I am a senior at the University of Georgia. It is Philanthropy Round. By this point, I have talked to around 500 potential new members throughout my three years of recruiting. I know what I need to do to win potential new members over and how to keep the conversation going.
Right before, we line up for door chants, the Recruitment Chair calls my name, “Sloan, you are talking to [insert name] this Round.” As soon as the announcement is made, my friend Kathy runs over to me. She says, “ I love this potential new member.” I say, “ I am so excited to talk to her! Tell me about her. What are her passions? What is she like?” Kathy shows me her Instagram and tells me a little bit about her. I now have a game plan of how we will impress her.
As the door chants end, I run to find [insert name]. I introduce myself. We walk by Kathy to allow her to say hello, and we continue to talk about life. As we get to know one another, the conversation is great. We have a lot in common. She is taking classes that I took as a freshman. I give her advice on what to do to get an A. As I hand her off to talk to another member, I say, “I had so much fun talking to you! I hope you have a great day!”
As the round concludes and we walk out each potential new member, we run back into the house to vote. Kathy comes over to me and asks, “How was the conversation? Did you like her?” I said, “I am obsessed with her! She is just like us! She is perfect!” On my voting card, I give her the best score possible.
Notice: I voted on her in 30 seconds. I did not spend hours deliberating on what score I should give her. Voting is a gut reaction. The members love you and see you in the sorority or they don’t.
In this story, the potential new member gained Rush Crush Status. She had us wrapped around her finger. We were doing everything we could to keep her and make sure she would join our sorority.
The real question is, does everyone gain Rush Crush Status?
Throughout my three years of recruiting, I had one Rush Crush each year. Only one. Most potential new members do not gain Rush Crush Status. You can do it! You can be the woman everyone wants! To be this year’s Rush Crush, you need to understand how to stand out in your conversations, avoid the 5 mistakes, practice your answers, and know what questions to ask. In this blog post, we are going to focus on one element of your small talk strategy, connecting to the members.
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.
HERE IS WHAT HAPPENS DURING 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 cycle. You have to force them to break it. If the member does not break the cycle, you will most likely get an average score. Your average score may get you dropped from some sororities.
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.
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
NEXT STEP: PREPARE YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SCRIPTED QUESTIONS
Examples of questions you might be asked.
Where are you from?
How do you want to get involved on campus?
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.
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
