RECRUITMENT FAQ
Primary sorority recruitment at Western Michigan is only conducted in the fall semester. 2024 Recruitment week begins Monday, September 23rd and concludes with Bid Day on Saturday, September 28th. It is important to note that the WMU Panhellenic does not host a formalized spring recruitment. If you are unable to participate in fall formal recruitment but are interested in joining a sorority, you may participate in Continuous Open Bidding (COB).
No. Although majority of the women participating in Recruitment are invited to join a chapter at the end of recruitment,it is possible to go through recruitment and not pledge a sorority. The national average for women receiving a bid during primary recruitment is 79%. Recruitment is a process of mutual selection, and as such, there are many different outcomes to this process. Typically, some women participating in Recruitment voluntarily withdraw themselves from the process during the week, choosing not to continue participating in Recruitment, even though they have chapters available to attend. Each sorority at WMU has their own membership criteria, oftentimes governed by their national organization, which they use to make there selections. As such, unfortunately, we also have women who are completely released from the recruitment process, although this number is relatively low.
If you have class, family obligations or another university obligation it is absolutely necessary and acceptable to miss a recruitment event. If something comes up during the time of a recruitment event, please notify your Rho Gamma immediately so she can help you work around your schedule as much as possible.
Recruitment is a mutual selection process. This means that potential members are able to rank the sororities they would most like to return to, and the chapters provide a list of potential members they would like to invite back. Those two lists are matched, and invitations to subsequent rounds of recruitment are extended.
Women going through recruitment often experience the greatest disappointment by beginning the recruitment process wanting to be in only one or a few certain sororities. Sorority membership is more than wearing certain letters. Don’t make decisions based on stereotypes, what you hear, or other’s opinions. Keep an open mind and make the decision that is right for you. Every chapter has something great to offer and it is important to keep an open mind and give each chapter a chance.
Yes! you will need to request that a final copy of your high school or college transcript to include in you recuritment signup. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that we have your FINAL high school and/or college transcript. In order to verify the academic standing of all Potential New Members, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will request a grade report from the Office of Admission and the University Registrar, which will be shared with all the chapters participating in primary recruitment. Please note that all the sororities at WMU will ONLY recognize the Grade Point Average (GPA) on listed file with Western Michigan University as the OFFICIAL recognized GPA for all students.