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Fraternity and Sorority Life

  • 2023 Recruitment Staff posing for photo on the Horseshoe

Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment

Find a family away from home and lifelong friendships through sorority recruitment for 13 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) organizations.

Fall 2024 Formal Recruitment

Formal recruitment is the primary way to join the Panhellenic community. Registration for 2024 will open May 1st. 

Questions? Email the recruitment team at uscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com

 

Things to Know Before You Register

We recommend reviewing all the information below prior to registering for recruitment but have highlighted info as "must know" prior to your decision to go through recruitment. If you have questions about recruitment or the sorority membership experience, including financial, time, and academic requirements, contact the recruitment team at uscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com.

May 1: Registration Opens

July 31: Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. ET

August 10: Mandatory online workshops must be completed by 11:59 p.m. ET

August 12: PNM Move-in and Residence Hall Meeting 

August 13: PNM Convocation and Round 1: Go Greek Round

August 14-16: Round 2: Philanthropy Round

August 17-18: Round 3: Sisterhood Round

August 19-23: Break for First Week of Classes

August 24: Round 4: Preference Round

August 25: Bid Day

August 26/27: CPA Launch, a required program for new members

Alpha Chi Omega

Alpha Delta Pi

Alpha Gamma Delta

Alpha Xi Delta

Chi Omega

Delta Delta Delta

Delta Zeta

Gamma Phi Beta

Kappa Delta

Kappa Kappa Gamma

Phi Mu

Pi Beta Phi

Zeta Tau Alpha

The Fraternity and Sorority Life community at USC has more than 47 member organizations. We encourage you to learn more about the membership intake process for our NPHC and multicultural Greek organizations. If you have any questions, call 803-777-3506 or email us at uscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com.

Registration will open May 1!

In order to participate in sorority recruitment, as well as guarantee on-campus housing, registration must be received by July 31. Unfortunately, we will not be able to make exceptions to this deadline.

If you aren't able to attend the formal recruitment process but are interested in joining a Panhellenic organization later, please email uscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com with your contact information.

There is a $185 fee for registration.
This includes your recruitment T-shirt, a small bag, and a water bottle.  

Unfortunately, we are not able to refund fees associated with registration. Once registration is submitted, a cancellation or reimbursement cannot be processed.

Info you'll need when sitting down to register

  • General Resume Information (GPA, activities, community service, etc).
  • Guardian Contact Information (for emergency contact).
  • Legacy Information (names, chapters and schools for family members who have been in sororities).
  • A way to pay electronically.
  • Approximately 30 minutes to complete the form. Accounts are not saved and registration is not complete until payment is accepted.

Link Coming Soon

  • Women participating in sorority recruitment will move into their on-campus housing room early on Aug. 12 and will move into the room they've been assigned for the fall semester.
  • You do not need to contact University Housing to set up early move-in, as it will be set up for you once you register for recruitment.
  • For more information about your move to campus, visit the University Housing website. The website contains information including what you can and cannot bring to campus, dimensions and a floor plan of a typical room in your assigned residence hall, directions and more.
  • Later in the summer, you will receive communication from University Housing informing you how to sign up for your move in day and time.
  • Please direct all questions regarding housing to University Housing at 803-777-4283.

Fees
An early move-in fee of $450 will be charged to your USC bill. This fee includes your early arrival meal plan, including brunch and dinner each day. 

Immunizations
You will not be allowed to move in if the university hasn't received your immunization record.

Students Living Off-Campus
You will need to make your own arrangements and coordinate your early move-in with your landlord or leasing company. The university does not make arrangements for students living off-campus. For more information about off-campus housing, contact the Office of Off-Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations.

You should be prepared to be occupied from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day during the recruitment process. Because your schedule will be unique to you, we won't be able to share an advanced detailed schedule with potential new members.

Schedule Conflicts
Conflicts can be excused for academic commitments, but schedules can't always be changed. It's important to remember that excused absences may affect your next round schedule. Recruitment is an opportunity for a potential member to meet active members in organizations and for those active members to get to know potential members. Missing these opportunities may affect invitations made for the next round of events. Missing recruitment events for an unexcused reason is cause for removal from the recruitment process completely. Speak with your "Pi Chi" recruitment counselor or contact Recruitment Staff at uscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com.

Women who do not feel well or are experiencing any symptoms of an illness should visit Health Services immediately and contact their Pi Chi to let them know about their expected absence. Rescheduling  will be on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.

There is no specific GPA required to participate in recruitment, but each sorority chapter has its own GPA requirements. If your GPA is below a 3.0, you may be considered a "grade risk" and get fewer invitations during recruitment than those with higher GPAs.

GPAs are verified through the university once your registration is complete.

Please review the PNM contract prior to registering for recruitment.

PNM Contract

Sorority Membership Expectations

Academic success is greatly valued in all fraternities and sororities. Each chapter has a minimum GPA requirement to join and maintain membership in their organization. In addition, each chapter has an elected/appointed officer dedicated to connecting women in the chapter with campus resources to ensure they excel academically.

