Rush week is an exciting experience! You’ll connect with members from different organizations, and hopefully, find the perfect sorority for you.
But, for many potential new members (PNMs), the process can be nerve-wracking. Whether you have your heart set on a particular sorority or are keeping an open mind, knowing how to respond to sorority interview questions is a must.
Ahead, we’re breaking down twelve common sorority interview questions and providing you with tips on answering each one.
12 Sorority Interview Questions to Expect
Unlike a college admissions interview, a sorority interview is a more relaxed conversation. Of course, you want to put your best foot forward. But it’s important to come across as authentic and approachable.
Remember, the sister you’re talking to is gauging how well you would fit in with the other women in her sorority. Being authentic opens the door for connection, making you more memorable when bid day rolls around.
Here are seven sorority interview questions that you can expect during rush week.
Opening Day Questions
Round one of the recruitment is fast-paced and light-hearted. You’ll meet with members from various houses on campus and answer questions about your background and goals.
Why did you choose this college/university?
Out of all the colleges to attend, you selected this specific campus. Share what drew you to the college. Avoid mentioning parties, drinking and other related activities in this question and throughout all of recruitment. Share something meaningful about the university. You can talk about a program the school offers that you’re interested in, the fact that you have family members that attended or how the location drew you to the school.
What’s your major?
This is one of the most common sorority interview questions, and you’ll be answering it throughout the day. When you share your major, add a reason why you selected it. Is there a passion or unique aspect that drove you to pick it? Is there a long-term goal that the major will help you reach? Share something unique and deeper than a one-word answer.
Where are you from?
This question is pretty straightforward, but it provides an opportunity to connect with the sister you’re talking to. Rather than simply stating the place you’re from, share what you like about it or how it’s different from the college town. You can also ask the interviewer where she is from to keep the conversation going.
Why are you interested in Greek life?
Refrain from giving a generic answer about making connections that last a lifetime. While that might be your goal, you want to stand out. Research the values of the sororities you’re most interested in for discussion ideas. Also, think about something unique about your life and weave it into your answer.
For example, “Throughout high school, I was a member of the soccer team. I made amazing friends, and we always knew we could count on each other. Now that that chapter of my life has ended, I think that a sorority would be an amazing place to cultivate new friendships and join a group of amazing women as we navigate college together.”
Did you do anything fun over the summer?
A sorority is a sisterhood. Each house is looking for fun and dynamic members. Highlight an exciting or adventurous activity you participated in over the summer. If you worked hard at an internship, share a bit about that experience. If you took a fun vacation, tell an interesting story from your travels.
Do you have any plans for involvement on campus?
Well-rounded women make great additions to a sorority. Share an interest you have and a club or organization that you’re thinking about joining. Since leadership positions are available at sororities, this is a great opportunity to ask the interviewer about sorority leadership.
Round 2 & Round 3 Questions
Congratulations! You made it through the whirlwind of opening day conversations. Now, the sorority interview questions will turn towards sisterhood and philanthropy-related topics.
What were you involved in during high school?
If you are a freshman rushing a sorority, expect a few questions about your high school experience. This sorority interview question allows you to choose what aspect of that experience to focus on. For example, you can discuss athletic involvement and highlight your ability to form friendships and contribute to a team. At a sorority that prizes high GPAs, you can discuss academic involvement. If you were part of an honors program or debate club, feel free to discuss that experience.
If possible, connect this answer to the present to keep the conversation flowing. For instance, “I loved doing that in high school. I’m looking forward to participating in something similar on campus (intramural sports team, leadership club, etc.).”
On the other hand, you could say, “Now that I’ve finished that and learned a lot, I’m interested in branching out and trying [insert new activity].”
These finishers allow the sister to share insight about what the campus offers and, if applicable, her own experiences with these activities.
Do you have any volunteer experience?
Philanthropy is a significant part of Greek life. If you have volunteer experience, talk about your involvement and experience. If you didn’t volunteer in high school, don’t worry. Discuss organizations that you’d be interested in volunteering for or share your interest in participating in the sorority’s philanthropy activity.
What do you hope to get out of joining a sorority?
Be open about what led you to rush and why you’re interested in being a part of a sorority. There are so many routes you can take with this question. Share how you see the sorority helping you grow as a person and allowing you to give back in a meaningful way (philanthropy). Or discuss the friendships you hope to build, the leadership opportunities, and more.
What values are most important to you?
Sororities want to know who you are and what you stand for. Think about what drives you and what values you appreciate in other people. For example, loyalty and leadership are two important values for many sororities.
Find values you resonate with and discuss how you view them, and live your life according to these values. You can also talk about why they are important and who has modeled these values in your life.
Are there any hobbies or interests that are part of your life?
The girls you’ll be speaking to want to have exciting and memorable conversations. Since they’ll be chatting with several PNMs throughout the day, standing out is crucial. One great way to be memorable is to share a passion. Discussing a true passion makes you come across as interesting and authentic. Whether it’s a common activity or a unique one, share how it has impacted your life and why you enjoy it. Ensure you are honest about these interests and activities; a sister will likely dig deeper and ask more questions about them.
What do you enjoy doing with friends?
This sorority interview question allows a sister to understand what you’re like in day to day life. Would you mesh well with the girls in a specific house? It’s important to give an honest answer, not an answer you think someone wants to hear. After all, you want to get a bid from a house that likes you for you. As always, refrain from discussing partying in your answer.
Pref Day Questions You Can Ask
The last part of recruitment is known as pref day. This is the most serious part of the recruitment, and it tends to be emotional. It’s important to open up to sorority members at this point in the process. Here are a few questions you can ask:
- Why did you decide to rush this sorority?
- How has this sorority affected your college experience?
- What is your favorite memory with your sorority sisters?
Because pref night allows you to have more time with the remaining sororities you’re considering, you’ll be able to have more in-depth conversations and get your questions answered. So be sure to prepare some questions ahead of time.
Be a Memorable PNM Who Wows at Recruitment
We hope you found these sorority interview questions and answers helpful. To make it through multiple rounds of recruitment, get some rounds of interview practice under your belt. Whether your recruitment is happening over Zoom or will occur in person, InterviewFocus is here to help.
InterviewFocus is an innovative practice interview software that improves your conversational skills, body language, eye contact and more. Think of it as your secret weapon for standing out during recruitment. Try InterviewFocus today and see how our sophisticated software can help you appear polished and confident for rush week.
