Disclaimer: All of the opinions expressed in this post are my own.
I was not compensated for this post in any way.
Hello, beautiful! I haven't done a beauty post in awhile, so I thought I'd tackle the Ride or Die Makeup Tag once and for all.
The Ride or Die Makeup Tag is something I've been seeing around Pinterest, YouTube, and the rest of the web for awhile now. This tag was started by Jaclyn Hill, a YouTuber and beauty blogger, and you can check out her original post here!
In case you aren't familiar with this tag, here's how the challenge works: for each "category" of makeup (foundation, concealer, lipstick, lip gloss, etc.), you can only choose ONE "Ride or Die" product to save. Basically, you just have to ask yourself "If I was on a desert island and could only have ONE foundation/concealer/lipstick/etc. with me, which product from my beauty bag would I want to take?"
Hopefully I'm not just being overconfident, but I think this challenge will be fairly easy for me! While I love, love, LOVE makeup and beauty products, I'm not the kind of person who buys a ton of products. Instead, I tend to have my favorites that I get attached to and keep re-buying over and over and over again. So, even though you won't get the benefit of watching me suffer and struggle over which products to select (sorry, guys - I'm actually hella boring), I'm super excited to share some of those favorites with you now!
FACE
Foundation
L'Oreal True Match Foundation in Soft Ivory: L'Oreal's True Match is unique from any other foundation I've tried simply because of the sheer number of shades that it offers. Don't get me wrong: the texture is great; it blends amazingly - but the thing that truly sets it apart from any other product I've tried is the incredible number of shades for cool, warm, and neutral skin tones alike. Until I found this product, I felt like every foundation I used was too yellow for my skin tone - and then I found out that L'Oreal makes this foundation for people with neutral undertones like me! So, if you have a hard-to-match skin tone, check out L'Oreal's line of True Match foundations. You won't regret it, I promise! Get it for $9.99 from Ulta.
Concealer
Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 01 Light: This concealer is marketed as "industrial strength," which is exactly the reason why I bought it in the first place. To be honest, I wasn't sure when I read that label that the product would live up to what it promised - but it totally did! That's why Benefit's Boi-ing Concealer makes my list of Ride or Dies, no questions asked: its creamy, thick formula can cover everything from a huge, red zit to the darkest of dark circles. Get it for $20.00 from Sephora.
Blush/Bronzer
e.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia: As you can see, my Ride or Die list is a mixed bag of drugstore and high-end beauty products alike - and e.l.f.'s St. Lucia blush and bronzer duo is definitely one of the drugstore rockstars! This product is subtle, shimmery, and flattering on almost any skintone. Though I've never used it before so I can't compare the two, I've even heard that this product is a perfect dupe for NARS's famous Orgasm blush. And, at just $4.00, you seriously cannot beat that price! Get it for $3.99 from Target.
Foundation Primer
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer: Admittedly, I rarely use a primer, except on special occasions or really hot, sweaty days when I worry my makeup might melt right off my face. However, on those occasions when I do, Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer is the absolute best product for helping stubborn makeup stay put. The best part? It goes on clear and light, without that greasy, oily finish that's seemingly ubiquitous among so many foundation primers. Get it for $16.00 from Nordstrom.
EYES
Eyeshadow Primer
Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer: Much like foundation primer, I don't often use an eye primer unless it's a special occasion or a hot summer day; however, on the days that I do use this product, I definitely notice a difference in the pigmentation and longevity of my eye makeup! Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer ensures (see what I did there?) that your eyeshadow will stay put through thick and thin. I swear, on the days I use this product I could walk to hell and back, come back with half the rest of my makeup melted off, and still my eyeshadow wouldn't budge. Get it for $20.00 from Too Faced.
Eyeshadow Palette
Too Faced Natural Eyes Eye Shadow Collection: (I forgot to include this product in the graphic, sadly!) Unpopular opinion time: I know everyone loves to rave about the Naked Palettes, but I'm the proud owner of three of them - the Naked 3 palette, and Naked Basics 1 and 2 - and although I love them, I'll never love them as much as I love my Too Faced Natural Eyes palette. These shadows go on kind of sheer, so if you're more into an ultra-pigmented finish, I can see why you'd prefer the Naked palettes. However, I love the way they blend and last throughout my entire day - even without primer on, the glitter stays firmly put on my eyelids (as opposed to gravitating down my cheeks)! Get it for $36.00 from Sephora. P.S. If you want to see exactly which shades I use, check out this post about my weekly beauty routine.
Eyeliner
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner: Since a sultry cat eye is my all-time FAVORITE makeup look, I've tried a fair number of liquid liners in my day. After so many experiments in drugstore and high-end liners alike, I can say with confidence that this product is one of the best liquid liners I've ever used. If you like a pen liner (as opposed to a brush or a gel or something like that), then you'll love how rich and creamy this product is to apply! It helps you achieve that precise line without being watery or prone to smudging. And, as someone who's better at drawing with pen and paper than she is with eyeliner, I find it to be such a simple product to maneuver! Overall, this liner gets a 10 out of 10 from me - and, of course, a coveted spot in my Ride or Die makeup kit. Get it for $20.00 from Sephora.
