About three years ago while I was an undergraduate student, I participated in formal recruitment as a sophomore. Joining a sorority was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I made lifelong friends, participated in philanthropy and gained skills that I will carry for a lifetime.
But going through rush? You couldn’t pay me to do it again.
This upcoming recruitment is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5, 2026. The current formal sorority recruitment model does not set up Potential New Members, commonly referred to as PNMs, for success. It is not realistic for creating true connections throughout the week, leaving many PNMs stressed and unhappy.
For the purposes of this article, all three women quoted wish to remain unnamed. The first two do not wish to disclose their current sorority affiliations. Unnamed member No. 3 is a current member of Zeta Tau Alpha.
“The freshmen going into rush literally have no idea what they’re getting into,” says unnamed member #1. “It is the fakest, most overwhelming procedure I have been through in college.”
Unnamed member No.1 felt that clarification about the recruitment process was not given when asked, leaving her with feelings of anxiety and confusion.
“You legit can’t make genuine connections, especially in the first few rounds,” she said. “You’re in an insanely loud sorority suite in heels and your hair curled, and you’re struggling to speak to the member you’re paired with, questioning if she even remembered your name. Nobody can get to know you in two and three minute rounds. By 6 p.m., the members recruiting you are absolutely exhausted and look like they want to be there as much as they want to get their oil changed.”
A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that the recruitment process has negative effects on a PNM’s mood and social support with “all participants reporting an increase in anxiety during recruitment.”
Current sorority members have also expressed their dislike of the recruitment process and the toll the recruitment process takes on their bodies and minds. Unnamed member No.3 recalls her experience recruiting PNMs and how she wished the process looked different.
“PNMs have zero clue how much sororities put into rush until they recruit themselves. Work week kicks off with 10 to 12 hour days, with social media content and recruitment practice, right into 14-hour recruiting days for seven days straight,” she explained.
The same University of Pennsylvania study found that social media has a significant influence on modern sorority recruitment. Researchers concluded that the process often benefits women who already possess strong social networks and higher levels of well-being, rather than those who might gain the most from joining a sorority.
This connection between social media presence and recruitment outcomes raises questions about how fair and equitable the process truly is for all PNMs.
In sorority language, this form of social media searching can be known as “dirty rushing,” which is highly against the rules.
“I’ve definitely heard multiple times here at UM of other sororities looking girls up on Instagram before recruitment begins, a friend from another sorority even confirmed it,” says Unnamed member No.2. “We even hear it from PNMs right before recruitment, that they get an influx of followers from different sorority members then unfollows, obviously trying to see their Instagrams.”
Unnamed member No. 2 went on to explain that her little was exposed to this treatment during the most recent formal recruitment.
“She told me it was painfully obvious that certain sororities had no interest in talking to her in the first two rounds while other sororities were over the moon for her to be there, the same ones she got Instagram requests from,” she said. “Like, what’s the point of formally rushing after knowing that? Knowing some sororities pre-pick their members before rush even starts?”
While formal recruitment is the mainstream way to join a sorority, Continuous Open Bidding, commonly referred to as COB, is an alternative that many sorority members love due to the ease of the process.
“Of course, some sororities have COB, but I would still love a different version of formal recruitment. One where we can still have a single week of recruiting, but way less intense,” said Unnamed member No. 2.
I have to agree with her. Personally, I can’t get to know someone in an uncomfortable dress, in a room I can’t hear them in, with the thought of having been pre-judged already.
Sorority PNMs are currently required to rush all eight of the houses. In my perfect world, rush would be exactly like the fraternities: one event per day, more casual attire and the power of choice! Currently, if you rush a fraternity, you can choose the number of frats you’d like to rush. This would lead to a more equitable and tranquil process for both PNMs and current members.
“I remember girls losing their voices left and right, having absolutely no break in between parties. It’s lowkey an organized dumpster fire every year. We’re exhausted. Frats get the luxury of seeing fresh PNMs for one event a day. We don’t,” agreed Unnamed member No.3.
Rush week shouldn’t leave women questioning their worth, but instead should remind them of it. The laughter that comes from late-night bid day talks, the comfort of having friends who feel like family, that’s what sorority life should be.
I still believe in what sororities can offer, but I also believe we deserve a better way to begin. Because no woman should have to earn belonging.
“Go look up ‘Why I dropped UM rush’ on TikTok. You could probably scroll through all of the dirty rushing stories for a good 20 minutes. And that should speak volumes,” says an alumna of Chi Omega.