In order to operate, chapters charge membership dues once a semester. First semester dues are more expensive due to initiation fees and new member fees. These fees strictly cover chapter dues and do not include chapter apparel, philanthropic donations, housing, meal plans, and other incidentals.

All members of the fraternity and sorority community pay a $50* Greek activity fee. 
*Note that this was the fee for the 2023-24 academic year and may change for the 2024-25 academic year.

To learn more about each chapter’s dues, housing, and meal plan costs, visit the annual FSL guide

The time commitment generally varies from chapter to chapter and from member to member, but you can expect to invest more time in your first semester of membership as you go through the new member education program. New member education focuses on learning the history and facts about the organization, developing leadership and time management skills, and spending time getting to know sisters. Although it can be time intensive, it should not interfere with academic commitments.

Members of organizations with houses in Greek Village have the opportunity to live in the chapter house after their first year of membership.

Additionally, all chapters with houses in Greek Village have a meal plan for members starting the semester after a student joins the organization and lasts the duration of a student’s college career. For more information about the cost of housing and meal plan for chapters with facilities, visit the Greek Village webpage.

Things to Know After You've Registered for Recruitment

We’re excited that you’re interested in going through Panhellenic sorority recruitment this fall at USC! We’ve compiled the information below to help guide you through the rest of the process. If you have any questions, you can contact the recruitment team at uscsororityrecruitment@gmail.com.

This year, we’re excited to continue our partnership with NPC and Launchpoint to offer potential new members with online orientation prior to moving to campus. In July, you’ll receive an email prompting you to complete a series of mandatory online workshops. There will be a short quiz at the end of each of the 10 sessions which will require a passing score of 80%. There is not a limit on the number of times required to take the quizzes. We anticipate that viewing the 10 sessions videos and completing the quizzes will require approximately 1hr. You will not be required to complete all sessions and quizzes in one sitting. If you can’t complete them during one sitting, you can log back into your account and finish them at a later time. All videos must be watched and quizzes passed no later than 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 10.

In July, you’ll receive an email prompting you to complete this two-part course, learning how to recognize, prevent and report hazing. The real-life scenarios prepare students, group members and bystanders to make informed decisions, ultimately empowering them to prevent hazing. The first part of the course is titled Hazing Prevention: It’s Everyone’s Responsibility 101 ™. This is the prerequisite for the second part of the course, The Fraternity and Sorority Life Module, designed for university students in fraternities and sororities. We anticipate that completing the two modules will take approximately 90 minutes. Both modules should be completed no later than 11:59pm on Aug. 10.

During the recruitment process, each potential new member is assigned to a recruitment counselor group, along with approximately 30 other potential members. Each group has two assigned recruitment counselors (Pi Chis) who will be a point of contact for the PNMs throughout the recruitment process. These are upperclassmen sorority women who are temporarily disassociated from their chapter to assist with the recruitment process. They are great resources for potential members to learn more about the sorority experience, membership expectations, and recruitment events.

The Pi Chi role involves a very competitive selection process as well as a leadership retreat in the spring and several days of training in August prior to the start of recruitment. Women in this role work closely with Fraternity and Sorority Life staff, the recruitment team, and a 2nd year Pi Chi who serves as Head Pi Chi.

After each round of recruitment, the potential member has the opportunity to select which organizations she'd most like to visit during the next round of events. The chapters also make invitations to invite potential members back to their next round of events. Through this, both potential members and the sorority chapter make a mutual choice about membership.

How should PNMs make their selections?

  • Conversations with members during recruitment events.
  • How the chapters’ values align with the PNMs personal values.
  • How the chapter can help members achieve their greatest potential.
  • What a PNM believes to be the best fit for them.
  • Independent and pressure-free from family or friends opinions.

How do chapters make membership decisions?

  • Academic, leadership and community service accomplishments.
  • Conversations with their members during events.
  • Sorority membership requirements.
  • The chapter's founding values.

After attending Round 4 (preference) recruitment events and at the completion of the recruitment period, all potential members are given the option to sign a membership recruitment acceptance binding agreement (MRABA). In order to receive a bid from a sorority on campus, the MRABA must be signed. This document is used on every campus that has National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) member organizations and is upheld by NPC and the 26 international member organizations, including the 13 on USC’s campus. By submitting selections on preference, a potential member is agreeing to the points below. In addition, this information will be covered in the mandatory orientation webinars, throughout the recruitment process, within Pi Chi groups, and prior to chapter selection on Round 4.

