Giveaway: GrΣΣk Girl Shop

Recruitment Ready was SUCH a fun week series and y'all got pretty excited about it, so I know you'll flip over this week's giveaway!

Greek Girl Shop is full of fun goodies for you, your little and even your entire chapter!

Greek Girl Shop and I are pairing together to give you a letter ring (any chapter they have available online!) and big and little sis keychain!

This duo can be yours (and your little or big!!) SO easily!

Enter using Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There is another special way to enter the giveaway so be sure to check that out this giveaway as well!! This giveaway ends 1 week from today! Happy entering!

I am pumped to host this giveaway for y'all since I know it's Big/Little season and quite perfect timing!

xxKatie

Recruitment Ready: Smart Sisters Say

I asked many of my friends to share their sisterly advice for those going through recruitment and here's what they had to say:

"My advice is to smile and be yourself! You will find the chapter that is right for you and when you do, the campus will become instantly smaller!" 

-Sister from Delta Zeta, Alpha Upsilon chapter

"You're not joining a reputation, you're joining a group of GIRLS. How you feel about the girls is your business and your opinion, and shouldn't be swayed by how other people view them. Get to know the girls on your grounds as much as you can, and judge them by that and nothing else. Also give a good deal of thought into the time commitment. If you're not 100% committed, it isn't going to be worth it for you. Make sure you're joining something where you're going to want to dedicate a lot of time to."

-Sister from Zeta Tau Alpha, Iota Psi chapter

"Take breath mints  to recruitment! Gum is too tacky to be chewing but you'll be self conscious if your breath is stinky!"

-Sister from Omega Phi Alpha, Chi chapter

"Keep an open mind. This is probably the most important piece of advice I can give! I went into recruitment almost certain I would pledge the same sorority as my Mom, but I soon learned that I fit in much better somewhere else. Chapters are different everywhere, and the most important thing is finding where YOU fit in. There is a chapter that is perfect for you, and all it takes is an open mind and positive attitude to find it! You'll hear it a million times, but I promise it's true: you truly do end up where you belong."

-Sister from Delta Zeta, Beta Delta chapter

"Recruitment is LOUD! I know when I went through I had NO idea what to expect, so walking up to that first house I was shocked to hear yelling and chanting. I don't think anything can quite prepare you, just to not to look shocked and out of sorts and just go with the experience!"

-Sister of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Epsilon Kappa chapter

"Choose wisely. A sorority is for a lifetime and lasts more than 4 (or 5) years of college. Make the choice that is right for you, not your best friend. Being in a sorority is so much more than the letters on your car or the next mixer on Thursday night. It is a sisterhood that stays beyond college. Look at the values and standards of each sorority and how they represent those standards. These ladies will be there to support you in your struggles, heartaches and tragedy."

-Sister from Chi Omega, Eta Gamma chapter

"Go with the girls you are most like NOW, not the ones you want to be like. Otherwise you'll spend 4 years trying to fit in."

-Sister from Alpha Chi Omega, Theta Upsilon chapter

"My biggest advice would just be to be yourself & be open minded! When you join a sorority, you're making a commitment for life, so make sure you're considering all options, and don't be swayed by outside opinions!!"

-Sister from Gamma Phi Beta, Zeta Sigma chapter

"DO NOT LISTEN TO/PASS ALONG ANY GOSSIP ABOUT THE HOUSES. Seriously, every house has great girls and I always was so upset hearing girls gossip about the "top tier" and "bottom tier" houses. There is no such thing--all the houses are great and you will end up being friends with so many people from so many Greek organizations. Also, don't let anyone's talk influence your decision. Listen to your heart and you will end up in the perfect fit house for you!"

-Sister from Zeta Tau Alpha, Beta Omicron chapter

"Keep an open mind, you never know who you'll fall in love with!"

-Sister from Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Kappa chapter

"No matter where you end up, give it a try. You might not get a bid to your first choice house, even if you are a legacy. But whatever house DOES offer you a bid had a reason for doing it- they clearly like you, and think you will fit in there. Give it at least two weeks before you decide that it isn't for you."

-Sister from Delta Delta Delta, Phi Beta chapter

"Don't try to mold yourself to a certain sorority's known image, be you, and you will love where you end up, no matter what."

-Sister from Omega Phi Alpha, Chi chapter

"LISTEN TO THE ADVICE YOUR PI CHI GIVES YOU! If she tells you to get 8+ hours of sleep, listen! I know you're excited about recruitment and being at college, but these days are both long and exhausting both physically and mentally. Make sure you recharge nightly so you're not dragging by the end of the week."

-Sister (and former Pi Chi) of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Epsilon Kappa chapter

"As you go through recruitment, you will fall in love with some houses (and not so much with others). Don't feel bad about yourself because a house you thought liked you didn't ask you back, or a house you didn't want to go back to asked you back all week. This happens for a reason, girls in a sorority know whether or not you'll fit into their sisterhood. Don't think for one second you aren't perfect the way you are. There is a house for you, and you will know when you walk through the door."

