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December 13, 2017

How To Take Beautiful Photos Of Your Campus Groups

I think that we have all had that group photo session. You know, the one where NO one is prepared to take the photo, no one knows how/where to line up, and there are a million things wrong with the layout of the photo. You know, the one where someone who is tall doesn’t want to get in the back of the photo, even though that’s the only logical place. Or, better yet, someone who is short doesn’t want to be in the front. Like, what are you five foot tall? Get in the freaking front.

Yeah, those photos usually end up disastrously. Today I am going to give you some great tips on creating a group shot that looks somewhat decent. This is perfect for you whether you are getting ready for a group shot of your sorority or just a regular campus organization.

How To Take Beautiful Photos Of Your Campus Groups | Taking a good group photo can be a huge undertaking. Check out today's blog post that will help you take better group photos of your #sorority or campus group/organization.

Keep Reading, Darling

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October 9, 2017

31 Simple Ways To Get Involved In Your Sorority

Getting involved in a sorority can be a challenging task. We think that as soon as we join, we will have a hundred best friends, but the truth is relationships take work. Today on the blog I am going to give you 31 simple tasks you can do to get more involved with your sorority. These ideas are great for introverts and extroverts alike!

One thing my sorority taught me is to receive much you must give much. I hope these 31 ideas will help you get more involved in your sorority, no matter if you are a new sister or a senior.

A note before we start: not all of the things on this list are for you to be endlessly praised by your sisters. Some of these items will just make you feel more involved and by relation, help you feel better about your sorority experience. Don’t get involved just for show, do this because you want to get closer to your sisters and make connections with them.

31 Simple Ways To Get Involved In Your Sorority | Do you want to be more involved with your sorority? Check out this quick blog post for 31 simple sorority involvement ideas you can start implementing today!

1. Write A Sweet Note On Someone’s Facebook Wall

You have no idea how much you can make someone’s morning with a simple note on their Facebook wall. While you are waiting for class one day, take out your phone, and write a quick note to someone in the chapter who inspires you. Publish that note on their Facebook wall, and commence to make someone’s day.

2. Write A Handwritten Note To Someone Who Encourages You In The Chapter

Like #1, a handwritten note can also be just as impressive, if not more so. People love a nice thank you note. So, get some stationery with your sororities name on it (I love the stationery from Sorority Girl Store) and use that to share a beautiful message with as many of your sisters as you would like.

3. Wear Your Letters Every Day For a Week (And Document It)

This works better if you have a ton of sorority shirt. My last semester of college I was feeling a little off my sorority involvement game, so I gathered some of my favorite sorority shirts and I wore one each day. Sometimes I wore a letter shirt, sometimes I wore a screen printed shirt, and once I wore a button because I got a new shirt that I wanted to wear more that day. Then I documented this on my personal Instagram each day. It was a way for me to reconnect with my letters and my sisters. You can do the same thing, and if you don’t have a ton of shirts, buy some buttons instead!

4. Bring A Treat To Chapter Meeting

With Halloween quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to share your love with your chapter by bringing a treat to chapter meeting. At my school, we met every Tuesday and it was during dinner time. A bunch of people in a room during dinner time can get cranky if the meeting takes a while. So bake or buy some cookies, candy, or even some cupcakes and bring them to chapter meeting. Your sisters will definitely appreciate the snack. If cupcakes aren’t in your range, even just a bowl of candy will be appreciated, I promise!

5. Help A Sister With Her Homework

A big part of sorority life is school work. You can’t continue to be in a sorority if you don’t have a certain GPA after all. If you have some knowledge, help your sister’s study for a test, fill out their homework, or anything study related. Your sisters will appreciate the help and get to know you better.

6. Spam A Sister With Instagram/Facebook Likes

This is one of the easiest tasks on this list as it can be done almost mindlessly (but I would put a little effort into it though.) Go to Facebook or Instagram and scroll through, find the first sister you come across and spam her page with likes and comments. Most people love the feeling of their phone blowing up with notifications, and as long as you don’t continuously do this to the same person all the time, it won’t look weird. Just take your time and like their most recent 20-30 pictures or statuses. Also, comment on a couple here and there.