Mascara
BareMinerals Lash Domination Mascara: I've used the same tube of this mascara for so long, it's probably unhygienic TBH - but I love it so much, I just can't bear to throw it out! Honestly, I can barely tell the difference between most formulas of mascara, but there's just something about this one that sets it apart - it's not too thin, not too clumpy, not too dark. It's juuuuust right for my lashes! However, the wand is what truly makes this product as luscious and volumizing as it is. The wand separates every last lash, preventing your mascara from clumping and lengthening with every stroke. Get it for $19.00 from Ulta.
Eyebrow Pencil
Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil in Taupe: I fully realize that by including this in my Ride or Die post, I'm solidifying myself as another basic beauty blogger - but if I'm being completely honest, there's just no way around it: Anastasia's brow products are simply the best ones out there. Of every brow pencil I've tried, nothing has compared to the subtle pigmentation and precise lines that I've gotten with the Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil. Not to be overly-dramatic, but this product was seriously what converted me from someone who never did her brows, to someone who can't go out without them filled. Get it for $21.00 from Sephora.
LIPS
Lipstick
e.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick in Bordeaux Beauty: Okay, so in my last post about this product, I was utterly convinced that it's true name was Bordeaux Berry. Having realized the error of my ways, I'm now going to do the product the justice it deserves! This lipstick was one of my Christmas presents from Ryan, and I was super excited to open it because I've been dying to try the vampy lipstick trend. Before this product, red lipstick was my go-to; however, I'd long admired the sexy, glamorous look of a dark, Lorde-style lip and couldn't wait to see how it looked on me! I was pleasantly surprised to find that this lipstick was the perfect blend of purply and reddish tones, perfectly complementing my pale skin. Also, it's worth mentioning that this lipstick, while creamy and hydrating, doesn't seem to budge no matter what you do! You can eat, kiss, drink, and while a little lipstick might transfer onto your fork, partner, or glass, the pigment on your lips will remain virtually unaltered. For just $3.00, this product is both an investment and a steal! Get it for $3.00 from e.l.f. Cosmetics.
Liquid Lipstick
Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso: It's probably cheating to go from lipstick to liquid lipstick, but since they're technically two different things, I'm rolling with it anyways! I love, love, LOVE this product - it's the best red lip I have ever worn (and, dare I say, will ever wear). It was the first liquid lipstick I ever tried, not to mention the first shade of red I ever dared put on. I quickly fell in love with its long-lasting formula, which - much like the e.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick - WILL NOT BUDGE no matter what abuses you inflict on it! Also, it's my personal belief that this shade of red is ultra-flattering on every skin tone: it's not too orangey and without bluish undertones, so it's more of what you might call a "true red." Get it for $24.00 from Ulta.
Lip Balm
FreshSugar Lip Balm in Rose: I have been using this product for about five years, ever since I first stepped foot into a Sephora. It was my first-ever free birthday gift as a Beauty Insider, and it was probably one of my first-ever "empties" - and for good reason. I've been using this product since I was thirteen not because I'm a creature of habit (though that may be true), but because there's nothing out there that compares to it. The formula is creamy and hydrating, and the sheer rose hue is the perfect "my lips but better" lip color. In my opinion, this lip balm and a little bit of mascara are all you'll ever need for those days when you don't want a full face of makeup. Get it for $24.00 from Sephora.
Lip Gloss
Naked Ultra Nourishing Lip Gloss in Nooner: Apparently, every lip gloss I've ever owned and loved has been renamed, because the one that I have (from the limited-edition "Naked on the Run" palette) is named "Sesso." However, Nooner is pretty much the same gorgeous shade. This shade is one of those perfect "my lips but better" colors - which I've been saying a lot lately, I know; but I much prefer a natural look to a glam one, so it works - that comes with a little hint of shimmer. It's hydrating and long-wearing, without drying up in that gross way that lip glosses often do. Plus, it has an almost minty aftertaste that leaves you feeling so fresh that you'll want to keep reapplying it all throughout the day! Get it for $20.00 from Nordstrom.
Lip Exfoliator
e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator: Admittedly, lip exfoliator is a bit of a weird category for this challenge. However, I just discovered this product recently, and absolutely cannot get over how incredible it is! This product smooths, shines and hydrates your lips like no other. It's gritty but never abrasive, simple to use and, most importantly (to me at least!), it has an AH-MAZING taste. Just like brown sugar! Get it for $3.00 from e.l.f. Cosmetics.
SCENTS
Body Spray
Bath and Body Works Beautiful Day Fine Fragrance Mist: This product is the only scent I'm including in my Ride or Die post because I'm not a huge fan of traditional, alcohol-based perfumes. Bath and Body Works' Fine Fragrance Mists, on the other hand, are light and not-too-concentrated - the perfect affordable scents for everyday wear! Though I have many favorites from Bath and Body Works, I chose the Beautiful Day spray because I've simply never gotten that type of reaction from any perfume I've worn before. I actually first caught on to the magic of this scent from a friend at BU - fully expecting her to tell me it was some expensive designer perfume, I asked her about the amazing scent she was wearing and she turned me on to Beautiful Day! Then, when Ryan fell head-over-heels with this scent in-store, I knew I just had to have it. Currently, I'm using a different fine fragrance mist from them; however, I have Beautiful Day-scented cream body wash right now and I'm absolutely in love! This clean, floral scent will leave you smelling fresh without leaving a cloud of perfume behind wherever you go. I promise: you and your special someone will both go crazy for the incredible smell! Get it for $14.00 from Bath and Body Works.
