Are you considering going through Sorority Recruitment at Southern Methodist University? If so, I truly believe this Notion template will help you keep on top of everything you need to do to be prepared. This Notion template will help you keep track of recommendation letters and required steps to register. As you get closer to the start of recruitment week, it will help you research the different sororities, track who you meet in each round and keep notes about each sorority.
“I wear my letters on the front, because I know my sisters have my back.”
– Unknown
Sorority Recruitment at Southern Methodist University
1. Prepare for SMU Sorority Recruitment
There are several steps you need to take first to be able to go through recruitment at SMU. I designed this table to help you keep track of those steps. This Notion template does not include most dates, because they might change as the SMU gets closer to recruitment.
Keep in mind that SMU has deferred recruitment, which means that recruitment or “rush” happens just before the start of the Spring semester. I love this because you have your first semester to really get a feel for which sororities might be a good fit for you. And most importantly, you have a chance to just get settled into college life.
Please refer back to the SMU Panhellenic website for latest info on dates. The purpose of this table is to make sure you complete all the steps so you can actually participate. Make sure you CAREFULLY read SMU’s Panhellenic website to make sure you have the list up to date.
If you are unfamiliar with Notion, be sure to read the next section!
2. What is Notion?
Notion is an online workspace that allows you combine task lists, notes, calendars, and databases in one location. The personal version of Notion is FREE to use, and it syncs across all of your devices. I have been using Notion for several years and they continue to make worthwhile improvements.
Notion is a collection of “blocks” that can be linked and moved around. Pretty much everything is a block – text, headers, pages, images, databases, etc. I don’t plan on going into detail on how to navigate around the workspace in Notion here, because there are lots of great YouTube videos out there that will give you the basics. If you are new to Notion, I recommend checking out the Thomas Frank Explains YouTube channel.
To download the app, go to Notion.so. Get my free template for sorority recruitment at SMU, by clicking here. To use this template in your own workspace, you must duplicate it first.
3. SMU Sorority Recruitment : Recommendation Tracker
This database table is designed to help you keep track of all of the recommendation letters. At the time of this writing in Fall of 2023, SMU has 7 different sororities on campus. This database includes each of those sororities.
Note: There is a Kappa Alpha Theta chapter as well, which would make it 8, they however they are not allowed to operate until Fall of 2025 at the earliest. That is a long story and I was. a Theta at SMU a long time ago so I have some inside scoop . If someone tries to recruit you as a Theta before Fall of 2025, do not waste your time.
SMU Panhellenic states that recommendation letters (also called rec letters) are not required to go through recruitment. While that is true, don’t miss this step, especially at SMU! These letters introduce PNMs to the chapters with details about their activities and interests. They allow the sorority members to start to “get to know you” even if only on paper. When you have a recommendation, you more than just a number in the recruitment system.
Since SMU has deferred recruitment, these “rec letters” also help sororities figure out who they want to try to meet in the fall semester. If you get invited to a sorority event in the fall semester, I highly encourage you to go so you can determine if you like the girls in that sorority. Some sororities are a better fit than others.
Finding Recommendation Letters
If you need help finding recommendations, contact the nearest NPC Alumnae Panhellenic group. They have women that are ready and willing to write recommendations for you. (Trust me, I am President of an Alumnae Panhellenic group and these women are truly happy to help you out!) To the nearest group to your hometown, visit the The Sorority Life website. It’s best to find one that is near your hometown, since those alumnae typically have some knowledge of the local high schools. You will likely need to register with the Alumnae Panhellenic so they can get you in their system. They will have plenty of resources to help you find the needed recommendations.
3. SMU Sorority Chapter Links
As you are preparing to go through recruitment, it’s a good idea to do a little research on the different sororities. It’s good to know which sororities have similar values to your own. This database view contains links to each chapter’s website and to their Instagram and Tik Tok accounts if they have them. You could certainly add a column to this table if you want to include other social media such as Twitter accounts..
Tip: If you are interested in a particular sorority, make sure you follow them on social media.
5. SMU National Sorority Information
This view is great if you want to do some research on the sororities at the national level. Again, at the time of this writing in fall of 2023, this table contains the 7 sororities that are currently on the SMU campus. On the sorority national websites, you can find out loads of additional information such as:
- Founded date and location
- Philanthropies supported
- Mission statement
- Number of chapters
- Colors & mascot
- etc…
6. SMU Recruitment Week: Round Tracker
This table will help you as you move through each round of recruitment. For the 2023-24 recruitment year, SMU Panhellenic has 4 rounds in recruitment. The Open House round lasts 2 days, so it’s a 5 day process (6 if you include bid day.) This template is flexible enough to change if in future years, SMU Panhellenic changes the procedures.
As you move through the rounds, you have a couple of options of how you can update your invitations. First, you can open up the side panel for each sorority and add the round invite. Secondly, you can select the “Round Tracker Table” view and add your invites there. See below:
In addition, you can also use this either view of this database to enter in the girls names as you meet them in each house or any notes you want to make. The current sort is on sorority name. However, you can easily change it, if you wish to show the sororities ordered a different way.
To get this table ready for the beginning of recruitment, I recommend selecting the “Round Tracker Table” view and removing D1 – Open House, D2 – Open House, D3 – Philanthropy Day, D4 – Sisterhood Day & D5 – Preference Day options in the Round Invites column.
7. SMU: Sorority Chapter Notes
This view will help keep track of the sorority members you meet at each house during the week. For example on D3 – Philanthropy, let’s say you visit 4 houses. After each house, you can open the Notion app on your phone and quickly type up the names of the girls you meet in each house. You can either use this view to type in the girls names or the Round Tracker View works as well. It really just depends on whether you prefer to work with Kanban boards or a table.
This post is all about Sorority Recruitment at the Southern Methodist University
I hope you find this Notion Template helpful as you navigate sorority recruitment at the SMU. Like I mentioned earlier, I was a Theta at SMU and I throughly enjoyed sorority life.
Most of all, I wish you a positive experience at the SMU, regardless if you decide to join in on greek life or not. Greek life is just one of many great ways to meet people and be involved on campus. Find what works best for you and enjoy your college experience!
“Chance made us sisters. Hearts made us friends.”
– Unknown
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