7. Bring Coffee/Food To A Sister Studying In The Library

If you stop by Starbucks before you go to the library, get another Starbucks drink while you are there to pass out to a sister studying in the library. It’s Pumpkin Spice Latte season, and almost everyone is waiting patiently in line to drink their PSLs (even if they don’t say so or try to act like PSLs are the most basic thing in the world.) So, don’t be afraid to offer a drink. Not everyone drinks coffee, so your drink may not always be accepted, but don’t take it personally!

8. Go To An Intramural Game And Cheer On The team

Intramurals can be so fun, especially when you have a bunch of sisters cheering the intramural team on. I am aware that intramural sports aren’t for everyone (I participated once–in a “cross-country” type of walking/running event, never again after that, I almost keeled over, sports are not for me.) In college, I loved to attend the intramural games though, especially when they were in the outside sports season because I lived across the street from the intramural fields for my Junior and Senior year. If you can take the time, go and cheer your sisters on. Posters and fun cheers encouraged!

9. Help Clean The Chapter Room

The chapter room/house is so essential to your sorority. Those parts of the house that are frequented by guests need to be kept as clean as possible. If you have a person who is in charge of that, volunteer to help them clean the room during their next clean up session. The room will get cleaned faster, and the person you are helping will adore you for it.

Alternatively, clean up randomly when you see trash being left in the chapter room. Some people just aren’t great at cleaning up after themselves, so if you see a piece of trash here and there, pick it up and throw it away.

10. Ask The Officer Team Or A Chairperson If They Need Help With Something

There are always things that need to be done, and sometimes they can’t all be done by one person. Ask people in your officer team or people who hold chair positions if they need help with something on their plate. Especially, if you can connect with someone who holds a position you want in the future.

11. Donate To A Sister’s Favorite Cause

This is just a sweet task to do, but if you know a sister’s favorite cause, donate. You can even donate in their name if you want to make it extra special! Be genuine about this and let them know that you appreciate them for introducing you to the cause or charity.

Alternatively, if donating is too much money, volunteer for the cause! Chances are, you need volunteer hours for your sorority anyway, so you may as well use them for a cause one of your favorite sisters love.

12. Ask A Sister To A Lunch Date

It’s so easy to think that just because a sister hasn’t asked you out for a lunch date, they don’t want to go with you. Sometimes it seems that lunch dates are intimate, but they don’t have to be. Ask a sister or a group of sisters to eat lunch on campus one day and make a true connection. Try to be as in the moment as you can with them!

13. Get To Know Any Sister You Have A Class With

Having a class with a sister is a positive thing! It’s the perfect excuse to get to know them because you can study with them and even sit by them without it being a huge deal. For some, the sister connection will never feel like enough right off the bat, so when you add sisters who have class together, it can make it easy to form a bond. So, get to know the sisters you have a class with and study with them outside of class!

14. Introduce Yourself To A Sister You Haven’t Spoken To

As you are getting acquainted with sorority life, or even after a while, there may be sisters you haven’t completely met yet. Introduce yourself and get to know them! It’s a simple task that gets you involved with new people.

15. Get Involved In An Intramural Sport/dance

We talked about my dislike of intramural sports earlier. I also have a huge dislike of dances, but I participated in a quick dance routine once (and hated it.) If I can do both, you can too (trust me, I am not talented at all.)

So, do it once for participation sake. You can get to know new women you would never have hung out with otherwise, and you may even be surprised to find out that you like sports!

16. Join A Committee

Committees are a great, easy way to get involved in your sorority. I like committees because they are a team. If the committee works as it should, you shouldn’t be holding all the responsibility. Also, you get the chance to meet many different people. The best thing about committees for introverts is that you are meeting to accomplish a task. Sometimes it’s difficult for introverts to ask people to meet just to meet, and with a committee, you always have a purpose.