Hello, beautiful! Over the long weekend, I participated in a truly eye-opening, life-changing experience known as sorority recruitment.
Here at Boston University, recruitment is a four-day experience that takes place over Presidents' Day weekend every year. Girls sign up in the fall and then eagerly await the spring semester, when they endure the amazing but grueling process known as recruitment.
Personally, I didn't expect recruitment to be as emotionally or physically challenging as it turned out to be. I couldn't have anticipated how physically and mentally exhausted I would be, how much my feet and hair would hurt from the near-constant abuse I put them through or how much self-reflection I would have to do on who I am as a person.
But, if sorority recruitment was easy, then who's to say it would still be worth it? Finding your forever home shouldn't be easy - it should be a process that forces you to examine yourself, your values and what you're looking to get out of your sorority experience!
Now that I'm a part of Kappa Alpha Theta (cough think theta cough), I've already met so many amazing women that make me happy and proud to have gone through the formal recruitment process. However, as someone who recently went through the process, I can also attest that it's stressful as all hell.
Luckily, reading articles and prepping yourself beforehand on what to expect is one of the most helpful things you can do prior to recruitment. You're in for a long, crazy couple of days, so who can really blame you for wanting to be as physically and mentally prepared as humanly possible?
That's precisely why I put together this ultimate guide to going through sorority rush! Not only will you get to hear my own personal advice from going through sorority recruitment, but I'll also be linking you up with some of my favorite bloggers from around the web, so you can read their articles and get their take on what to expect from this crazy process.
Disclaimer: I went through sorority recruitment at Boston University, which is a completely different experience than going through rush at a Southern school or big state university! Everything from how many chapters you'll talk to, to what to expect from day-to-day, will ultimately vary by college, so it's best to ask someone from your school for the nitty-gritty details of recruitment!
Part I: Sorority Recruitment Dictionary
If you're not a chapter woman, listening to a group of sorority girls speak about recruitment might sound like a completely foreign language. There's a lot of confusing abbreviations, like "PNM" and "ICS," and I remember feeling just as confused at first as you probably are right now! So, here's my brief explanation on what each of these terms mean.
Rush
Rush is a slang term for recruitment among PNMs. Rush gets its name from Bid Day, when girls open up their bids and "rush" home to their new chapters. Chances are, you won't hear any chapter women using this term - at our recruitment at least, they weren't allowed to say the word "rush"! However, rush is still a pretty popular word with PNMs. You might also hear it used as a verb - i.e. "I rushed Sigma Kappa" - to describe attending a particular sorority's parties in hopes of becoming a member.
Example: I'm rushing AEPhi or I can't believe rush is next weekend!
Chapter
Think of it this way: the sorority is the overarching organization found at college campuses around the country. Meanwhile, the chapter is the group of girls involved in that sorority specifically at your university. You'll probably also hear the word "chapter woman" used to refer to a woman who's already been initiated into a sorority.
Example: She was a part of the Alpha chapter of Delta Gamma.
Panhel
Short for "Panhellenic," this term can refer to a couple of things. However, during my recruitment, we used it to refer to the Panhellenic Council, which is the governing body over all ten chapters at my school.
Example: Sign in with a Panhel representative when you arrive at recruitment.
PNM
That's you! As you are going through the recruitment process, you'll be referred to as a PNM, or "potential new member." This is a technical term that basically means you're in the process of going through recruitment, and haven't committed to an actual chapter yet. It's also used to differentiate you from the chapter women, who have already been initiated into their sororities.
Example: When I was a PNM, I was so excited to find the perfect chapter for me!
Pi Chi
Pi Chi stands for "Panhellenic Counselor," only we use the Greek alphabet instead of the Latin one because we're sorority girls! Your Pi Chis are temporarily disassociated from their chapters so they can guide you through the recruitment process without affecting your judgment. This is called being "silenced," and means they can't wear their letters or be seen in public with more than three women from their chapter at once. So, at our bid day, the Pi Chis had a super fun reveal where we got to find out what chapters they belonged to as they ran home! Generally, you're assigned to a Pi Chi group with at least two or three Pi Chis, so you'll always have someone to talk to about the recruitment process. (Side note: some schools also call these Rho Gammas, Gamma Chis or something else entirely!)
Example: I talked with my Pi Chi before I made my selections.
ICS
I'm honestly not sure if this is the same at all universities, but for us, this was the name of the software we used to make our selections at the end of each night of recruitment. Basically, every day we'd get called back to a certain number of chapters and at the end of the night, we'd choose the chapters we wanted to return to using one of my Pi Chi's computers - aka "make our selections" - and rank our lowest choices in order of preference.
Example: I just finished making my selections on ICS.
Party
During sorority recruitment, a "party" probably isn't what you think it is! Our recruitment was held in a hotel where each chapter had its own conference room that they decorated every day with a different theme. Then, when we were called back to each chapters, we got to visit their rooms, or "parties," and speak with chapter women about their experiences.
Example: I was invited back to the Gamma Phi Beta party on the second and third days of recruitment.
