Sorority Party Rounds and Cuts…..the mystery is about to be solved! 
I almost named this article “What to do when you are cut from your favorite house”. But, we need to start at the beginning….what exactly ARE party rounds and when are cuts?
Sorority Party Rounds and Cuts
Party rounds, often called “rounds”, are parties during sorority recruitment that are scheduled times when you will visit houses on an invitation only basis. Typically, there will be one round of parties per day of recruitment. (At large universities, Round One and even Round Two may last two days because there are simply too many houses for PNMs to visit in one day.) Panhellenic and your university set the number of rounds during recruitment; rounds are not scheduled by the sorority chapters. The days are long, which is why you need to plan your Rush Tote well in advance!
Photo credit: LSU Panhellenic Council Recruitment
Each round has a theme based on the regional location of your college. Open Houses, Ice Water Teas, Sisterhood Day, and Philanthropy Day are some of the more popular terms for party rounds. At the end of sorority recruitment, the very last day is universally know as Preference Round or “Prefs”.
Yes, you will need to pack several outfits just for recruitment! But, recruitment outfits don’t need to be fancy OR expensive. Check out How to Pack for Sorority Recruitment for tips AND to see precisely what Cee Cee packed for her sorority rush! I have to say, this
Each and every Potential New Member (PNM) who registered for rush will be invited to Round One parties. After Round One, parties become invitation only based on the mutual selection process (more about this in a sec!). The morning of each subsequent round, rush counselors hand PNMs their party card for the day. The party card lists the houses the PNM has been invited back to that day. Tip: To maximize your options go to every party on your party card and be happy you are there!
The deepest cuts during recruitment week happen after Round One, so let’s take a look at this round. (By the way, deep cuts are a term referencing the fact that chapters will cut a large number of girls after one round.)
Round One parties are literally open houses. The parties are short in duration, maybe 10-20 minutes depending on the size of your university’s recruitment class. The purpose of Round One, from a chapter’s perspective, is for each house is to finally put a face with a name. Chapters have seen your resume, rec and photos for months now and they are excited to meet you! For PNMs, Open House rounds gain you entry to each and every sorority house participating in sorority recruitment. So, the purpose of Round One for PNMs is to get a glimpse of the sisterhood within each house. Make sure you brush up on Sorority Recruitment Conversation Tips before your first pary!
Photo credit: University of Alabama Panhellenic
What to expect during Round One: You will have lots of fast introductions and very short conversations with the sisters. You can read about conversation tips for recruitment parties here. The day will be long, so make sure you have a refillable water bottle and energy bars. Enjoy the excitement of the door chants, songs and enthusiasm of the sisters.
Sorority Party Rounds and Cuts
What to Expect Afterwards: Rankings and cuts
RANKINGS BY THE PNM: At the end of Round One, PNMs are asked to rank houses in order of preference. (Big hint: Maximize your options and only cut the number of houses you are required to….even if a house didn’t dazzle you, make sure you list them all!) This is why recruitment is called a mutually selective process; PNMs have the opportunity to select houses they want the most as the week moves forward. Note: A PNM may cut a house, and that house could possibly reappear on the party card later in the week. However, if a chapter cuts a PNM, that house will not appear on her party card again. Legacies, this harsh reality is very true.
CUTS BY THE CHAPTERS:
The chapters will convene together after Round One and will rank PNMs. There are two main factors that come into play for Round One cuts: GPA and Issues. I will decipher both of these for you. 🙂 (Side note: If you are a a sorority legacy, now is a good time to read Why Sororities Cut Legacies.)
A “cut” means you are released from further parties at a specific house. Example: You were invited to Nu Gamma during Rounds 1 & 2. However, their name was not on your party card for Round 3. You have, in effect, been “cut” from their bid list and will not return to parties at their house.
When a PNM enters recruitment week, she should be prepared for Sorority Party Rounds and Cuts. If she understands this factor, she will manage her expectations and will be one step closer to maximizing her options!
Early cuts are really a favor to the PNM. She will not have false hopes of sisterhood at a house in which she does not the meet basic qualifications for membership. And, it helps the chapter release unqualified girls so they can focus on girls who do. If a chapter cuts a PNM, that house will not reappear on her party card later in the week.
Most PNMs who are cut after Round One are cut due to a lower GPA. Yep, that’s right. GPA. Sororities are scholarship and community service oriented, and GPA is the oftentimes the first qualifier for an invitation to Round Two.
