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Rushing a sorority is an unforgettable experience. You get to meet so many amazing new women and go to so many fun events. But sorority recruitment can be a stressful process if you come unprepared. There are a few things you should know before you show up at your first recruitment event.

Know Your Options

If you’re going to be participating in the recruitment process, it can help to know which sororities are available to you on your campus. Start by googling Greek life at your school. Chances are that there’s a Greek life website that lists all the groups on campus. Do some background research on each group to get a sense of the basics and what they value. This preliminary information is the first step in finding a group that speaks to you.

Know What’s Important to You

Every sorority has a different set of values and different things that they tend to focus on. Before bidding, you should consider what your personal values are and what you are passionate about. Once you’re aware of what your own beliefs are, it will be easier to find a group of likeminded women.

Know Your Schedule

A potential new member is often required to go to a certain number of recruitment events in order to be considered for a bid. Before you start the rush process, it’s important to know if you will be able to attend enough recruitment events. Some groups will organize smaller recruitment events specifically for those girls who can’t make it to those on the formal rush schedule. Check with each group’s recruitment team to see if this is an option.

Know If You Can Commit 

There’s no denying it: being in a sorority is a big time commitment. Though you can adjust the level of responsibility, there is no getting around the mandatory weekly meetings and certain vital events. Make sure before you bid that you have room in your regular schedule for Greek life in order to avoid being overbooked later.

Sororities are also a financial commitment. It helps to know your available budget before you start the bidding process. Most groups discuss the fees in detail during recruitment so that you know exactly what will be expected. If not, don’t be afraid to ask.

A minimum GPA is also a common requirement to be a member of many sororities. Make sure you’re ready to put in the time and effort that you’ll need to maintain it.

Know if You’re a Legacy

A legacy is when you are rushing a sorority that another woman in your family, such as your older sister, mother or Grandmother is already a member of. With some groups, this will increase your chances of getting a bid, some will just make note of it on your application. You should know going into the recruitment process if any women in your family are members of a sorority so that if you will be rushing the same ones, you can mention it to the sisters.

Know the Dress Code

What you wear to recruitment events can have an impact on your first impression. It’s important to know what the dress code is for each recruitment event is before you attend, so that you can dress accordingly. A lot of the time, recruitment events increase in formality over the course of the week, but it’s different at every school. Check the posters on invites for details.

Know Your Lingo

There’s some certain terminology that is unique to Greek organizations. It can be confusing to show up at a recruitment event and not know what a sister is talking about when she says “pledge” or uses “big” as a noun. Some pre-event studying can prevent you from being thrown off by the language barrier.

Know That You Won’t Always Get Your Top Choice

Going into recruitment, it’s important to remember that not everyone receives a bid from their first choice. Don’t let it get you down. They may have a restriction on the number of new members they’re allowed or it may have just not been the right fit for you. Make sure to keep an open mind and consider all of the possible groups on campus. You may have been discounting a group that ends up being your perfect match.

Know What You Want

If your friend is already in or joining a particular group or your mother is pushing you to be a legacy at her own sorority, it can be difficult to stick to your guns if you’re feeling like a different group would be more your style. Don’t let other people’s opinions sway your decision. When you join Greek life, it’s not four years, it’s for life. You need to pick the group that feels like the right fit for you.