Bid Day
Arguably the most important day (or night, if your school is like mine) of recruitment, Bid Day is the day you find out what sorority you get to call home! On bid day, you'll gather with your Pi Chi group to receive your bid card. (A "bid" is an official offer of membership from a sorority.) Then everyone opens their cards at the same time and runs home to their new chapters! (This mad dash is the reason why people often refer to formal recruitment as "rush.") Our Pi Chis also had a super cute reveal at our Bid Night ceremony, where they ran home to their chapters after being silenced for several months leading up to recruitment. At last, you'll be taken back to your chapter to celebrate with all of your new sisters!
Example: I was so nervous on Bid Day to find out what sorority I was in.
Sorority recruitment is an overwhelming (but exciting!) experience. I promise there's nothing to be scared of, but you definitely want to do your research before diving into the process headfirst! Not only will I teach you the basics of what to expect, but I'll also link you to other blog posts around the web so you can gather as much information as you need before going through this crazy week.
Not all schools are the same, but personally, my recruitment lasted 4 days, followed by Bid Night.
Just to repeat the same disclaimer I gave before, I go to school at Boston University, where sorority recruitment isn't nearly as crazy an experience as it is at some Southern and big state schools. That being said, every school's sorority recruitment runs differently, so not all schools might follow the same schedule or have the same themes every day! However, just so you get the gist of it all, here's how it worked during my recruitment:
Day One: Go Greek Round
Go Greek Day is what we called the first round of recruitment here at BU. On this first day of recruitment, we visited all ten chapters here at BU (some schools might have more or less, but generally you'll be visiting all the chapters your first day of recruitment). Thus, every girl in the same Pi Chi group follows the same schedule of what sororities to go to, and you're pretty much sticking with your group the entire time. Also, because we had to visit so many chapters in one night, the parties were just 15 minutes long each! During the parties, we were matched up with a sister in that sorority and got to chat for those fifteen minutes about whatever we wanted. At the end of the night, we chatted with our Pi Chis and made our selections for the next day. That night, we had to choose our bottom two choices and rank them in order of which we would rather go back to if we had to. The rest of the chapters were ranked in no particular order to say that we wanted to return the next day!
Day Two: Philanthropy Round
Philanthrophy Round was the second day of recruitment. Since it happened on Saturday, this was our first full day of recruitment with no classes or anything beforehand. For Philanthropy Round, a maximum of eight out of ten chapters could call us back to their parties (based on a process of mutual selection - i.e. you choose the sororities you want to return to, and they choose you back). However, my Pi Chis said four or five chapters was around average. I got called back to four, and because my parties were later in the day, it meant I was able to stay home and get some homework done before arriving at the hotel where our recruitment was held. For Philanthropy Round, instead of traveling in our Pi Chi groups, we got a schedule of what parties we were called back to and were led to those parties by a different Pi Chi every round. As a general rule, parties get longer every day of recruitment; by this round, the parties were 30 minutes long. Each party was a little bit different, but generally most of it was spent talking to sisters, listening to officers speak and watching videos about each chapter's philanthropy, or charity. At the end of the night, we got to choose a maximum of five parties to go back to and, if you had more than five, rank your bottom choices. However, since I had fewer than five chapters, I selected all of them in no particular order to maximize my chances of getting called back.
Day Three: Sisterhood Round
A lot of my Pi Chis said Sisterhood Round was their favorite day of recruitment and to some extent, I agree! After the parties on day three, you really start to get a deeper sense of what chapters you have made a special connection with and where you might be able to fit in. During our Sisterhood Round, a maximum of five chapters could call you back; I ended up going back to just three of them. Just like the day before, everyone had their own unique schedule, so Pi Chis led us to our parties instead of traveling with our groups. Each of the parties during Sisterhood Round was 45 minutes long. At each of the parties, we got paired up with a sister or two to speak with - sometimes someone we'd already met; sometimes somebody new. Usually, there was also a video giving us an insight into each chapter's activities and chapter officers would speak about the sisterhood in their organization. For me, Sisterhood Round was one of the most revealing nights of recruitment, since it was the first that I really started to think theta! Finally, at the end of the night, we chose a maximum of two chapters to return to for Pref Night the next day and eagerly anticipated the last night of recruitment!
Day Four: Pref Night
Pref was my personal favorite night of recruitment, because it reveals so much about your values and those of the sorority you're about to call home. Each of these parties is an hour long, and recruitment starts later in the day, because each girl can only get called back to a maximum of two parties. For pref, each chapter you get called back to will pair you up with a sister who you've already met to "pref" you - aka talk to you during the party and guide you through a special ceremony. Every sorority has its own special traditions that are unique to that chapter, and pref night is the night you get to experience one of them for yourself. (If you're anything like me, you'll cry after your sorority's pref night party.) Then, at the end of the night, you'll choose just one sorority you'd like to call home! If you got called back to two chapters today, you'll have the option of preffing just one sorority, saying you'll only accept a bid from that one, or ranking your two options, saying you'll accept a bid from either one, but that you'd prefer a bid from your top choice.
Day Five: Bid Day!
