to see when sorority recommendation letters are due is your Panhellenic website. If you cannot find a date, try to have them in 14 days before sorority recruitment starts.
Conclusion
While most sororities are not rewarding better scores for recommendation letters, many use them to pair members to talk to potential new members. This pairing can lead to you connecting with the members and getting invited back to sororities you love.
To find information about recommendation letters for your college, you will need to visit your college’s Panhellenic website. Here is some of the information you will need to know:
if you need recommendation letters
how to send them in
due date
do you need to send in additional information
DO YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK HELP YOU STAND OUT 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?
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