Women's Panhellenic Recruitment is the process through which potential new members consider sororities and sororities choose new sisters. The formal Recruitment period is comprised of multiple rounds where potential new members visit each of the chapters on Cornell's campus. Through a process of mutual selection, students narrow their choices until they finally select a sorority following the last round. Panhellenic Recruitment typically starts just before the spring semester.  

If you have any questions about recruitment week please contact Meri Ruhotina, Panhellenic Council Vice President of Recruitment

Below is a rough schedule of recruitment week. Keep in mind you will have meetings before and after these days are done. As the week progresses, there is a mutual selection process. This means that you will be selecting certain houses to come back to the following day, but the sorority houses are also going through the same process. The maximum number of houses that you can return to throughout the week decreases.

Jan 19-20 Round 1 Open House: Events begin at 9:00 am and go to 4:30pm on both days

During this round you will visit all the chapters, and have one on one conversations with sisters.

Jan 21 Round 2 House Tours: Events begin at 9:00am and end at 6:30pm

During this round you will get tours of the chapter houses, and you will be provided information on house finances and what it is like to live in a sorority house

Jan 22 Round 3 Skit and Philanthropy: Events begin at 12:30 and end at 6:00pm

During this round you will learn the national organizations each of the chapters represents and also get a sense of the personality of each house through their skit performance.

Jan 23 Preference Round: Events begin at 12:30pm and end at 4:40pm

During this round you will be part of traditions and rituals that represent that chapters

Jan 24 Bid Day: Begins at 7pm!

RECRUITMENT DRESS CODE!

Many of you may be wondering what the dress code for the week is... well here is some information for you! All if this information will be reviewed in-depth in the mandatory meeting on Jan. 18th starting at 6:30pm in the Statler Hotel Auditorium. The purpose of the dress code is to make sure that everyone is on the same level, and also as the week progresses the events become more formal, and therefore, the dress code becomes more formal. The last day of recruitment is a day where you will see the traditions and rituals of that chapter, and in order to properly honor those you, all the sorority sisters and women going through recruitment week dress in a formal dress.

Round 1 Jan. 19-20: Casual (cute shirt, jeans)
Round 2 Jan 21: Business Casual (skirt or slacks, nice shirt)
Round 3 Jan 22: Business Attire (slacks again, semi-formal dress, business skirt)
Round 4 Jan 23: Semi-Formal (dresses, business skirts and nice tops... during this round all sorority sisters will be in black formal dresses to respect their chapter's rituals)

****The most important thing to remember about this dress code is.... TO STAY WARM and BE COMFORTABLE!****

What is New Member Recruitment?

Recruitment is the process through which interested individuals join a sorority through the process of mutual selection. Potential New Members meet members from every chapter, watch skits and take house tours, and decide which sorority is the right one for them. Membership recruitment consists of four rounds of events-Round 1 (Open House), Round 2 (House Tours), Round 3 (Skit) and Round 4 (Preference). These rounds become more formal and longer as the week progresses.

Why Rush?

Women's fraternities offer members a wide array of opportunities and benefits. These include philanthropy and community service events, social activities, academic scholarships, a supportive home environment, a national network of sisters, close friendships, and memories that last a lifetime!

Does being a legacy guarantee me a spot in a sorority?

Contrary to popular myths, being a legacy does not guarantee that a potential new member will be offered membership in his/her family member's organization.

What kind of a time commitment is a sorority?

Although each sorority is different, most sororities are what you want it to be.  Therefore, our members are offered generous flexibility to allow them to balance their academic, personal, and social lives with their commitment to the sorority. You can be as involved as you would like to be.

Can I go abroad or take a year off and still be a member?

Yes. We encourage all of our members to participate in exchange programs to enrich their academic experiences.

Do Cornell Sororities haze?

NO! Hazing is against the Cornell University Panhellenic Council policy.  Anti-Hazing policies are taken very seriously by the university and the Panhellenic Council and will be strictly enforced.