Technically, Bid Day at BU is more like Bid Night, since it doesn't happen until 7pm after class. However, the nerves and excitement of getting my bid definitely lasted me all day! On Bid Day (or Bid Night), you'll receive a bid, or offer of membership, from one of the sororities you preffed the night before. When you arrive, you'll meet up with your Pi Chi group and receive your bid card. Until it's time to open them, you'll be asked to hold it behind your back. Then, when it's time, the whole room opens their bid cards together and runs home to their new chapters! (At my Bid Night, we also had the Pi Chis run home to their sororities in a big reveal.) Afterwards, you'll probably go back with your sorority at their house or another place around campus (we don't have sorority housing at BU) to celebrate... TBH, it's going to be a long night, but it will be one of the most magical and memorable of your college experience!
I know, I know. You're probably thinking that's a lot - and honestly? It is! However, if sorority recruitment wasn't the grueling, tiring process that it was, I might never have found my forever home at Kappa Alpha Theta. So, just look for the light at the end of the tunnel throughout this whole ordeal, which is that at the end, you get to find your sisters and letters for a lifetime!
Even so, thinking positive only gets you so far when it comes to hunger, blisters and pure exhaustion - so, here is some general advice to keep in mind that might just make your experience a little bit easier:
Pack slip-on shoes. While I understand those Steve Maddens might be the perfect heels to wear for pref night, don't wear your sky-high stilettos all day - your feet will regret it. Bring a pair of slippers or moccasins instead, and take advantage of the downtime to change out of your painful shoes. You'll thank me later for all the blisters you avoided from bringing that second pair!
Bring snacks and homework. You might think you're going to be busy 24/7 during recruitment, but in reality, it's a lot of breaks. During that downtime, you're going to want to blow your money on Panera and spend your breaks scrolling through Pinterest - DON'T. Instead, bring plenty of snacks and do your homework while you're there! Trust me, it will save you a lot of time, money and agony down the line.
Plan out your transportation ahead of time. Don't do what I did, which was decide to take an Uber at the last minute at midnight, only two have two drivers cancel on me and get charged $5.00 in fees. If your recruitment will be held off-campus (as was mine), know where all the public transportation stops are relative to where you're going and plan out your weekend accordingly. If your recruitment will be held on-campus at sorority housing (which BU does not have) or another location, know where it is relative to your dorm, practice walking there in your shoes and make sure you have a buddy to walk with you late at night!
Don't talk about chapters or selections with friends. This is a Panhel rule our Pi Chis tried to enforce throughout recruitment, but honestly it didn't work out so well. One of my best friends and I started the recruitment process together, and we always found time to chat about the chapters under our breaths. However, I honestly wish I had followed that rule more closely because it really impacted the way I viewed certain chapters. My friend would occasionally comment that she could see me in a certain chapter, and I would suddenly start to see myself there - or, she would make negative comments about a chapter that called me back and I started to second-guess myself. All of these things can really shake your confidence in your choices, which is why this rule exists in the first place! So, do your Pi Chis (and yourself) a favor and actually follow it.
Keep an open mind! You'll likely hear this phrase repeated so many times during recruitment that it gets annoying, but I cannot emphasize how true it is! If you walk into recruitment with preconceived notions or pursuing only one or two chapters, you'll narrow your options - or, maybe you'll wind up somewhere that's the perfect fit for you, but not be able to appreciate it. This actually happened to the friend who I started recruitment with: on pref night, she withdrew because she only got called back to one chapter, and it was a chapter she didn't like because of it's reputation. Personally, I wish she would have ignored the stereotypes and kept an open mind, because sorority life is an amazing experience that everyone should get the chance to experience. But, the most I can do now is encourage you not to make the same mistake!
One of the hardest parts of sorority recruitment, for me at least, was getting ready every morning. Don't get me wrong, I love fashion and beauty - but during the day, I'm normally the kind of girl who likes to throw on her leggings, put her hair in a topknot and go through her day bare-faced. So, naturally, getting up at 8 AM to put on makeup and heels was a bit of a struggle for me!
Something that really helped me a lot throughout the recruitment process was planning out my outfits ahead of time. Weeks in advance, I had a general idea of what I was going to wear each night of recruitment. Then, I'd lay out my outfits the night before so when I woke up in the mornings, getting dressed was always a breeze!
However, if you're not familiar with how the sorority recruitment process works (which, I honestly wasn't), figuring out what to wear each night can be tricky. I was lucky that my Pi Chis reminded us every night what we should wear the next day, but not everybody might have that same experience. So, as a general rule, here is a rough guideline of what you should wear for each day of sorority recruitment - remember, not every school is the same, so be sure to double-check with your Pi Chis before rolling up in the wrong attire!
Go Greek Round: Casual
Day 1 is by far the most casual day of recruitment. As a general rule, every day following Go Greek round will get dressier and dressier as the week goes on. However, just because Go Greek round is casual doesn't mean anything goes! Throughout the whole recruitment process, you should ensure that whatever you're wearing is classy, appropriate and parent-approved. So, double-check your hemlines before you leave and avoid wearing anything too grungy! Remember, you're trying to make the best first impression you possibly can - still, that doesn't mean you have to dress like someone you're not. Whatever you choose to wear, make sure that it is a genuine reflection of who you are!