17. Pay Your Dues On Time

This one won’t necessarily get your brownie points with your entire chapter, but it will with your chapter treasurer. This is a friendly reminder to pay your dues on time because it helps the entire chapter!

18. Speak Up In Chapter Meeting

Asking a question, or just sharing a message in chapter meeting when the time is right is a great way to be involved. If your sisters seem confused about something, or you are just confused, don’t be afraid to ask your question. Even if it takes a few second out of chapter meeting, you may help someone else who is confused, and more people will get to know your voice and face.

19. Be There For A Sister Who Is In Pageants Or Sports

If you have a sister who participates in university-level sports or a sister who is doing a pageant, attend them! Your sister will be so happy to see you, and it will give them the boost of confidence they need to go on. It’s great to go to events that aren’t mandatory or even on the radar of your sorority sometimes.

20. Stay To Clean Up After An Event

Events happen all the time, and it’s hard to get people to clean up after them. If you know your sorority is putting on a philanthropy event, don’t just leave after it’s over! See if you can stick around and help your philanthropy chair clean up. It’s a simple task that will make a big impact. The same can be said of any event your sorority hosts.

21. Have A Positive Attitude At All Greek Events

A positive attitude and a smile go a long way. Even if you aren’t as involved as you can be, people will notice your smile. If you always have a kind thought and you don’t complain when events take place, people will recognize that about you.

22. Be On Time For Events & Meetings

As a person who would rather be early than on-time, I can’t tell you how much it secretly annoyed me when people were late to things. I tried not to let it show, but if you say you will be somewhere at a certain time, be there. Also, there are just certain events that will always start at a certain time. For instance, chapter meetings. Being on time is just a common courtesy, and it can even help you stand out if you are consistently on time to things.

23. Chat With Alumnae At Events

Alumnae love when current members chat with them during alumnae events like Homecoming. It can be a daunting task, but alumnae were once in your shoes! Also, alumnae expect the conversations to be small talk; you just met after all! So get out of your comfort zone and strike up a conversation.

24. Support Sisters When They Are Going Through Tough Times

It’s always great to support a sister if they are going through a rough time. Don’t ever be afraid to text a sister and let them know that you are thinking of them, or even hang out with them to cheer them up! You never know what a kind olive branch may do to help a sister feel loved!

25. Be Extra Prepared And Help Sisters During Recruitment

Formal and even informal recruitment can put a lot of stress on sisters. If you can be a little extra prepared, that can really help your sisters in their time of need. You may want to bring some pads and tampons, a couple extra hair ties, some extra bobby pins, and even a sewing kit or first aid kit. Obviously you don’t have to stock up on everything, but if you remember to grab a few extra things, don’t hesitate to share. A sister is bound to need one or all of the things I mentioned at one point during recruitment, and you will be there to save the day!

26. Take Sorority Fundraisers Seriously

Those Yankee Candles aren’t going to sell themselves! Yes, sorority fundraisers do take a lot of energy that you may want to spend elsewhere, but they can be really helpful for donating to charity and helping your chapter. Take them seriously and get your stuff sold because that will make a bigger impact on the sorority and the world at large than you know.

27. Be present When You Are Hanging Out With Sisters

In a world where there is always 100 million things happening, be in the moment! Our generation is so notorious for not paying attention. People will follow your lead though! Be present, and be in the moment when you are hanging out with your sisters. This way, you get the most out of every interaction you have.

28. Help Paint A Banner/Other Sorority Goodies

If you are talented in the arts and crafts department, use that to your advantage. Participate in any and all chances to craft with your sisters because that’s when the real bonding happens. Also, lend a hand to other people in the sorority who need crafting help. during times like big/little week if you have been in the chapter for a while.

29. Leave Cute Notes For Your Sisters To Find

Your sisters may not know that these notes are from you, but they will love how it made them feel. Get some sticky notes and leave cute notes on people’s notebooks, planners, and other things that they would actually grab. You may not want to leave them around the chapter room, but instead on actual belongings that way they are more likely to actually find them.

