Fraternity and sorority life is often misunderstood; shaped by stereotypes in movies, TV shows, and social media. While some misconceptions come from pop culture, others stem from well-meaning individuals who may not have a full understanding of our community.
As Panhellenic women, we are proud of our values and the meaningful experiences sorority life offers. We believe in fostering a culture of integrity, inclusivity, and transparency. By addressing common myths and sharing the reality of our community, we hope to provide accurate information and ensure that every potential new member approaches recruitment with an open mind and confidence in their own experience.
Rumors and realities
The rumor is: A higher PNM number indicates a lower ranking or reduced chances of selection.
The reality is…Your PNM number is assigned based on your order of registration and is solely for identification purposes. It does not influence your recruitment outcome.
The rumor is: Wearing specific brands, styles, or makeup is essential for a successful recruitment.
The reality is…Our recruitment is values based, so the intent of the process is to focus on who you are rather than looks. So, make sure to wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident! When selecting your outfits, pick something that you enjoy wearing.
The Rumor is…Only first year students (freshmen) can go through recruitment.
The reality is…Recruitment is open to anyone who identifies as a woman and wants to be a part of the Panhellenic community. Women of all ages and undergraduate years in school are welcome to go through the process!
The reality is…Recommendation letters are in no way required and will not impact your recruitment process in any way. However, if you elect to submit a letter of recommendation, please visit the individual organization’s national and FSU chapter websites for their policies on submitting letters.
The Rumor is…If a recommendation letter is sent to a chapter for me, that will guarantee I will be invited back to those chapters.
The reality is…Each of these sources are unreliable and often publish false or biased information about our organizations. They frequently misrepresent our community and its members, so we strongly encourage you to disregard them entirely. Our values-based recruitment process is designed for you to form your own opinions and connections. It’s essential to enter with an open mind, free from outside influence, so you can make decisions based on your own personal experiences rather than online speculation.
The Rumor is…YikYak, Greekrank, and RushTok are accurate sources of information for Panhellenic sororities.
The Rumor is…Being a legacy to a chapter guarantees a bid from that organization on Bid Day.
The reality is…There is no guarantee being a legacy will impact your recruitment outcome. We strongly encourage everyone, even legacies, to consider all chapters while going through recruitment and focusing on your own experience. Please visit the individual organization's national and FSU chapter websites for their policies on legacies.
The reality is…Being a member of a sorority is a time commitment, however, all of our chapters highly encourage each and every one of their members to get involved in other organizations and excel in their other commitments.
The Rumor is…Being in a sorority leaves little to no time for any other involvement opportunities and negatively impacts academic performance.
The Rumor is…New members of sororities are forced to participate in activities such as drinking and going out.
The reality is…Being forced or required to participate in drinking or going out is hazing. Hazing should NOT in any shape or form be part of your experience in the Greek community at Florida State. You should feel comfortable and welcomed in your new chapter at all times. Because our chapters consist of many different women with unique interests, our chapters and our Panhellenic Association offer a variety of activities to fill your time. For more information on Hazing Prevention in our community, please visit hazing.fsu.edu
