Primary Recruitment is the official membership recruitment process hosted by the Syracuse University Panhellenic Council each spring semester. It is an opportunity to explore all 13 Panhellenic sororities and discover where you feel most at home.
Throughout recruitment, you will meet members from every chapter, learn about each organization’s values, leadership opportunities, philanthropy, academics, and sisterhood, and build meaningful connections. As the week progresses, invitations become more selective, allowing you to spend more time with the chapters where there is the strongest mutual connection.
Primary Recruitment is designed to help both you and the chapters determine where you will thrive academically, socially, and personally.
View the 2027 Primary Recruitment Calendar here!
Syracuse University Panhellenic is committed to a values-based recruitment experience. Rather than focusing on popularity, appearance, or reputation, values-based recruitment encourages both chapters and Potential New Members (PNMs) to make decisions based on shared values, character, leadership, personal growth, and authentic connections.
Each chapter has its own unique culture, traditions, and strengths. Recruitment is an opportunity to discover which community best aligns with your interests, goals, and values.
Instead of asking yourself, “Will they like me?” or “Am I good enough?” we encourage you to ask, “Can I see myself here?” and “Do this chapter’s values align with my own?”
Primary Recruitment consists of four rounds, with each round providing an opportunity to learn more about the chapters while allowing chapters to get to know you.
Open House (Go Greek) Round
Meet members from all 13 Panhellenic chapters and learn about each organization’s values, leadership opportunities, philanthropy, academics, and campus involvement.
Philanthropy Round
Learn about each chapter’s local and national philanthropic initiatives, community service efforts, and charitable partnerships while continuing conversations with chapter members.
House Tours Round
Visit each chapter facility, experience the chapter home, learn about traditions and daily member life, and continue building connections through more in-depth conversations.
Preference Round
Preference Round is the final and most personal round of recruitment. It provides an opportunity to reflect on your recruitment experience, have meaningful conversations, and consider where you feel the strongest sense of belonging before submitting your final membership preferences.
Bid Day is one of the most exciting traditions of Primary Recruitment and marks the conclusion of the recruitment process. Following the Panhellenic matching process, eligible Potential New Members receive an invitation (called a bid) to join one Panhellenic chapter. Once bids are distributed, new members join their chapter for Bid Day celebrations where they meet their new sisters, begin building friendships, and officially start their membership journey.
Primary Recruitment is a mutual selection process, meaning both Potential New Members (PNMs) and chapters make decisions throughout recruitment.
After each round, PNMs rank the chapters they would most like to visit again, and chapters also make selections based on the conversations and connections they experienced. The Panhellenic recruitment system then matches these preferences to create invitations for the next round.
Following Preference Round, PNMs rank the chapters they attended in the order they would most like to join. Chapters submit their membership lists, and the Panhellenic matching process works to maximize the number of women receiving bids while honoring the preferences of both PNMs and chapters whenever possible.
No chapter can guarantee membership, and no Potential New Member is guaranteed placement in a particular chapter.
Potential New Members who complete the recruitment process, maximize their options throughout recruitment, and rank all chapters they attend during Preference Round are eligible to receive a bid through the Panhellenic matching process.
While every effort is made to maximize placement opportunities, no Potential New Member is guaranteed a bid from a specific chapter, including their first-choice chapter.
No. Participating in Primary Recruitment simply gives you the opportunity to explore sorority membership and determine whether joining a Panhellenic organization is right for you.
You may withdraw from recruitment at any time before signing the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA).
Keep an open mind.
One of the biggest mistakes a Potential New Member can make is entering recruitment focused on only one chapter based on social media, rankings, rumors, or someone else’s opinion.
Recruitment is designed to help you discover where you genuinely belong, not to confirm what you thought before the process began. Many women are surprised by the meaningful friendships and connections they develop with chapters they knew very little about before going through recruitment.
