Question 1

Why should I join a sorority?

Accepted Answer

There are many beneficial aspects to sorority life that make it a unique and exciting college experience. While different chapters may have different core values, all Panhellenic sororities offer their members the chance to partake in leadership opportunities, philanthropy, scholarship, personal development, and sisterhood. The great thing about joining the Sorority and Fraternity community is that all of these opportunities are bundled into one organization!

Question 2

What is Panhellenic?

Accepted Answer

Women’s fraternities and sororities.

Question 3

What sororities (aka chapters) are at UC San Diego?

Accepted Answer

There are eleven Panhellenic sororities at UCSD that participate in the formal recruitment process: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, and Sigma Kappa.
When you participate in Fall Formal Recruitment, you have the opportunity to visit and get to know the women of each chapter. Please feel free to learn more about each Panhellenic sorority under the “Chapters” tab at the top of the webpage.
Phi Sigma Rho is an associate chapter of Panhellenic at UCSD, and does not participate in formal recruitment due to their major restriction to Science and Engineering majors. Their chapter has a separate recruitment, and there is no formal registration process. For more information, please visit the Recruitment section at phisigmarhoucsd.com, or contact xpsr.vprecruitment@gmail.com

Question 4

What exactly is Recruitment and how do I join a sorority?

Accepted Answer

Recruitment is a mutual selection process through which potential new members (PNMs) meet active members of the Panhellenic Community. Over five days, PNMs will visit eleven Panhellenic chapters and have the opportunity to find out what Greek life at UCSD is all about. Throughout the Recruitment process, both the chapters and the potential new members narrow down their selections. On the final day of recruitment, after a mutual bid-matching process, PNMs may receive an invitation to join a chapter.
 
Come to Recruitment Info Night Thursday, September 26th at 6:00pm in Price Centre Theatre or Monday, September 30th at 6:00pm in Multipurpose Room in the Student Services Center to learn more!

Question 5

What is Recruitment like at UC San Diego?

Accepted Answer

Recruitment is offered for women to learn about what the Panhellenic Community stands for. A ton of thought and planning by the Panhellenic Board and individual chapters has gone into this process to insure each PNMs experience is enjoyable, comfortable, and fun. Recruitment is your opportunity to meet many different women in each chapter and learn more about them as they learn about you. Each individual chapter shares common goals and values, yet each cultivates its own unique personality. There is truly a place for every woman interested in joining a chapter, which is why it is important to recognize the different aspects each chapter has to offer when making your selection. It is crucial to choose a sorority that matches your interests and motivations to challenge and strengthen you through the years, in and after college.

Question 6

What is values-based Recruitment?

Accepted Answer

Recruitment at UCSD is values-based. This implies meaningful conversations between chapter members and potential new members going through recruitment. Values define individual members in an organization as well as describe how chapters conduct their organization, by identifying what matters to that specific organization. This process insures that you, as a potential new member, will meet and connect with chapter women on a deeper level.

Question 7

When is Recruitment?

Accepted Answer

Formal Recruitment 2019 will take place Oct 2nd - Oct 10th. October 2nd will be a mandatory orientation from 6:30pm-8pm in Price Centre Theatre. Each individual schedule from October 3rd through 7th will vary, culminating in Bid Day on the 10th!

Question 8

Where and when can I register for Recruitment?

Accepted Answer

At this link: https://enroll.icsrecruiter.com/pan/UNCASD. Please contact VP Membership Haley Higa (phcrecruitment@ucsd.edu) or Gillian Grennan (phcnmoutreach@ucsd.edu) with any inquiries!

Question 9

Who can sign up for Recruitment?

Accepted Answer

All female-identifying undergraduate students who are enrolled, full-time, at the University of California, San Diego for the Fall quarter. Unfortunately, graduate students are not eligible. We have a minimum recommended GPA of 2.7, but you are welcome to register even if you fall below that GPA.

Question 10

What is expected of me as a potential new member going through Recruitment?

Accepted Answer

As a potential new member (PNM), we expect you to come into recruitment events with an openness to evaluate and determine your personal values and be ready to meet and connect with a diverse group of women. We encourage you to think about your goals, aspirations, passions, and what what brought you to UCSD.

Question 11

Who are Recruitment Guides?

Accepted Answer

A group of 40 women, known as Recruitment Guides, or Rho Gammas, help guide and counsel PNMs through Formal Recruitment while disaffiliated from their respective chapters. Your Rho Gamma will provide information about the week, accompany you to recruitment week functions, and provide a listening ear as you make decisions concerning sorority membership. Approximately 10-20 women will join you as members of your recruitment group, with your Rho Gamma leading the group. Utilize your recruitment guide because she can offer valuable information regarding sorority life, academic classes, and other opportunities waiting for you at UCSD.

