Sarah Moyer

COMM331
January 31 2016
Panhellenic Recruitment 2016
Over the weekend, over 800 college girls participated in
Panhellenic sorority recruitment for the University of Maryland at
College Park. Over the course of three days, potential new members
walked from house to house to complete two rounds out of four.
Unsure of what to expect, potential new members walked in
randomly assigned groups to meet the girls in each chapter. As
hundreds of girls trekked through the snowy streets of College Park,
the pressure and anticipation created an environment unlike any
other weekend here; the annual rush process had begun.
The first round, called House and Values, was spread out over
two days, while the second round, Philanthropy, was completed in
one.
The typical House and Values tour consists of a tour of the
chapter house as well as a sit-down conversation. Potential new
members, called PNMs, were matched up with sisters in order to
discuss the chapter, their home, and their values as an
organization. A variety of rooms are displayed in this tour, as well as
sorority apparel. Not only are the members able to take a peek into
the sorority homes, but the sisters are able to get to know these
new members better.
After the first round, a ranking system is followed in order to
narrow down the amount of girls that will return to the house for the
next round. The process is mutual, meaning the PNM must want to
return to the sorority, and the sorority must want the PNM to return.
As the rounds continue, the competition becomes tougher and
tougher.
The second round is a bit different; focusing on the chapters
national philanthropy, this day was created to help understand just
some of the ways the sisters help give back to the community. Most

chapters show a video with a more depth explanation of the

philanthropy. Furthermore, it explains how this organization
connects to the sorority.
Every chapter creates specific events to help raise money for
these philanthropies. Then, potential new members are again able
to have a conversation with a member of the chapter. Receiving a
different PNM, the sorority is able to get a second opinion of the girl
and the girl is able to get a second opinion of the sorority.
After the longest day of recruitment, the ranking process begins
once more. Narrowing down the PNMs even further, sororities must
compete for the same girls.
Through a seemingly endless weekend, the PNMs await the next
weekend for the final two rounds. These rounds are titled Sisterhood
round and Preference round. It is not until after preference round
that the PNMs receive their bid to a sorority. It is clear that while this
is an overwhelming and strenuous process, it is also extremely
rewarding.