By electronically signing the MRABA, a PNM agrees to the following terms:

  • I am willing to accept an invitation to membership (a bid) from any sorority I list on this form.
  • I will list the sorority(ies) in order of preference for receiving a bid.
  • I do not have to rank all the sororities that are my remaining choices if I am certain I will not accept a bid from them and cannot see myself as a member of that sorority.
  • I understand that should I choose to limit my choices, I might not receive a bid through this recruitment process.
  • After submitting the form, I cannot change my ranking. I also cannot add or delete any sorority.
  • If I do not receive a bid from any sorority I have listed, I understand that I am eligible to join any sorority through COB if there is an opportunity. I also understand that not all sororities will recruit through COB.
  • If I do receive a bid from a sorority I have listed, and I choose not to accept that bid, I understand that I am NOT eligible to join any other sorority on this campus until the start of the next primary recruitment period (Fall 2024).

A legacy is the daughter or sister of an initiated or alumna member of an organization. Some organizations also include grandchildren or other family members when considering someone a legacy.

If you're a legacy of one of our 13 chapters, we recommend having your family member use the national website to submit a legacy form to ensure required information is submitted.

Beginning in 2021, our chapters collectively decided not to request letters of recommendation for recruitment  as we feel that the time spent with chapter members during recruitment is more beneficial in learning more about you! Letters of recommendation have not historically been required for membership to one of our chapters on our campus and by continuing to eliminate them from the selection process will assist in our vision of getting to know the potential new member personally.

If you are aware of an alumna who is looking to write you a letter of recommendation to a specific chapter, you are more than welcome to submit that through the national organization. Please check the national organization’s website for more information about their specific process.

If you have a diagnosed disability or medical condition that warrants or requires special accommodations,, you must register with the Student Disability Resource Center no later than 5 p.m. on Aug. 10.

Please contact 803-777-3845 if you have questions about special accommodations during sorority recruitment.

In order to accommodate food allergies and other food-related needs, all restrictions must be registered in advance with the Student Disability Resource Center no later than 5 p.m. on Aug. 10.

Please contact 803-777-3845 if you have questions about food-related accommodations during sorority recruitment.

What to Expect During Recruitment

Each round of recruitment provides the opportunity to visit with members of each chapter on your schedule. We recommend sharing information about yourself that lets the chapter know about your interests, goals, and values. We also strongly recommend asking questions about membership expectations, benefits of membership, and chapter values.

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024

The recruitment team will host an orientation session in the morning of Round 1. At this event, you’ll meet your Pi Chi recruitment counselor, other women going through the recruitment process, and learn more about the sorority experience at USC. You’ll receive more information and where to meet your Pi Chi for this event in early August. 

During Round 1, you will watch a video made by each of the thirteen chapters. You will also have the opportunity to make a video to share a little about yourself with the chapters. This first day is very casual and will be outside with your Pi Chi group so please dress comfortable and comfortable shoes for walking across campus. Lunch will be provided.

In addition to watching chapter videos and recording a personal video, potential members will participate in Sorority 101 programming. Sorority 101 is an educational program designed to outline the membership commitment within the Greek community here at the University of South Carolina. Our goal is to share the importance of the lifelong commitment you make when joining a Greek letter organization, as well as provide you with a transparent picture of the expectations of sorority membership on our campus. The sessions are designed to share various components of Fraternity and Sorority Life as well as prepare PNMs for their first weeks on campus. PNMs should gain knowledge and tools to allow them to successfully manage expectations of their future chapter, become educated about campus norms surrounding the new member experience and learn about the philanthropic efforts of sorority women across the country.

Wednesday, Aug. 14 - Friday, Aug. 16, 2024

During Round 2, you will visit up to ten sororities. You will spend about 30 minutes with each chapter on your schedule to learn about their philanthropic causes and activities. Please wear your recruitment T-shirt, shorts or a skirt, and comfortable shoes.

Saturday, Aug. 17 - Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024

During Round 3, you will visit up to six sororities and spend about 40 minutes with each chapter on your schedule while they show a video that highlights their activities, traditions, and friendships. Attire for this day is still casual but a little dressier than previous days. Additionally, during this round, chapters will review their financial expectations with potential members.

Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024

This round is a special opportunity intended for chapters to showcase the bond they share as sisters. You will visit up to two sororities and spend about one hour with each chapter on your schedule. Due to the more formal nature of this day, we recommend dressier attire, similar to a cocktail or Sunday brunch dress, and something you’ll be comfortable in. As always, wear comfortable shoes or bring a pair to change into between your scheduled events with chapters.

Sunday, Aug. 25, 2023

This day is the grand finale of recruitment. Membership bids are given out to the women who finish the recruitment process and recruitment counselors reveal their chapter affiliation and reunite with their sisters. Please wear comfortable attire as this is an active and exciting day. Each sorority will give their new members a T-shirt or tank top to wear when they receive their bid.

After receiving bids, chapters typically host sisterhood events that evening for their new members.

Monday, Aug. 26 - Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2023

Once recruitment concludes, chapters will host events for their new members to get to know one another as well as the active members of the organization. In addition, new members will be required to attend an event at the beginning of the week. The date and time of the meeting based on the chapter schedule. New members will get their schedule on Bid Day.

All dates and information are subject to change.


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