Philanthropy Round: Dressy-Casual
Day 2 is still casual, but notably more polished than the day before. That means if you were wearing jeans on Day 1, you might want to up your game with a cute and colorful dress or skirt. Bright pops of color and fun patterns will keep your outfit casual while still giving you a polished appearance. Again, be sure to give your hemlines a quick test to make sure you can stand up/sit down/bend over in whatever you choose to wear. One Pi Chi I know even took her mom shopping with her for all of her recruitment outfits to make sure they were appropriate!
Sisterhood Round: Business Casual
Day 3 is the first night of recruitment that you have to significantly dress up. Sisterhood Round is business casual, which can be a bit of a tricky term to unravel. As a general rule, business casual means anything you would wear to an internship, but less formal than what you would wear to an interview. Work pants, black jeans and mid-length skirts are all fair game! On top, pop on a blouse or blazer - or, do what I did and wear your most official-looking dress. If you're struggling to put together a business casual outfit that's true to who you are, spice it up with a fun pop of color or a favorite accessory that shows your personality. Though it may not seem that way at first, there's actually a lot of room for creativity with business casual!
Pref Night: Cocktail Attire
Day 4 is finally here! Today is more of a serious occasion, since you'll be experiencing at least one chapter's special ceremony and selecting the sorority you'd like to call home. So, in accordance with that, pref night is much more formal than the previous nights of recruitment. While we were told to wear "cocktail attire," I just took this to mean a nice dress and heels. Additionally, it's especially appropriate that your outfit today is 100% parent-approved. I was told to wear what you would wear to a nice family dinner or holiday party, which just about sums it up!
Bid Day: Casual Tank Top
HAPPY BID DAY! For the final day of your recruitment experience, what you wear isn't as important, as Bid Day is pretty casual. So, throw on the cutest leggings, jeans or shorts you own and head on down to open your bid! The most important thing is to wear a tank top or something else you can change out of easily, since you'll most likely be receiving a Bid Day shirt from your new chapter. You should also keep in mind that there will be TONS (and I do mean tons) of photos taken of you tonight, so wear something you're comfortable being photographed in! Finally, make sure to put on sensible footwear, as you will literally be running home to your sorority - and you don't want to be remembered as the girl who wore sky-high wedges and tripped on her way to ADPi.
A common criticism of joining a sorority is that it's an unnatural way to make friends. While I personally don't think that's a valid reason not to join one, I have to admit that it's true: sorority recruitment can be awkward and uncomfortable at first, especially if you're not familiar with the process!
Do: Mention your involvement.
Don't be shy about mentioning your achievements and involvement! You want to give the best impression of yourself possible, so this isn't the place for modesty. If you're passionate about something, allow that passion to shine through - these are your sisters, after all, and if you're in the right sorority, they'll be nothing but supportive of all your endeavors.
Do: Ask lots of questions!
A lot of sorority recruitment will be based on the sisters asking YOU questions, such as "What's your major," "Where are you from," "Why did you decide to go through recruitment," "What do you love about your school," etc. However, sisters love to talk about their chapters, so you can never go wrong by asking them their favorite things about being in a sorority, their favorite philanthropy event or what being in their chapter means to them!
Do: Trust the process.
You'll probably hear this phrase so many times over the course of recruitment that you'll grow to hate it a little - but as a new member who loves her chapter, I can attest that it is 100% true! During recruitment, you'll have a lot of doubts about the selections you've made and the chapters you've been called back to. Some girls will even start to drop out as they receive results they're unhappy with - but I think if you keep and open mind and throw all your trust into the recruitment process, you'll be happy no matter where you end up! So, even though this weekend is long, tiring and anxiety-inducing, stick with it and I promise you will find your perfect home.
Don't: Mention other sororities by name.
This is especially true when you're at another chapter's party! During the week, you might be asked how your day went, or what your parties have been like. Just know that it's okay to answer if it's a sister asking you, but that you should always avoid mentioning any chapters by name when you're at another chapter's party. You don't want to say anything that would reflect badly on another chapter, because that in turn reflects badly on you as a sister and a friend!
Don't: Talk about boys or booze.
This might seem obvious, but boys and booze are completely off-limits during recruitment (so are politics, religion and anything else that might start a controversy). Not only is recruitment a formal occasion, but it's also an officially-sanctioned one, meaning whatever you or the girls in that chapter say during the party is a reflection of that sorority and its values. So, be respectful of that and avoid any topic you wouldn't want a professor or parent to overhear you talking about!
Don't: Accept a "bid" from another sister.
Chapter women are absolutely NEVER allowed to offer you membership or give you the idea that a bid is "guaranteed" from their sorority throughout any part of the recruitment process. This is called "bid promising," and it's completely against the rules instituted by Panhel. So, if you experience this at any point, talk to a Pi Chi or Panhel member right away!
Hello, beautiful! I hope you're ready for the second installment of the Why I Chose My Major series.
In case you missed it, for the past two weeks I've been sharing why some of my most inspiring blogger friends chose their college majors! (If you missed Part I of Why I Chose My Major, click here to check it out.)
This week, I have seven more bloggers back to share the stories of how they discovered their true passions in college. These girls each have their own unique career path and aspirations, and have truly opened my eyes to the multitude of options available to each of us!
