Hiking In Heels

Let’s clear the air about sorority recruitment…there’s so much information floating around, but it can be hard to tell what’s actually true and what’s just outdated advice.

To help you walk into rush with total confidence, here are the Top 5 Biggest Misconceptions about recruitment prep:
✨ 1. "I can wait until later in the summer to start prepping." Actually, the most successful PNMs don’t wait until the last minute! Starting as early as sophomore year of high school is the sweet spot for building a strong foundation and resume without the stress.
✨ 2. "Optional means you don't really need it." Don't be fooled…even if things like Letters of Recommendation are listed as supplementary, they are essential for ensuring chapters know you exist.
✨ 3. "Being a legacy guarantees me a spot." Legacy status is no longer what it used to be. Nationally, all chapters have done away with automatic legacy privileges, so every girl needs to stand out on her own merit. Each chapter can decide if they’d like to give legacy perks or not.
✨ 4. “I just need to turn in my application and other materials by the deadline at the end of summer.” Many girls think they only need to worry about the university’s official registration deadline. However, to maximize your chances of getting on those top girls lists while chapters are actively building them, you really want your letters and packets turned in as soon as you possibly can!
✨ 5. "I just need to show up and be myself." It’s great to be genuine, but it’s hard to be yourself when you’re overwhelmed! Being your most prepared self is what actually allows you to relax and have fun.

Want to stay one step ahead of the curve? 👠 Join the Insider Pass! It’s our monthly membership that gives you the exact strategies used by our private coaching clients to get noticed long before August. Click the link in our bio to sign up!

Your PNM video is officially your first "hello" to the chapters, and we want to help you make the BEST first impression possible! 🎥 Since this video factors into your score and can directly impact those Round 2 invites, it’s time to make it something you’re proud of!!

This does NOT have to win an academy award, but you should take it seriously and put your best foot forward to make a quality video that helps the chapters get to know you.

Here’s your mini-guide to filming:
✨ Lighting is everything! Film in a spot with plenty of natural light (facing a window is your best friend) so the chapters can see your smiling face clearly.
✨ Line the camera up for your best angles. Set your laptop on a shoebox or a stack of books to get that eye-level or just-above view. Your camera should be finger tips away. The camera should never be below eye level or something you have to look down into.
✨ Plan what you’ll say. You’ll be answering specific prompts, so it’s a great idea to script your thoughts ahead of time. But here’s the trick: practice until it feels like a natural conversation, not a rehearsed speech!
✨ Show your personality and uniqueness. This is your chance to show the chapters who you really are beyond your resume. Share something that’s NOT on your resume - whether you’re sharing a specific story surrounding a volunteer opportunity or a favorite hobby, let your personality come through.

Want the exact templates and filming hacks our private clients use to get on those top girls lists? 🌟 Join the Insider Pass! It’s your monthly unfair advantage, giving you behind-the-scenes access to the strategies, resources, and confidence-building tips you need to stay one step ahead of the curve. You won’t want to miss the May drop – it’s alllll about your PNM video! Comment INSIDER and I’ll send you the link to sign up!! 💖

(And it’s coming at the end of May this month!)

🎀From Hair with Pano, a full rush-ready beauty basket (valued at $250) featuring:
• Moroccan Oil Shampoo (full size)
• Moroccan Oil Conditioner (full size)
• Moroccan Oil Leave-In Treatment (travel size)
• Unite Root Lifting Mousse (full size)
• Pureology Texture Spray (travel size)
• Chi Hand Sanitizer
• Eye masks, face masks, face towels & hand creams
• Metallic tumbler
• Moroccan Oil toiletry bag
• HardWick candle
• Handheld mirror
• PLUS a FREE deep conditioning treatment with any service* ✨
👠From Hiking in Heels, resources to help you prep, style, and feel your best for rush
• The 17-Page Sorority Recruitment Action Plan & Checklist (valued at $195)
• 1 month of the Insider Pass 💌(
HOW TO ENTER:
(must complete all 3 steps to win!)
1️⃣ Follow &
2️⃣ Like this post
3️⃣ Tag 3 friends in the comments
✨ Share this post to your story for 5 bonus entries!
If you’re heading into recruitment prep season this summer, this bundle is designed to help you feel confident, polished, and rush-ready!! 🤍
Winner announced: May 20th 🎀
*Please note: Salon services must be redeemed in Austin, TX and are non-transferable and may not be substituted or exchanged for cash.

Ever heard the term "mutual selection process" and wondered if it’s actually as balanced as it sounds? Essentially, it’s how potential new members and chapters rank each other during the formal recruitment process.

In theory, it sounds nice. However, the reality is that chapters ultimately hold the power over who gets an invite back to the next round. Even if you rank a house as your absolute #1, they are the ones who decide if you are moving forward on their invite list. In fact, many sororities cut as many as a third of the PNMs right after the very first round, regardless of how high the PNM ranked them.

A potential new member can only cut a chapter if she gets more invites back than the maximum number of invites for that round. Meaning, the more chapters that invite a PNM back, the higher likelihood she will be able to cut a chapter.

If there’s a maximum of 10 chapters you can be invited back to for round 2, and you get 11 invites, your preferences (aka, your rankings) indicate which one you’d like to release.

However, in that same scenario, if you receive 5 invites back for round 2 out of a max of 10, you will not be able to cut anything. The spots will be filled with the chapters that listed you high enough on their bid list to receive a return invite, regardless of how high or low you ranked those chapters.

