What is Primary Recruitment?
Primary recruitment is a structured, mutual selection process designed to help Potential New Members (PNMs) discover the sorority where they feel the most at home. The process is guided by the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) and is values-based at its core. This means the process is designed to help PNMs and chapters get to know each other through authentic conversations about friendship, leadership, academic excellence and philanthropic service.
The journey begins with registration through your college’s Panhellenic Council. It’s important to check when sorority recruitment starts on your campus—some colleges host primary recruitment in the fall, while others hold it in the spring—and take note of deadlines for registration and recommendation letters. While recommendation letters can be helpful, they are not required to participate in recruitment.
Once you’re registered, many campuses offer a PNM orientation to help you prepare. You’ll meet recruitment counselors (often called Pi Chis or Rho Gammas) who will guide you throughout the week, answer questions and provide support along the way.
During recruitment, you’ll go through a series of “rounds,” which may take place over several days depending on your campus. The first round usually gives you a chance to meet every chapter and learn about each organization’s core values and community involvement. As the rounds progress, you’ll dive into topics such as sisterhood, values, philanthropy, leadership opportunities, and on some campuses, learn about what it’s like to live in the sorority house. These rounds are designed to help you identify where you feel the strongest connection.
Recruitment is a mutual selection process, meaning both you and the chapters make choices each round. You’ll preference which chapters you’d like to visit again and learn more about, and the chapters will decide which PNMs they’d like to invite back. This helps narrow down options, ultimately leading you to Preference Round, which is the final stage of recruitment. During this round, you’ll get a deeper glimpse into what it truly means to be a member of that chapter, helping you picture yourself in the chapter that feels like the best fit for you.
After Preference, you’ll sign the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA) to indicate your final preferences. Then comes Bid Day! Bid Day is an exciting event where PNMs receive bids, or invitations, to join a chapter. It’s the start of your journey as a New Member and the future friendships to come.
While primary recruitment is a popular way to join a sorority, it’s not the only option. Continuous Open Bidding (COB) is another path to joining outside the primary recruitment process and may be offered throughout the academic year. COB offers a more relaxed and personalized opportunity to connect with chapter members, explore each sorority at your own pace and find the sisterhood that feels like the perfect fit for you. Check your university’s Panhellenic Council website for more information.
As Pi Phis, our commitment to values-based recruitment ensures every Potential New Member experiences genuine connections and a transparent process. Whether you’re drawn to service through our Read > Lead > Achieve® initiatives, are excited about leadership development or are seeking Sincere Friendship, Pi Phi offers a sisterhood where you can truly belong and grow.
We can’t wait to meet you!
Published July 18, 2025