From early childhood education to veterinary medicine, this post proves that each of us has our own distinct calling in life. If there's anything I hope you take away from this series, it's that you can truly major in (and find success in!) whatever you want, if you only put your mind to it.
Anyways, I can't wait to share these seven inspiring stories with you, so I won't keep either of us waiting any longer! Here are seven ways my favorite bloggers chose their college majors.
College: The Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh
"I’m pretty sure that every to-be vet says that they’ve always known they wanted to be a vet because they
loved animals so much as a child. I’m no different. Growing up, the animals
that we had were part of the family just as much as a human child would have
been. I loved them with all of my heart, and I lost many of them to disease. I
knew there were people out there that could’ve saved them, and I wanted to be
one of them. I wanted to make sure that no animal felt the pain of death and
that no owner felt the pain of loss again. Knowing what I know about life and
the science now, I know that’s an impossible goal, but the feelings behind it
are still ones that keep me going to this day. As I became older and learned
more about people and life in general, I began to see animals as more than a
biological miracle. To me, they were one of the last pure and unconditional
forms of love left in the world. They don’t quibble over petty arguments and
they don’t succumb to temptation or insecurity. They’re simple, and in their
simplicity comes their beauty. That, now, is what I’m trying to preserve as
much as their physical form. That’s why I want to be a veterinarian."
"I went through a lot of different
ideas about which major I would choose during my time in high school, some of
which were acting, psychology and journalism. One day my class was asked to
take a quiz to learn which career we were best suited for. My result was Public
Relations, and after doing some research into what exactly that meant, I
decided it seemed like a great fit for me. I’ve
always loved writing and communicating with people, which were some of the
qualities listed as important in that field.
When I got to TCU I learned the
Public Relations major was called Strategic Communication there, and it
encompassed Advertising as well. During my time at TCU I took classes which
taught me the basics of both industries, as well as a bit of marketing and
journalism. I also had a summer internship every single summer of college,
where I gained real-world experience and ended up shifting a bit into the
digital and social media realm of things. I graduated in 2015 and I’m
currently working at a small social media marketing agency, where we help
different companies and brands manage their social media accounts, from running
ads to creating all of the posts, to compiling reports to measure results.
Though it’s a little
different than traditional advertising and public relations, many elements are
the same and I feel my major gave me the right set of skills and knowledge to
be successful in my career."
"I began studying Early Childhood Education at University of Memphis (my hometown!)in 2008. I knew immediately out of high school that I wanted to be a teacher. I had several years of experience in working as a martial arts instructor and I really enjoyed the teaching aspect of it. I also saw working in public education as a way to help serve others in my community, and I was as passionate as they come. I went ahead and studied a minor in Sociology and a minor in Spanish along with my degree, and I took the opportunity my sophomore year to study abroad in Valparaíso, Chile to finish my Spanish minor. I fell in love with Chile and started to see that the world had a lot of opportunities for me outside of Memphis if I was willing to chase them. I returned to Memphis to finish my final 2 years, and upon graduating in August of 2012, I moved to Chile! Today I live in Santiago, Chile and I'm a freelance English teacher (I studied a short TEFL certificate upon my arrival here). I am so so grateful for my degree in education-- it has taught me not only how to teach but also how to empathize with others, communicate more effectively, and solve problems quickly and creatively. Of course, it helps me a tremendous amount in my job, but I don't teach kids! I teach adults that are looking to learn English in order to get promotions at work, live abroad, or simply pursue another passion where the language is an important tool. It's not what I had imagined for myself when I started my degree in 2008, but I'm so happy with what I'm doing. As a freshman in university, if you had told me that I would be living in South America, teaching adults as a freelancer, and studying a Master's in Linguistics, I would have laughed you out of the room. But this is the path that my education and career has taken me on, and I love it! I spent a year or two thinking maybe it had been a mistake to get my degree in education, but now that I'm studying linguistics, I realize how essential it has been to my career development. Education was the broad beginning of my path. Linguistics is the fine-tuned continuation of that path! My biggest advice to any doubtful students is this: If you went into your major because it's a passion of yours, and you still feel that passion, don't worry if it's not going to be profitable. Get the degree in something you love. The universe will steer you towards the next few steps and opportunities after that."
''Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to write for a living. It's what I did best and what I was good at. Naturally, I chose a journalism major. It seemed to be the best choice because I would be able to further practice my writing abilities while learning other valuable skills as well! I grew up in The Netherlands and went to a college named Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam. It's an art college that only started offering journalism courses a few years ago, but I barely noticed that during my time there. I loved going to an art college, the vibe at my school was very laid-back and accepting of people from all backgrounds and ethnic groups. We did a lot of creative projects with other students and I've come to appreciate lots of different art forms! After graduating in 2016, I decided to pursue a freelance career. I've done multiple internships at magazines and production companies when I was still in college, and while I enjoyed this the freelance path definitely called for me. The flexibility of it really fits me. Now, I do much more than just writing news articles or interviews. I'm a social media manager, copywriter and editor. I travel a lot, so the fact that I can work remotely is an amazing benefit for me. Looking back, I'm really glad I chose a journalism major. I learned a lot of valuable skills in college - and I'm still learning to this day! I might not freelance forever, and that's absolutely fine. Who knows what the future will bring?''