-Sister from Gamma Phi Beta, Epsilon Lambda chapter

Listen to what these smart sisters have to say and you'll be recruitment ready!

xxKatie

Recruitment Ready: What's In My Bag?

Recruitment can be a crazy week! It's full of different emotions and can be both exciting and stressful at the same time. You'll be happy to have a mini emergency kit with you if things don't go your way!

Essentials for a Recruitment Emergency Kit:

1. Makeup remover wipes (or oil blotting sheets--coffee filters also work for this) & extra makeup for touchups! (Wipes come in a travel size--perfect for your purse! AND makeup remover wipes take deodorant our of clothes so well!)

2. Bobby pins

3. Breath mints (Consider Listerine pocket packs--they're tiny and pack quite the punch!)

4. Mini lint roller (Target has these for $1!)

5. Extra deodorant

6. Hairbush

7. Pen & paper to take notes about houses you liked/girls you met

8. Extra pony tail holders

9. Umbrella

10. Camera (chances are your mom or sister will want to hear all about EVERYTHING!)

11. Sunglasses

12. Mini fan (my Pi Chi actually gave us these!)

13. Flip flops if you don't want to walk around in heels

14. Bandaids in case of a blister mishap

15. A Tide To-Go pen if you're messy like yours truly

Armed with all these girly goodies, you should be able to fight off just about anything! Again, you Pi Chi will also carry almost all of this stuff, if not EVERYTHING and will have the real emergency kit for ANYTHING that might come up! She'll be able to help you should you find yourself in a recruitment bind of any kind. They travel to and from each and every house with you so up until the second you walk in, she'll be able to help you with anything!

Tomorrow's post is my favorite! Tips and tricks from current sisters themselves directly!

xxKatie

Recruitment Ready: What to Wear

"Wear clothes that you're comfortable in--I don't mean 'for comfort', but if you're not comfortable in what you're wearing you won't be as confident." 

-Sister of Omega Phi Alpha, Chi chapter

Every recruitment is different. 

Some schools like the University of Alabama are seeing more girls than EVER sign up for recruitment--by the 100's! Other schools may only have 100 girls sign up for their entire recruitment, so what to wear can be difficult to tackle.

The bottom line is be comfortable! 

Wear a dress you feel great in! If you like accessories, wear an awesome belt with your generic recruitment t-shirt. If shoes are your thing, wear a muted Pref Night dress and KILLER shoes! If you don't like to wear heels, try wedges as an alternative to flats and stilettos. 

Follow your recruitment guide!

Most schools have a recruitment guide for the purpose of helping you learn about each sorority as well as guiding you through the different days of recruitment. Schools like the University of South Carolina, University of Alabama and University of Maryland all have different kinds of guides to help you through! See if your school has one through their office of Greek life or student activities.

The University of Alabama Recruitment Guide offers photos (like many schools) to use as a guide of what to wear each day! There's no specific style or brand name that you'll need to wear. 

"I wore a tank under all my t-shirts during Recruitment. That way, if I did start sweating, it didn't show through on my t-shirt! Bring one of those little pocket fans, too! Follow the dress codes--if you have any questions about what is acceptable, ask your Pi Chi/Rho Gamma leader. They send out guidelines for a reason, and it is in your best interest to follow them."

-Sister from Zeta Tau Alpha, Beta Omicron chapter

What not to wear:

1. Stay far, far away from clothes that will make you hot! There's a chance you'll be in a room or house with many many other girls, then double that because each girl gets matched up with a sister! You can get hot. Not to mention, a lot of recruitments will go during August or early September when it can be VERY hot in the afternoon!

2. Shoes you can't stand in for a few hours. You'll be standing waiting to go in houses, you'll be standing IN houses, and you'll be standing and walking to and from houses. You'll want to wear shoes that you feel comfortable in for awhile!

3. A new makeup routine. Recruitment is not the time to test out a new makeup look. Keep your look light and fresh without too many layers especially for you southern gals--there's a chance it could be in the 100's and you don't want it sweating off!

"Dress in something you are comfortable in! Everyone wants to look cute, but more importantly, you want to be comfortable. The days of recruitment tend to be long (not to mention HOT!), and if you are breaking in new shoes or wearing something that doesn't feel comfy you won't be able to enjoy yourself in each of the houses."

-Sister from Delta Zeta, Beta Delta chapter

Your Pi Chi will be an asset in deciding what to wear! Unsure of an outfit, just ask her! She'll be through recruitment before--often on BOTH sides as a brand new PNM and as a sister looking for new sisters! Trust your instinct--you'll look best when you're confident in your outfit and attitude!

