Demystifying NYU Sorority Recruitment

When I came to NYU as a first year in 2022, I was definitely a bit uncertain about joining a sorority. I had heard a lot of stereotypes and rumors about sorority life and wasn’t sure if the experience was for me. As a more introverted person, I was unsure how well I would fit into the “traditional” sorority atmosphere. However, I really wanted a smaller community and an opportunity to make friends, so I signed up for recruitment alongside some other girls I met in my residence hall. This ended up being an amazing decision.

I found that NYU Greek Life is much more laid back than it is at many other schools. While being in a sorority is still a time commitment, our organizations understand that you are a student first. All of our sisters balance Greek life with a typical class schedule as well as other commitments. Additionally, sororities here are extremely diverse. Throughout the seven organizations, you can find all types of people from a wide array of majors, backgrounds, interests, cultures, viewpoints, and more. There is a place for everyone in NYU’s sororities.

I also found comfort in the fact that the recruitment process is completely non-committal. You’re free to drop the process at any time during recruitment or during your new member period if you decide that it isn’t your thing. For that reason, if you have any interest, there’s really no harm in checking it out!

Primary recruitment for NYU panhellenic sororities typically takes place in our Kimmel Center for Student Life during two weekends within the first month of school. Each organization has their own room, and PNMs (potential new members – AKA you!) visit different ones throughout the day. You register for recruitment online, then attend a short orientation on what to expect in the coming weeks.

During orientation, you also meet your Rho Gamma. A Rho Gamma is essentially your recruitment counselor. They are a member of a sorority but are currently disaffiliated in order to maintain an unbiased process. Their role is to guide you through the process, answer any questions, and provide support during stressful times. You’ll meet with them each day along with your “Rho Gamma group” of other PNMs. This is a great way to meet new friends, as many people end up growing and staying close with their Rho Gamma group, even if they join different sororities.

The first official day of recruitment is called Round Robin. Here, you meet with all seven sororities for shorter blocks of time. At the end of the day, you rank all organizations based on which you felt most drawn to. This round is the longest and can be quite tiring, so make sure to bring lots of water and snacks to get you through the day!

The second day is the Sisterhood and Philanthropy round. Here, you can meet with up to 5 organizations that have called you back based on your rankings and theirs. As implied in the name, this round heavily emphasizes each sorority’s sisterhood and charity work. Every sorority has a different philanthropic endeavor that they focus on. For example, my sorority, Delta Gamma, primarily volunteers with Service for Sight, an organization that aids the blind and visually impaired. Zeta Tau Alpha focuses on breast cancer, Delta Phi Epsilon’s philanthropy is the National Eating Disorders Association, and so on. During this round, you learn more about each sorority’s service work and why it’s important to their organization.

The third day is the Preference round. This round is far more intimate, as you only meet with up to two organizations and speak to one person for around an hour. The organizations you meet with are, once again, based on your rankings and the chapters’ rankings from the previous rounds. Hopefully, by this round, the organizations you’re invited back to are ones that you feel quite passionate about and could see yourself in. This round is an opportunity to build a deeper connection with sisters and figure out exactly which organization is your top choice.

The last day (and best, in my personal opinion) is bid day! This is when you open your envelope that contains a bid from the chapter that you’ve been invited to join. Yes, it is a lot like the TikToks you’ve probably seen—there’s a lot of cheering, screaming, and hugging. It’s such a special time with so much excitement in the air!

After you open your bid, your sorority hosts a bid day celebration. Usually, this is at an off-campus venue right after the ceremony. You’ll have a chance to get to know your sisters and celebrate this new chapter of your life!

For the first couple of months (usually about 8-15 weeks) after bid day, you’re considered a new member. The new member period is an important time for you to get to know the chapter and find your place. You’ll attend new member meetings, where you learn what the sorority is all about. You’ll likely also have new member retreats and mixers where you can get to know your member class and initiated sisters.

The most exciting part of this period is the big/little process. New members are paired with a “big sister” that leaves gifts for you throughout the week and reveals their identity at the end. It’s super fun to guess who they are, and they usually become a great friend and mentor. I now have a big sister and a little sister, and I love them both so much.

At the end of the new member period, you’re finally initiated into the sorority! This means that you’re officially an active member.

Maybe fall recruitment isn’t for you, and that’s okay! Perhaps you find it too overwhelming, you don’t have time, you’re a spring admit, or you just prefer a more laid-back atmosphere. Luckily, spring recruitment, AKA continuous open bidding (COB), is always an option.

COB allows you to meet with organizations of your choosing, instead of being required to meet with all seven. Usually, it’s in a more informal setting like a coffee chat. This can be much less intimidating and can allow you to get to know the chapter on a deeper level.

Another perk of COB is that member classes are typically much smaller. Think around 60 for fall, and only 10-20 for spring in most organizations. This means you’ll form a much closer relationship with your entire member class. You still get the same new member process and experience!

An important caveat, though, is that not all sororities participate in COB. If you are super interested in a certain organization, I recommend participating in fall recruitment, since it’s not guaranteed that they will recruit in the spring.

Is sorority life only for a certain type of person?

Absolutely not! At NYU, our sororities are incredibly diverse, and all types of people are involved. Diversity and inclusion are super important to us and something we always strive for during recruitment.

What if I don’t receive a bid?

Everyone is guaranteed to receive a bid at the end of recruitment as long as they rank all chapters that they met with during preference round. Some people choose to only rank one organization when they met with two, called “single-choice preferencing.” This can jeopardize your chances of receiving a bid. But if you don’t get a bid from the chapter you want, COB is always an option. You can also redo fall recruitment the next year.

Is recruitment stressful?

I would be lying if I said recruitment isn’t a stressful and tiring process at times. But it’s also so much fun! You get to meet so many new people and make great memories along the way. It’s a truly special time. I’ve loved every role that I’ve had in recruitment, as a PNM, a Rho Gamma, and this year as a recruiter.

I went through fall recruitment in 2022 because I came to NYU not knowing a single person. Coming from a high school with less than 500 students, I felt overwhelmed by NYU’s large size. I hoped for a smaller community that could help me feel more at home. Additionally, I had always been somewhat interested in Greek life, so I decided to give it a shot.

I’ve gotten exactly what I was looking for from being in a sorority here. Our chapters are pretty large (mine is around 150 people), so you won’t be best friends with everyone. However, you know that you’ll always have a supportive network of girls that will have your back. Whether I need a recommendation for a nail salon or emotional support after a hard week, I know that my sisters are always just a text or call away. Also, our Panhellenic community and overall Greek community is very connected. I’ve met many of my close friends through events with other sororities and fraternities.

Our sororities allow you to find your place at a large school. The Greek community is small and tight knit, so you’ll constantly see many friendly and familiar faces on campus. There are also tons of fun events and service opportunities. My sisters help with NYC Goalball every Sunday, which is a sport specifically designed for blind and visually impaired individuals. We’ve attended various events like Yankees games, excursions to pumpkin patches, formals, and more. There are also endless leadership opportunities, with so many positions available each year. I’m the Director of New Members for Delta Gamma, a role that has taught me so much.