Major:Hospitality (major) and Meetings and Events (minor)
College:University of Nevada, Las Vegas
"In May, I graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), but my journey to that point wasn’t as easy as it may have been for others. It took me seven years, several major changes, and a lot of stress but I eventually finished. After I graduated high school, I sat around for a year contemplating what I wanted to do. My days would start with being awakened by my annoying grandma who would barge into my room at 7 a.m. every day because “real ladies shouldn’t sleep late.” She’d try to drag me out of bed but I’d usually ignore her and instead waste a few hours laying in bed checking gossip sites and facebook in a never ending cycle until my best friend Sydney would call. We’d link up and zip around Hollywood in my busted blue ‘97 chevy cavalier spending money we didn’t have like a broke version of Kim and Kourtney Kardashian. After a year of doing this, I decided to enroll in community college while I figured out what I was passionate about. I felt the courses would be a waste of time but surprisingly I did pretty well and applied to a few universities.
I was admitted to Cal State Los Angeles and Fullerton, but when it came time to choose my major there was nothing that I was really interested in. I ended up dreading the thought of spending the next two years of my life study psychology or sociology. At this point, I started actively seeking out places where I could get an events degree. At first, I didn’t think this type of degree existed which is why I had never looked before. Then it happened I found UNLV, which has a degree in Hospitality with a minor in meetings and events. I applied and the rest is history. I had the best time of my life in school studying something that I truly loved and lead me to where I am now. I currently have my own company: The Party Chix where my sister and I plan events."
Major: Psychology and Professional Writing (double-major)
College:University of New Mexico
"I walked into the University of New Mexico sure of my path. I thought I wanted to be a journalist from the age of 10, then quickly I realized it wasn’t for me. Partly because I began to struggle in classes, but mostly because my editor at the university’s paper told me I was a bad writer, and that was frustrating. Amidst my new feelings of doubtfulness, I got the news that my cousin, Samantha lost her battle with anorexia. In a hasty decision, I decided to change my major to Psychology hoping that I could help people like Samantha. I prayed that despite tragedy I could find my calling. Then I realized that wasn’t for me, when I was denied from volunteering at a suicide hotline. That was embarrassing. Finally, I discovered Professional Writing in a brochure in my advisor’s office. My first Professional Writing class was Global Communications and the professor let me volunteer at a writing symposium. He and his graduate students took time to read my writing, tell me career options and encouraged me to pursue a master’s in the field that was illuminating.
In May 2014, I graduated with a double major in Psychology and Professional Writing. At 26, I’m in transition from being an English Language Assistant in Madrid, Spain into pursuing a career in Professional Writing in Los Angeles, California. College was difficult. Despite hardships, I discovered a lot about myself: the stress I could withstand, the skills I have and a life I never expected. I still have no idea where I’ll end up but I’m far closer to understanding my place in the world than when I was a freshman."
"Hi, my name is Jess Short from shortandsweetblog.com! Like many people, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up and didn't know what to study in college. So when I enrolled at Biola University in 2011 undeclared, I took a leap of faith. Many people would have thought me foolish going to an expensive private university with no focus, but I'm so glad I did. I spent my first year getting acclimated to college life in another state and getting involved in all kinds of activities to see what I was interested in. One of my first general classes I took was Intro to Public Speaking. Most people hate getting up in front of people and speaking, but I really enjoyed it! I had a great professor and it got me interested in communication. At the same time, I was asking the usual first question when you are a freshman, "What do you study?" to everyone I met. One of the girls I met told me about the Communication Studies program, and the more she described it, the more I thought it would be a perfect fit. Although I love talking, I was more fascinated to study interpersonal communication, what role context plays, how different cultures communicate and even the psychology behind communication. So, at the end of freshman year, I changed to Communication Studies. I loved what I studied, and although some may say it's a waste because it has no specific career path, employers highly value those who can communicate well and with self-awareness. It is truly applicable in all areas of life because it's about interacting with people!
After graduating in 2015, I still didn't know what to do with my life. I got a temporary job over the summer, moved, and looked for jobs for 6 weeks before finding two part time jobs, one as the Customer Relations Manager for a wedding videography company, the other as an Office Assistant at Biola. I was interested in events at the time and thought that the wedding industry would be a good place to start. Soon I realized that it wasn't for me, but I got hired full time at Biola as a Gift Processing Coordinator for their fundraising department. It wasn't exactly my cup of tea either, but I was encouraged by one of the directors in the department who started at the bottom like me, put in her time, and took advantage of every opportunity to fill a gap in the department. So I waited for something closer to my experience to open up, and the meantime I met with everyone in the department to get to know them and find out about their role. Not only did I better understand the needs of the department, but I became aware of the gaps. When the Communications Coordinator role opened up a few months later, I had the relationships and educational experience to position me for success. Nine months later, I have continued to see opportunities and fill gaps. Some of my responsibilities have grown to include: managing a communication calendar, leading monthly marketing meetings, creating donation and registration pages, coordinating a variety of projects with our university's communication and marketing department, meeting with departments to help coordinate their fundraising materials, and a whole lot of other things. So if you're like me and feel like you don't have everything figured out when you should, don't stress! You may not figure out your major or get your dream job right away, but it will come eventually. Just figure out what you're passionate about and do it!"
