So, here are some general pointers my chapter has used when for our recruitment process. Any fraternity or sorority can use these tips for their rush season.
1. Don’t “over-rush”
This is one of the worst mistakes you can make during the recruitment process. Appearing desperate or phone calling a prospective member too often can turn away a prospective member –faster than you may think. Remember, it’s important to have the prospective WANT to be in your organization and you will not achieve that by coming off as desperate.
If a prospective member tells you that they are no longer interested in joining your chapter, than let that be and that’s that. Occasionally certain brothers or sisters will become too offended by this and will overreact. The consequences of such an overreaction could be devastating to your recruitment campaign and may jeopardize your reputation on campus. If word spreads that a certain brother or sister couldn’t “let go” of a prospective member, the new incoming class will surely hear about it and their impressions of your chapter will be tarnished.
Don’t be desperate (and plus, no one’s that cool).
2. Don’t bash other fraternities or sororities
This should go without saying but every once in a while its difficult to resist the urge. We know.
More often than not a prospective member will inquire about your opinions of another fraternity or sorority. This could, quite possibly, be an indication of their interest in that fraternity or sorority. Do not, I repeat, do not take this as a window of opportunity to bash the rival organization.
Why not? There are several reasons. For one, it makes you look desperate (see rule 1) and secondly it shows a lot of weakness and insecurity on your part. It may show that the other chapter poses a serious threat to your own reputation or perhaps it shows that you’re envious of the rival chapter. Again, this makes your chapter look desperate.
Instead, if a prospective member asks you about another fraternity or sorority just take deflect the conversation back onto your own organization. For example…
Rushee asks you: “So, what do you think of Alphas?
A BAD RESPONSE: Rusher: “OMG, such b*tchez those Alphas. They think they’re so hawt."
A GOOD RESPONSE:Rusher: “They’re a nice group of girls and I have some friends in Alpha, but you know what I think our strongest aspect is…”
3. Be Proud, not arrogant
Giving off the right vibe is crucial but be cautious of being too arrogant. In other words, you should know that you’re the best… but don’t tell your rushee you think that way. This is a good rule to live by both in and out of the recruitment season.
4. Know your chapter and what you look for
Often times fraternities and sororities fight over the same incoming freshmen… yet almost all fraternities and sororities think of themselves as having their own identity and personality. Keep your identity and personality in mind when rushing –try to find new members that fit in your organization, not members that are wanted by rival organizations.
5. Be yourself
If you catch yourself putting on a fake persona to make some new prospective member like you… well most likely they’ll see right through it and your chapter will have a reputation for being fake… that or they’ll see that you’re really desperate. Both are bad.
Find members that will like you as you are –a good goal is to find one new member that will replace you when you leave the organization.
6. Don’t bash your fraternity brothers or sorority sisters!
This is a fatal mistake. The last thing you want any prospective member to realize is that your organization doesn’t have a strong brotherhood or sisterhood. Yes, every organization has members that do not get along with each other. If you have a rift with a member in your chapter, or if you know of two members who dislike each other, it is your responsibility to make sure that it never surfaces in front of rushee. For fraternity boys, don’t fight in front of a prospective member, for sorority girls, don’t gossip behind each others back. It does no one any good. That’s final.
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