30. Be Open About Your Sorority Love

Shout your love of your letters anytime you can. If you are a proud sister, you should show that in whichever way you can! This is an easy task that almost everyone can do. Be proud of your letters and what they represent.

31. Showcase Greek Life In A Positive Manner In Life And Online

Last, but not least, show Greek life in a positive manner. When Greek life is in the news, it’s often because something negative happens. The news forgets all the amazing things that Greek organizations do every day, and so do your friends and family if you don’t remind them! Showcase the positive side of Greek life and be the positive side of Greek life every single day!

Conclusion

I hope you loved today’s article. I am all about getting involved in your sorority. It’s more than joining, it’s also about participating. If you participate in sorority activities, you can grow as a person and as a sorority sister.

Did I miss anything here? Tell me your favorite ways to get involved in your sorority in the comments below!
 

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May 11, 2017

5 Things That Sororities Look For During Recruitment

Recruitment can be a scary time for so many students.

Many high schoolers aren’t sure exactly what to do during recruitment because they may not have had any family guidance or their family members were a part of the Greek system so long ago. Today I am going to be sharing a couple of universal things that most sororities are looking for during recruitment. Once you understand these five things recruitment will seem a lot less scary because most of you already have these qualities, it’s just a matter of getting over the nerves and making sure the sororities see these qualities in you.

5 Things That Sororities Look For During Recruitment | Many college students will go through recruitment this upcoming fall, but so many of them don't know what sororities are looking for in their potential new members. Click through to learn five things that sororities are looking for as they are going through the recruitment process so that you can practice adding these things into conversation and add them into your recruitment applications.

1. Leadership Potential

Leadership potential in sororities is SO important because there are TONS of leadership positions to be filled in sororities. In order to fill all those officer and chair positions, sororities need to find members who are willing to step up to the plate. There are leadership positions for so many women but sometimes people end up filling two or more positions because a lot of people don’t want to step up. Women are busy with their majors or they may even lack the confidence necessary to step up.

If you are thinking of joining a sorority:

  1. Play up your past leadership roles on your application.
  2. Ask about leadership positions during the recruitment process.

If you do these two things you will be able to share your love of leadership with the sorority easily. Do this with many people that you meet during recruitment. You want to make sure that many sisters know how excited you are about potential leadership opportunities.

Make sure that you are varying the ways that you ask about leadership opportunities. With one sister you may want to ask about the leadership opportunities outright, then with another sister, you may say “Oh _____, was just telling me about her leadership role as the chapter secretary, have you had any leadership roles in the sorority?”, then with another sister, you may want to take a more natural approach and ask her about what drew her to the sorority/see if leadership naturally pops into the conversation as y’all are talking.

2. Genuine Interest In Sorority Life

*Not the party life.

Being in a sorority can lead to a fuller social calendar, but that should never be your sole reason for wanting to join. There will be plenty of time for you to worry about socials with boys later as they will inevitably come up during chapter meetings. Right now, though, your sole focus should be on getting to know the women and making sure that you feel comfortable and can see yourself hanging out with them often.

Sorority life is more than just social events with fraternities. Sororities hang out and have sisterhoods together, they bond over volunteer work, they do homework together, and so much more. You need to have a genuine interest in the totality of sorority life–not just one aspect.

If you want to learn more about what they do on a day-to-day basis don’t be afraid to ask a sister what her favorite sorority event was. Don’t be surprised though if she still isn’t forthcoming about socials as she is trying to find a sister not a party buddy. Respect her wishes if she wants to tell you about another avenue of her sorority life and believe her as some people genuinely aren’t interested in the socials aspect of sorority life. I, for example, can probably count on one hand how many socials I went to throughout my time in my sorority. I went to far more sisterhoods than I went to socials.

3. Love For Education

I am not telling you that you need a 4.0 to get into a sorority, quite the opposite. Good grades never hurt, though, because many sororities pride themselves on education. Many sororities can’t really afford to take grade risks (a grade risk is when a potential new member doesn’t meet the minimum GPA requirements.)