Tomorrow look for a post with what to have in your bag! Think of it as an emergency recruitment kit!

xxKatie

Recruitment Ready: Small Talk

Small talk is an integral part of any recruitment!

Topics to talk about:

Your major  (or majors that you'd like to have if you're undeclared!)

Where you're from

Hobbies

How you like campus

Your roommate/dorm

Favorite places to go on/around campus

Topics to shy away from:

My Pi Chi told us to think of it like this, don't talk about the 5 B's:

1. Boys

2. Booze (partying)

3. Bush/(O)Bama (aka politics)

4. Bible (religion)

5. Bashing (don't be negative or talk about other sororities)

Think of small talk as a mini-interview! If you were going on an interview for a job, ignore topics that you wouldn't want to share with a future employer.

"Be open, and talk about things that you are interested in. It will make conversations much more comfortable for everyone involved."

-Sister from Delta Delta Delta, Phi Beta chapter

Ask lots of questions! 

Examples of good small talk questions:

1. "I'm undeclared in my major! Do you like yours?"

2. "What have you gotten involved in on campus?"

3. "Where's your favorite restaurant off campus?"

4. "What dorm did you live in freshman year?"

5. "Have you ever changed your major?"

6. "What are your plans after graduation?"

7. "What's a good place to study on campus besides the library?"

8. "What has been your favorite sporting event (football game) that you've gone to here?"

9. "Where's good shopping around campus?"

Also keep in mind that recruitment is a great time to meet fellow classmates and friends! Think of it as an opportunity to get to know your potential new friends as well! Small talk it up with girls in your recruitment groups, girls you're waiting around with and practice your small talking then too. Some girls may even be older (perhaps going through recruitment as a transfer student or sophomore) who'll have even more good information for you!

"Ask questions! Just as much as the girls in each of the houses want to get to know you, you want to get to know them as well! It is a mutual process-- you have to love them just as much as they will love you!"

-Sister from Delta Zeta, Beta Delta chapter

Go with your gut and feel out each situation on your own! Ask your Pi Chi for tips and she'll help guide you in the right direction. She'll have more topics that you can have tucked up your sleeve to chat about during recruitment.

Tomorrow's post will include what to wear (and what not to wear!)!

xxKatie

Recruitment Ready

Today I'm kicking off a series called "Recruitment Ready"! I get emails and tumblr inbox messages all the time asking about rush. Now, to clear the air, I am not in a sorority, I did, however, go through rush! I have had TONS of friends participate in rush both on the PNM (potential new member) side as well as the sister side!

The series is going to have a few different segments including:

1. The terms
2. Small Talk

3. What to wear

4. Essentials to have

5. Tips and tricks from the sisters

Today we're starting with the terms of recruitment!

1. PNM: Potential New Member: PNM's are all of the "rushees" or the girls going through rush.

2. Pi Chi (or sometimes Rho Chi or Rho Gamma): These are your recruitment counselors. They are sisters from different sororities who have disassociated with their chapters and are there to help guide you along the recruitment process. They are unbiased sources of information. Pi Chi's will keep their sororities a secret until reveal on Bid Day!

3. Rush Party: Rush parties are the (dry) highly orchestrated meetings where groups of PNM's meet with current sisters. They aren't really "parties" that you think of. If your school has a Greek Row or Greek Village, these parties are typically held inside the houses if all the girls can fit! (Some schools, don't always have enough room and relocate to other locations on campus!)

4. Bid Day: The final day of rush (and the most exciting!!!). This is where PNM's receive their bids! It's an exhilarating day and the start of your new sisterhood!

5. Scholarship Day: Today (usually the first day or first two days of recruitment) is where you learn all about their academics and schoolwork side of things. You spend time learning about each one on campus!

6. Leadership Day: Today is learning about each chapter's sisterhood, involvement, activities the sisters participate in, and some traditions close to each sorority. You spend a little MORE time with fewer sororities today!

7. Philanthropy Day: Today you'll learn about each sorority's philanthropies! Philanthropies are the charities, foundations, or groups that sororities devote their community service to. For different chapters these include Habitat for Humanity, Girl Scouts of America and St. Jude's Childrens Hospital. You spend MORE time with even fewer sororities today--the goal is to narrow them down to help you find the perfect fit!

8. Sisterhood Day (or Preference "Pref" Night): Today you'll be spending the most time with the least amount of sororities. Most schools keep this around 2 or 3 sororities. Pref night is a very special ceremony where sisters show PNMs the sisterhood bonds that they share. Sisters (especially the college seniors) as well as PNMs may find these ceremonies very moving. (In my experience, even a few girls cried!)

Tomorrow's post will be all about the small talk! You gotta be a GREAT small talker during recruitment and I'll have a few tricks to keep up your sleeve--just in case of course!

xxKatie

(Also, can y'all believe that cute graphic from Sarah of "Too Much is Never Enough"?! She is AMAZING! I am OBSESSED with her designs!)