Question 12

Am I allowed to miss a day of Recruitment?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, missing an entire day of recruitment is highly detrimental to your recruitment experience. This is because missing a night does not allow you to meet new women in each of the chapters or allow for them to get to know you better. The only excused absences for recruitment events are for class, NCAA and club religious observance sports commitments, and emergencies. If you have any conflicts with recruitment events, even if unexcused, a conflict form will be available prior to recruitment and we will try to schedule your events around your conflicts.

Question 13

How much of a time commitment is being in a sorority?

Accepted Answer

Participating in a sorority is like participating in any co-curricular activity; it requires a time investment. Students in the Panhellenic Community at UCSD have the opportunity for a well-rounded college experience that involves academic work, campus and service involvement, networking, and social events. You choose your level of involvement, but what you get out of being in a sorority is what you put in.

Question 14

Are there academic requirements for joining a sorority?

Accepted Answer

In order to go through recruitment, you must be in good academic standing with the university. We have a recommended minimum GPA of 2.7 to register for Formal Recruitment. However, each Panhellenic sorority chooses its own individual scholarly requirements. Panhellenic sororities put a great amount of emphasis on scholarship in addition to other great things they have to offer.

Question 15

What are the financial requirements of being in a sorority?

Accepted Answer

Joining a sorority does entail a financial commitment, just like other extra-curricular activities. The financial requirements are called dues, and fluctuate in amount according to chapter. The average cost of dues for active chapter members is $360 per quarter, and the average dues for the first quarter in the chapter are $490. These dues typically cover chapter retreats, recruitment supplies, parent’s weekend events, chapter’s founders’ days, officer training, t-shirts, leadership institutes, formals, and philanthropy events. Individual chapters will discuss their finances in person on Sisterhood Day.

Question 16

What kinds of philanthropic and service events are the Panhellenic community involved in?

Accepted Answer

There are two types of ways to give back in the Panhellenic Community- philanthropy and service. Philanthropy involves the act of donating money to organizations or individuals for various reasons, and service is hands-on interaction with organizations or individuals that benefit from your time.
Each chapter holds one large-scale philanthropy event each year in support of a cause their sorority chooses. These events involve the entire Greek nd UCSD community, and focus on awareness for each chapter’s cause, as well as raising money for it. The UCSD campus is highly supportive and encouraging of one another, and each sorority often helps and even participates in each other’s philanthropy events. Service events happen at various times throughout the year, and are organized by Panhellenic as well as individual chapters.

Question 17

If I join a sorority, will I still be able to get involved with other organizations on campus?"

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Chapter members are active all over campus and it is actually highly encouraged that women participate in other organizations. Sisters introduce each other to new organizations on campus all the time, making it even easier to get involved. Chapters have the opportunity to meet and connect with various groups on campus- Multicultural Fraternities and Sororities, Fraternities, athletic clubs and sports teams, Associated Students, as well as various other student organizations. Being a member of the Greek community instantly connects you with numerous students on campus and allows for various ways to get plugged in to campus events.

Question 18

Do I need letters of recommendation

Accepted Answer

No chapter at UCSD requires letters of recommendation. If you have any, you can send them to phcrecruitment@ucsd.edu. Not having any letters of recommendation will not hurt your chances of joining a sorority.

Question 19

What is the gender requirement to join a sorority?

Accepted Answer

Any female-identifying student can register for Panhellenic Recruitment. f you have any questions contact vpofmembership@gmail.com.

Question 20

Why does Phi Sigma Rho have a separate recruitment?

Accepted Answer

Phi Sigma Rho is an associate member of the Panhellenic community and does not participate in Formal Recruitment because they recruit members who are majoring in STEM. It is possible to try out both Phi Sigma Rho Recruitment and Formal Recuritment at the same time. Contact Seerat at xpsr.vprecruitment@gmail.com with any other questions you have about Phi Sigma Rho’s Recruitment process.

Question 21

Is there recruitment later in the year?

Accepted Answer

Fall is the only time in which Panhellenic hosts a Formal Recruitment, and is therefore your only chance to explore membership in all of the Panhellenic sororities at once. Some chapters may host informal recruitment in Winter or Spring.

Question 22

What year is best to go through recruitment?

Accepted Answer

You can join a sorority any year of your undergraduate UCSD career, and every year is the best year! Going through recruitment your freshman year is a great way to get involved on campus right away and to get involved early in leadership opportunities. However, Panhellenic can offer many great opportunities to undergraduate women of any age, and women of every undergraduate year participate in recruitment each year!

DUE TO COVID-19 ALL IN PERSON EVENTS FOR WINTER QUARTER COULD POTENTIALLY BE HELD VIRTUALLY

FAQ

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