Fall Rush Prep 101: Questions You’ll Be Asked and Should Ask!

Fall Rush season isn’t happening for a few months, but we know you’re already excited (and probably a little nervous) to experience it! You’ve probably watched YouTube and TikTok videos of what to wear, which chapters are at your school, what girls do when they get a bid, what it’s like to live in the chapter house, etc.

Beyond that, sorority recruitment is a rapid-fire week of convos where you’re figuring out who feels like your people—and active sorority members are doing the same. Are you prepared for the sorority recruitment questions chapters might ask you? Are you ready for the chance to ask meaningful questions to really get to know the chapters?

Just like a job interview, how you ask and answer questions can affect how chapters see you as a potential fit. If you’re nervous about that (who wouldn’t be?), don’t worry because we got you!

What is sorority rush week?

It’s basically a mutual selection process. You meet chapter members, they meet you, and preferences are narrowed down on both sides. At the end of the recruitment week, if you and a chapter choose each other, you get a bid on Bid Day.

There are different types of sororities in college Greek life, and most campuses have multiple councils. Panhellenic (NPC) is the most common for sorority recruitment, but you might also see NPHC, Multicultural Greek Council, or others. Each council can have its own recruitment process and steps to follow. But dw, we’ve already shared everything you need to know about sorority recruitment.

For now, let’s dive into the different questions PNMs usually encounter.

What College Sororities Might Ask During Rush

Panhellenic sorority recruitment has 3-4 rounds: Open house, Philanthropy, Sisterhood, and Preference. It might differ depending on your university, so you should look up your school’s Panhellenic Council info to be sure! Each round focuses on different aspects of the sorority and gets more and more selective. You’ll get asked various questions depending on the night.

Open House

This is your first impression. You’ll meet lots of members, answer basic welcome round questions, and start sensing each chapter’s personality. Some things that they’ll try to observe about you in this round are: can you hold a conversation? Are you excited about college and sorority life? Are you really showing your true personality or are you just performing?

Open house recruitment questions:

• Where are you from, and what brought you to [School Name]?
• What’s your major and why did you choose it?
• What are you looking forward to this year?
• What are your favorite hobbies and why?
• What’s a show that you’d defend with your life?
• What’s something you wish people understood about you?

Fun questions to ask during recruitment open house:

• What leadership options do you offer, and are first-year members allowed to hold positions? 
• What surprised you most after joining a sorority?
• What makes your sorority different from others on campus?
• What’s your favorite part of being a member of your chapter?
• How has being in a sorority shaped your college experience?

Philanthropy Round

This round is themed around the sorority’s community service and values. Here they’re trying to see if you care about showing up for others and giving back (specifically to the same causes and advocacies of the chapter).

Questions you might get:

• What causes are important to you?
• Have you volunteered before? What stood out?
• What shaped your perspective on service?
• What does "making an impact" mean to you?
• If you haven’t volunteered much, what’s stopped you?

Unique questions to ask during recruitment:

• How do new members get involved early?
• What’s the most meaningful service moment you’ve had so far?
• What are some of the struggles you’ve noticed when it comes to raising awareness or funds for [Specific Cause]?

Sisterhood Round

This is where you learn how people in the sorority actually treat each other. In this round, actives also want to see if you’re capable of building friendships within the chapter, what kind of role you play in group settings, and if you value community the way they do.

Sisterhood round questions to ask PNMs:

• What do you look for in a close friend?
• How do you support people when they’re stressed?
• Are you more planner, listener, hype woman, or all three?
• How do you handle misunderstandings?
• What’s a boundary you’ve learned to set?
• How do you communicate when you're overwhelmed?
• How do you deal with shared spaces?
• What’s a balanced week look like to you?

What to ask them:

• What does sisterhood look like on a random Tuesday?
• How do you support each other when it comes to academics?
• How does your chapter handle conflict?
• What do you like to do with other members outside of events?
• Which chapter tradition actually means the most to you?

Preference Round

This is the final round—aka the serious talk. (P.S. you may or may not feel really emotional during this round. Whatever the case, it’s okay.) This is really where sororities try and get the “confirmation” they’re looking for before deciding who gets a bid. They want to figure out: are you really aligned with the sorority’s values? Can they picture you with them long-term (and even post-grad)? So expect that the convos during this round are a bit more deep and reflective.

Questions to expect:

• Why are you really interested in this chapter?
• What kind of sisterhood are you hoping for?
• What do you want your college and sorority experience to mean?
• When have you felt most supported by a group?
• How do you want to show up in this community?

Questions to ask for preference round:

• How has this chapter helped you grow?
• What does life in this chapter look like beyond freshman year? Beyond graduation?
• What do you wish you knew during recruitment that you’d go back and tell your past self?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sorority rush in college?

Many campuses use “recruitment” as the official term, but people still casually say “rush.” The process typically involves multiple rounds and mutual selection, and round names can vary by school.

Do all sororities and schools use the same recruitment rounds?

No. Many campuses use rounds like Open House, Philanthropy, Sisterhood, and Preference, but some add or rename rounds (like academic/spirit days). Either way, all sororities will have questions to ask PNMs, so make sure to prepare!

What are deep questions to ask during recruitment?

Deep questions help you get past the surface-level “where are you from?” chats and into what matters most: support systems, belonging, accountability, and growth. Use these most in later rounds (especially Preference), when conversations are typically longer and more personal.

• "How has being in this chapter changed you as a person (not just a college student)?"
• “What kind of member thrives here, and who might not?”
• “What’s something you wish people understood about your chapter culture?”
• “When has your chapter shown up for someone when things got hard?”
• “What does accountability look like here when problems happen?”

How can I answer tough sorority recruitment questions?

“Tough” questions aren’t meant to trip you up—they’re often a way to understand how you handle real-life situations: conflict, time management, stress, boundaries, and responsibility. Some examples are:

• “Tell me about a time you handled conflict with a friend or groupmate.”
• “What’s a weakness you’re working on?”
• “How do you manage your time when you’re overwhelmed?”
• “What’s a recent mistake you made—and what did you learn from it?”
• “What would you contribute to a sisterhood beyond being “nice” and “fun”?”
• “What are your non-negotiables in friendships or community?”

Tips on how to answer tough sorority recruitment questions:

• Be specific: one real example beats a vague one
• Own your part: show accountability, not blame.
• Show growth: what changed because of the experience you shared.
• Connect back to values: teamwork, honesty, service, respect, etc. (at the end of the day, this is what chapters are trying to see).

How do you join a sorority if you missed primary formal recruitment?

Many campuses offer options like informal recruitment or continuous open bidding (COB) depending on availability and campus rules—check your school’s Panhellenic site for what’s offered and when. 

Reminder Before You Walk In

You don’t have to ask these questions like a formal interview, but they will help keep your conversation flowing naturally. Plus, if they’re the chapter for you, getting to know them will feel like you’re talking to your best friend.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of what you’ll be asked and what you can ask during the Fall Rush, because the list is endless. But you should feel more prepared now to navigate these convos!  

And remember: you’re not joining a sorority for popularity points or to elevate your social status. You’re looking for a place that feels like family on campus. So being yourself while you get to know them will lead you to the right chapter. Good luck!!