Approach every conversation with curiosity, be yourself, and give every chapter an equal opportunity. The chapter that ultimately feels like home may be one you never expected.
No. You may hear students talk about “tiers,” “top houses,” or “bottom houses,” but these labels are unofficial, subjective, and based on personal opinions- NOT FACTS! They often change from year to year and do not reflect the quality of a chapter or the experience of its members.
The Syracuse University Panhellenic Council does not recognize chapter rankings. Every chapter offers a unique experience, and the best chapter for you is the one where you feel welcomed, supported, challenged, and connected.
We strongly encourage you not to rely on anonymous social media or ranking websites when forming opinions about chapters.
During recruitment, these platforms often contain rumors, stereotypes, misinformation, and anonymous comments that do not accurately represent the Syracuse University Panhellenic community.
The best way to evaluate a chapter is through your own conversations and experiences during recruitment. Trust your instincts, ask questions, and make decisions based on your personal experiences—not anonymous opinions online.
That’s okay, because there is no single definition of a “sorority girl.”
The Syracuse Panhellenic community is made up of women from a wide variety of backgrounds, majors, interests, identities, and experiences. Members are student leaders, athletes, musicians, artists, researchers, entrepreneurs, volunteers, engineers, and much more. If you’re looking for meaningful friendships, leadership opportunities, service, academic support, and personal growth, there is a place for you within the Panhellenic community.
The best thing you can do is be your authentic self.
Syracuse University practices values-based recruitment, so there is no official dress code for Potential New Members. We encourage you to wear clothing that is comfortable, appropriate for the weather, and reflects your personal style. As recruitment progresses, many participants choose attire that becomes slightly more polished, but the focus should always remain on authentic conversations, not appearance.
Specific attire recommendations will be shared with registered Potential New Members before recruitment.
No. Letters of recommendation are not required to participate in Primary Recruitment at Syracuse University. Some national organizations may still accept recommendations from alumnae; however, each organization establishes its own policies. Not having a recommendation will not affect your ability to participate in recruitment.
A legacy is typically someone who has a close family member, such as a parent, sibling, or grandparent, who is an initiated member of a particular sorority. Each National Panhellenic Conference organization establishes its own definition of a legacy and determines how, if at all, legacy status is considered during recruitment.
Yes, if you choose to. The recruitment registration process allows you to indicate legacy relationships. If you provide this information, it will be shared with the appropriate chapter.
However, being a legacy does not guarantee an invitation or a bid. Membership decisions are based on many factors, and each national organization follows its own legacy policy.
If you have questions before or during recruitment, we’re here to help.
Members of the Panhellenic Executive Board and the Recruitment Outreach & Support Experience (ROSE) Team are excellent resources.
The ROSE Team is made up of trained representatives from each of Syracuse University’s 13 Panhellenic chapters who are available to answer questions, explain the recruitment process, and help you navigate your recruitment experience.
You are also welcome to contact the Greek Life Office with questions about recruitment registration, eligibility, Panhellenic policies, or general information about the Syracuse University Panhellenic community.
Yes. All 13 Panhellenic sororities at Syracuse University have chapter houses, which serve as centers for chapter meetings, meals, studying, leadership development, sisterhood activities, and community life.
Housing policies vary by chapter, and many members have the opportunity to live in their chapter house during their undergraduate experience.
NOTE: Syracuse University does not own, operate, or manage any Panhellenic chapter houses. Each chapter facility is owned, leased, or managed by its respective national organization, national housing corporation, local housing corporation, or affiliated housing entity. Because the chapter houses are privately owned and operated, all questions regarding housing costs, room and board, meal plans, housing contracts, facility operations, maintenance, occupancy, or other financial obligations should be directed to the individual chapter. Each organization establishes its own housing policies, fees, and financial requirements. While the Office of Greek Life works closely with each chapter and its housing corporation to support a positive student experience, Syracuse University is not responsible for managing chapter housing or establishing housing-related financial policies.