Think about it this way: each chapter has a quota (set by Panhellenic) as to how many bids it can extended on Bid Day. The fastest way to select (or cut) girls is to see if they meet the minimum GPA requirements according to that chapter’s specifications. If a girl does not meet this minimum, it is a quick cut. Just know that GPA is VERY important as you move through recruitment!
The University of Alabama posted their 2015 Recruitment Profile stats on their Panhellenic website. It gives you an idea just how important GPA is in the recruitment process:
Photo credit: University of Alabama Panhellenic
The next factor that might result in deep cuts after Round One are PNM’s with “issues”. Let’s define ISSUES for the purposes of sorority recruitment, shall we? An issue maybe something the PNM has done or said (intentional or otherwise) prior to or during recruitment that violates university rules, Panhellenic rules, or is a poor personal choice. A short list of examples might include the following:
- Violating Panhellenic Rules and Regulations (read ’em, know ’em)
- Posting vile, vulgar or improper photos on social media
- Posting photos using a sorority’s letters or hand insignia before you receive a bid (this may include wearing your sibling’s homecoming t-shirt featuring her sorority and partnering fraternity.) You have not received a bid and have not earned the right to wear the letters!
- Violating a university regulation (like having alcohol/drugs in your dorm room if these substances are prohibited)
Each sorority chapter will be assessing PNMs waaaayyyy before rush.
The names of PNMs on the Round One early cut list during sorority party rounds are not surprising for chapters. They have reviewed your statistics and know your GPA. Furthermore, if a PNM violates a university or Panhellenic rule, they have most likely been notified. And, the early cut list really should not surprise PNMs, either. If a PNM is maximizing her options by managing expectations on the front end, there should not be true surprises after Round One. There may be disappointments later in the week for sure, but a PNM should know ahead of time where she stands on issues and GPA.
Photo credit: Auburn Bid Day www.oanow.com by Albert Cesare/acesare@oanow.com
Sometimes, especially in the South, you will hear the rumor that “certain” houses know who they want before rush. Maybe so, but more likely, they know who they DON’T want simply based on a GPA risk or issues.
And, it’s super easy to find a copy of your college’s Panhellenic rules on your university’s website. Here is a sample from the University of Arkansas if you want to take a peek!
Sorority Party Rounds and Cuts:
There are two different GPA requirements PNM should know and understand.
The first is the GPA minimum set by Panhellenic. This GPA requirement is one that a girl must have in order to register for recruitment with the university. The second GPA minimum may be one that is chapter specific. Panhellenic may set the registration GPA at 2.75, but a house may have their own GPA qualification set at 3.4.
Know where you stand on both counts and be realistic. A PNM can still carry a house even if her GPA is a little lower than the house minimum, but this is more an exception than a rule. More on this in a later post!
General rule of thumb for Sorority Party Rounds and Cuts: If you meet the basic GPA criteria set by Panhellenic, you most likely receive invitations back to Round Two parties. Some houses will have higher GPA requirements, it’s true. But there will be other houses whose GPA standards are more in line with Panhellenic’s cut off number.
If you received an invitation back to a house after Round One is complete, pat yourself on the back! You made it through the deepest cut round! From here on out, houses will be looking at you more than your GPA. Now is your chance to shine during parties with your authenticity, engagement with the sisters, and a desire to learn about their sisterhood!
Sorority Party Rounds and Cuts: There Is A House For Every PNM!
Enjoy the sorority party rounds, and be yourself! Maximize your options and manage expectations during the week!
Cuts after Round One are disappointing but are never personal. It’s a numbers game for the houses. With hundred of girls going through recruitment, they have to start somewhere to narrow the field. Focus on the houses remaining on your party card rather than houses not listed. Each house offers a wonderful sisterhood – now is your chance to get to know them! You are on your way to bid day!
Photo credit: University of Alabama Panhellenic
Sorority recruitment can be the hardest yet most rewarding time! Trust the process. Maximize your options. Legacies, know exactly where you stand before recruitment. Brush up on your Pre-Rush Vocab 101.
There are also 3 Things To Do Before Sorority Recruitment Begins that will help you maximize your options on the front end.
Thanks a bunch for stopping for Sorority Party Rounds and Cuts! If you have questions, leave a comment below or send me an email. 🙂
GO GREEK!
heather
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.