This is exactly why we focus on maximizing your odds! The more chapters that want to keep you, the more actual selection you get to do!

By showing up as your best, most prepared self, you have a better chance of getting on those top girls lists so the process stays mutual for you. Don't leave your options to chance; we want to make sure you are the one being chased!

Ready to take on recruitment one step ahead of everyone else? Click the link in our bio to join the Insider Pass for the exact strategies that get you noticed long before the rounds even begin! 👠✨

Does the sorority recruitment prep process feel more confusing the more you research it? If so, that’s exactly where a sorority rush coach comes in… ✨

Basically, your coach is your expert guide for every single step, from crafting a standout social resume to scripting a PNM video for registration that you can feel confident and excited about. We handle the stressful stuff: navigating Letters of Recommendation, going over what really matters on Instagram, and even providing on-call support and encouragement during the actual week of rush, so you can focus on the best part: finding your people!

If you're considering the sorority rush coach route, but aren't ready for 1-on-1 coaching just yet, the Insider Pass is the perfect place to start. It’s our exclusive monthly membership that gives you an unfair advantage with behind-the-scenes access to the exact strategies our private clients use. Each month, you'll get insider-only tips, done-for-you templates, and social media guidance designed to build your confidence and get you rush-ready long before August.

It’s the easiest way to stay one step ahead!

Ready to get your recruitment edge? Comment INSIDER and I’ll send you the link to join the Insider Pass! Let's get you bid-day ready! 💕

If I could tell every girl one piece of advice before she starts recruitment, it would be this: Keep an open mind! 💖✨

It’s so easy to get tunnel vision for a specific chapter or maybe you think the week will go a certain way before you even step on campus, but the real secret to a happy Bid Day is staying flexible and embracing the girls you connect with, especially the ones who are clearly excited to bring you back! Here’s why staying open-minded is your best strategy:

✨ The goal of this whole process is to find a place where you can be your most authentic self and find your lifelong best friends. Sometimes that perfect match is in a house you never expected! There’s hundreds of girls in each chapter and so many opportunities to make new best friends, whether it’s in the dining room or at a chapter social!

✨ Sororities are in charge of their own invite lists, and many chapters cut as many as a third of PNMs right after the very first round. If you only have eyes for one house, you might miss out on the amazing girls in another chapter who are already excited to meet you.

✨ The best experiences happen when you step out of your comfort zone and focus on where you truly vibe the most during conversations. When you combine being true to who you are with the right preparation, you give yourself the best possible chance to find a chapter where you can find your people!

✨ Our coaching is all about maximizing your odds so you have more options to choose from. We don’t believe in confidence for confidence’s sake. Real confidence comes from understanding how the recruitment process works, being thoroughly prepared, and knowing you’ve done everything possible to set yourself up for success. When you show up as your most polished, prepared self, you can stop worrying about the what-ifs and just focus on the fun!

Ready to walk into recruitment with total confidence? Click the link in our bio to join the Insider Pass to get the unfair advantage you need to stand out from the crowd! 👯‍♀️💖

Wondering how to stand out during rush with really memorable conversations? Read below for some tried and true tips to keep those conversations flowing! 💖

Sorority recruitment is essentially one big conversation, and the girls who stand out most are engaging, positive, and confident communicators. Here’s how you can master the art of the conversation and show the chapters exactly who you are:

✨ Prep for their questions: A few practice runs with the most common recruitment questions can make all the difference. Rehearsing ahead of time helps you go confidently into rush knowing what questions are coming so you can focus on having fun and chatting with the girls!
✨ Share your story: Here at Hiking in Heels, we help you learn how to tell your own story in a natural way that reflects your unique personality. This includes sharing genuine stories about your leadership and involvement to show the value you offer to a chapter.
✨ Master the basics: Practice introducing yourself confidently and becoming comfortable talking to new people. Holding eye contact and knowing how to maintain conversation flow will help you connect with sisters instantly.
✨ Be your BEST self: The goal is to develop genuine networking skills that will serve you way beyond bid day. The topics discussed generally center on your background, values, and potential contributions to the chapter, so being prepared for these conversations is everything.

Conversation prep is a learned skill, and it’s impossible NOT to get better with practice. Don’t wait until August! If you’re ready to walk into those houses feeling completely prepared, click the link in our bio to subscribe to our Insider Pass! Our monthly drops are where you’ll find more in-depth explanations to every aspect of rush. Don’t miss out! ✨👠

With so many amazing conversations happening so fast during rush, it’s easy for all those houses to start blending together. Pro-tip for staying on top of your game: Take notes immediately after leaving each house! 📝

Right after you step out of a round, grab your phone or a notebook and jot down:
1️⃣ The names of the girls you chatted with.
2️⃣ The topics you covered with those girls (whether it was about your favorite foods or being from the same hometown).
3️⃣ Your immediate gut feeling when you walk out of the house. This will help you determine your rankings later.

Why is this a game-changer? Because houses love to see that you remembered them! Bringing up a specific detail from a previous conversation later in the week (or remembering the name of sorority girls you spoke with in previous rounds) shows the sisters that you truly value their time and were listening intently. 💖

Being the most prepared version of yourself means having a plan for every detail, from your resume to how you handle the whirlwind of recruitment week. Just like studying for an exam, having a strategy for your notes helps you stay focused on having fun instead of second-guessing your memory.

Ready to go from overwhelmed to bid-ready? 👠 Follow us for more sorority recruitment tips! ✨