Questions to Ask During Fraternity or Sorority Recruitment

Although the majority of students interested in going Greek might be most concerned about getting a bid from the house they want, it's important to remember that the recruitment process goes both ways. Just like you want to promote yourself to the various houses, they want to promote themselves to you, too. So how can you tell which fraternity or sorority will really be the best fit?

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Questions You Should Ask

Although it can be challenging to take a step away from the whole recruitment process, doing so can ensure your college Greek experience is everything you want it to be. Make sure to ask yourself the following questions:

1. What is the history of this fraternity or sorority? Is it old? New? New on your campus but with a larger, older history elsewhere? What was its founding mission? What has its history been? What kinds of things have its alums done? What kinds of things do they do now? What legacy has the organization left? What kind of legacy is it working on today?
2. What is the organizational culture of your campus's chapter? Is it a positive community? Do the members support each other? Do you like seeing how the members interact with each other? With other people on campus? In public? In private? Is it a good fit for the kinds of interactions you like to have in your own life and in your own relationships?
3. What is the larger organizational culture? Is the fraternity or sorority social-service minded? Is it academic in nature? Does it cater to a specific professional field, religion, sport, or political membership? Will you like having this affiliation during your time in college? After college? Once you are no longer on your campus, what kind of larger organization will you be connected to?
4. What kind of experience do you want to have? When you close your eyes and imagine yourself as a member of a sorority or fraternity, what kind of experience do you picture? Is it with a small group of people? A large group? Is it mostly a social scene? A mission-driven organization? Do you live in the Greek house or not? How do you imagine being a member as a first-year student? A sophomore? A junior? A senior? An alum? Does the fraternity or sorority you're thinking of joining match what you see in your mind when you think of your ideal? If not, what's missing?
5. What kind of experience does this fraternity or sorority offer? Is it an experience you're looking forward to having for 2, 3, 4 years? Will it challenge you in appropriate ways? Will it provide comfort? Will it match well with your college goals? Will it match well with your personality type and interests? What benefits does it offer? What challenges does it present?
6. What kind of experience do other students actually have? What kinds of experiences do the seniors in this fraternity or sorority actually have? Do their memories and experiences match up with what the organization promises? If so, how? If not, how and why not? When people talk about their experiences with this organization, what kinds of words do they use? Do they match up to how you want to describe your own Greek experiences after you graduate?
7. What rumors have you heard about this fraternity or sorority? How much truth is behind them? Are the rumors ridiculous? Based in fact? How does the house respond to them? What people spread the rumors? How is the fraternity or sorority perceived on campus? What kinds of actions does the organization take that either counters the rumors or perhaps provides fodder for them? As a member, how would you feel and respond to hearing rumors about this fraternity or sorority?
8. What does your gut say? Does your gut usually give you a good feeling about whether something is the right choice -- or not? What does your gut say about joining this fraternity or sorority? What kinds of instinct do you have about whether or not this is a wise choice for you? What kinds of things might be influencing that feeling?
9. What kind of time commitment does this fraternity or sorority require? Are you able to realistically make that level of commitment? How will doing so have an impact on your academics? Your personal life? Your relationships? Will a high (or low) level of involvement enhance or hurt your other, current time commitments? Will they complement or detract from what you need to commit to your classes and academic workload?
10. Can you afford to join this fraternity or sorority? Do you have the money to pay for the requirements of this organization, like dues? If not, how will you afford it? Can you get a scholarship? A job? What kinds of financial commitments can you expect? How will you meet those commitments?

Joining — and being a member of — a college fraternity or sorority can easily become one of the highlights of your time in school. And making sure to be wise about what you need, and what you want, from a fraternity or sorority is an important and smart way to make sure that the experience you want is the one you end up having.