A chapter’s GPA is very important, but not only that you need to have a strong GPA. Most GPAs drop during the new member semester because the first semester in a sorority can be so demanding (most, but not all, mine went up by .2). To top it off, a lot of women are going through recruitment during their first semester of college so sororities are going off your high school GPA. If your high school GPA is low it doesn’t give sororities a lot of confidence that you will be able to handle your first semester of college plus a really demanding student organization.

If your GPA is really great, highlight that because sororities are always looking for women who are academically gifted. At the same time though, the only time you really have to worry is if your GPA is below the minimum GPA requirement. I am sorry to say that having a GPA lower than the minimum is the first thing many sororities cut for–even if they love your personality.

All is not lost though, if your GPA isn’t ready yet, take some time to raise it your first semester at college, try to meet different sorority women, and then go for a continuous open bid in the spring. Alternatively,  you could go through recruitment as a sophomore and use the entire first year to get your land legs together. If your school does deferred formal recruitment, you are in luck as you will have a semester to work hard and raise your GPA by doing well during your first semester of college.

4. Willingness To Volunteer

Being a volunteer is a big part of sorority life. Whether you want to volunteer at a soup kitchen, by tutoring students at local schools, coaching a Little League team, etc. volunteering is at the heart of what sorority women do. During your time as a sorority sister, there is a big chance that you will have to submit a certain number of volunteer hours and those hours can take place with your sorority or outside of your sorority.

If you love the philanthropy of your potential sorority that is also a really great advantage. The biggest advice I have is to be alert during philanthropy day. These women are sharing one of the biggest parts of their sorority with and you need to look at least mildly interested in the philanthropy they support. Once you are in the sorority there is a huge chance that most of your service hours can be outside of this philanthropy, but you will probably be doing a number of activities related to this philanthropy throughout your time in the sorority.

5. Strong Values And Passion About Something

Last, but certainly not least, sororities are looking for women who have strong values and women who are passionate about something. More than anything, this really means that sororities are looking for people who have a personality and aren’t afraid to show that to them through their conversations. If you are a huge Harry Potter geek, don’t be afraid to bring that up. If you are passionate about zoology, don’t be afraid to bring it up. If being kind is a big part of who you are, don’t be afraid to let that be seen.

Sororities are here to help make you a better version of yourself. Having a strong value system and just sharing your passion with your potential sisters is a great way to get their attention. Passion makes you happy and that happiness shows in everything that you do. Take the time to make yourself more comfortable during recruitment by sharing your passion and values with your sisters.

Sororities are made up of so many types of women and they all have their own passions and value systems. You never know who you are talking to during recruitment so by sharing your values and passions you could be talking to the person in the sorority who matches you the most. Even if that person doesn’t match you exactly, by sharing more about you they can figure out if you would fit in with the sorority or if they knew someone who would be perfect for you to meet.

Final Thoughts About What Sororities Look For

As you notice, I didn’t add looks here. Yes, there are some sororities out there that seem to fill their sorority based on superficial looks. Yes, even for sororities who don’t base their recruitment on looks, you want to look presentable and like you are trying at least a little bit during recruitment. I have had a few posts on the blog about what to wear and how to look during recruitment on the blog in the past and there are so many resources out there that I highly suggest you check out. Check out my posts about fashion and beauty during formal recruitment here and here.

I feel that these five topics are the best topics that you can focus on when it comes to what sororities look for the most. Looks can only get you so far in most sororities if you don’t have other things like leadership, volunteering, education, etc. to back it up.

Overall, don’t be afraid to be yourself and to open up during recruitment. Recruitment week is your one chance to make an impression on these women and get a bid to join their sisterhood (for now anyway, you can always go through recruitment again or do a continuous open bid if you are dropped.) Don’t waste that opportunity being scared and shutting down. Practice your conversation skills and find ways to interject your personality into the conversation and into your recruitment application.

I have so much faith in you that you will find the right sisterhood. Get ready to crush recruitment, yo!

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