The week is upon us and I couldn't be more nervous, excited, or stressed out. It's the one week out of the year where sorority girls can brag about their organization and not get heat for it. It's the week of our lives, the week we prepare all year for, the week that keeps our organizations alive.

Recruitment. 

This is my last Fall recruitment, the real last recruitment won't be till next semester which is something I don't even want to think about. 

Recruitment is such a magical time in a college girl's life, both potential and active member. When you're going through recruitment, searching for the right sisterhood to call your home for the rest of your life, it's such an amazing feeling. It is indescribable. 

As an active, recruitment allows you to fall in love with your organization all over again. Your sisters are happy, telling stories about your organization and what it means to them, the potentials are filled with smiles and eager to learn about what makes your sorority special.

For me, recruitment is equally as wonderful (and stressful) because not only am I taking it from a Phi Sigma Sigma standpoint but also from a Greek council standpoint. Because I'm on the executive board for Greek council I get to encourage potentials to join us as a community, not just one single organization. It's amazing to be able to offer some advice to potentials on where they should spend the next four years, who they should choose.

My advice for anyone going through or thinking about recruitment is to go where your heart lies. You will know, I promise you. You will walk into a room, see the sisters, watch their slideshow, get to know them, and listen to their speeches and you will fall in love. The feeling will be so apparent in your heart you won't be able to deny it.

My love for my sorority fills me, it's better than any boy will ever be to me. Sorority life is something close to me heart and recruitment week is my bread and butter.

I'm so excited I could barely contain myself! All the hard work and dedication of the lovely recruitment chairs and committees along with the rest of the chapter comes down to this week. We are picking the future of our chapter, the future legacy that we will leave at Iona College and I'm just so happy. Stressed and nervous, but happy.

I'm ready to recruit my heart out and fall in love with Phi Sig all over again. 

Oh look, another sorority post from Royally Pink, what a surprise! I cannot help my addiction and true love for my sorority and all things Greek life so gear up! 

Nahal emailed me about her wonderful site GreekCoverPhotos where her and her team design gorgeous Facebook cover photos to represent your sorority. 

I am all for showing more Greek pride wherever and whenever I can so I immediately looked at the site and fell in love.

The cover photos are of ultra high quality and are so beautifully designed, I can't even begin to put into words. There is a great range of photos with different designs, with sorority symbols, letters, and full names. They even have fun, little sayings related to your sorority, which is always my favorite!

Here are some of my favorite Phi Sigma Sigma cover photos that GreekCoverPhotos designed!

I will definitely be adding these to my Facebook; they are just so adorable!

GreekCoverPhotos currently has 11 of the 26 NPC sororities featured on their site but there is a handy form for you request your own, custom cover photo. 

These cover photos are great to get into the spirit of heading back to school soon and get excited to see all your sisters! Also, the custom orders could come in handy when your chapter is gearing up for recruitment or your having a big event on campus.

Facebook and social media is the perfect way to market throughout the school year and get people interested in your chapter and your sorority. Matching cover photos for all your sisters is a subtle way to show people how incredible you are!

Check out GreekCoverPhotos to see if they have your sorority and if not, request one, you will not regret it!

It was such a busy week last week between Nemo and Recruitment Week that I'm happy it's over!

Recruitment went amazingly--we had 100 young women come out for Greek life, the largest we've ever had on my campus. Our theme was NFL, Nation's Finest Ladies Drafting the Best Since 1913.

Our recruitment chair did an incredible job with new themes and during the nights, a perfect Pref Night.  It was a great recruitment :)

Because of Nemo, Bid Day got pushed back till yesterday and it was a very stressful time, especially for someone on both the Greek Council executive board and Phi Sigma Sigma's board--I was a stressed out gal.

Waiting three extra days to find out who picked us as their new sisterhood was painful but finally we got the good news yesterday!

The Delta Nu chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma got 22 amazing new members as our Spring 2013 class! I couldn't believe it! My chapter is 74 members, the most we have ever had and probably the most any organization has seen on Iona's campus.

It is such a milestone and I am so thrilled to have so many amazing new sisters! It definitely is going to be a challenge but I learned through our advisors and through Leadership Conference that you should never shy away from a big new member class...they are the future of the sorority and it should be welcomed.

Here is a picture of my kickass HUGE chapter. It might not be big for a typical sorority chapter but for a campus with a bit more than 4,000 people and not a large interest in Greek life, this was pretty incredible. 

I am so proud to be Vice Archon and to be a sister of Phi Sigma Sigma <3

Last night started Iona College's Spring 2013 Recruitment week! WOOOOO!

Recruitment, to me, is the most exciting week of the entire year. It's the one week where talking about your sorority in the upmost standards is socially acceptable. 

It's fine that we scream at the slideshow, paint our nails blue and gold, and stay up to the wee hours of the morning deciding on the fate of our chapter.

Spring recruitment at Iona is the most fun because unlike Fall recruitment, freshmen are allowed to come out! This year, we have a very large, eager freshmen class and I can't wait to meet them all tonight and see who's going to become my future sisters.

This will be the third recruitment I've seen as a sister of my sorority and I feel like I'm an old pro at it by now.

Iona has a weird recruitment week because despite Phi Sig being a national sorority, we're the only one on campus so we don't have NPC formal recruitment. We have round robin rounds where girls are placed into groups and go to each room to meet each different sorority. 

Then, at the end of each night the potentials pick who they would like to go back and see the next night.

If you're going through recruitment this semester, formal or informal, here are some helpful tips for during the week:

1. Get dressed up

I think this is one of the most important things. When I went through recruitment I dressed to the nines; I wore makeup, did my hair, and made sure I had fresh painted nails. We're not judging you based on your looks but it's nice to see a potential who put some effort into how she looks. It shows us that you're taking this seriously. 

You don't have to go crazy, just dress to impress.

2. Smile

It sounds so cliche and corny but smile when you're in the room. If you have a pissed off look, the women of the sorority might get the wrong idea and feel like you don't want to be there. Be polite and friendly; I know recruitment is overwhelming and I feel for you but just remember to smile, it will make things easier!

3. Keep an open mind

This is very important. At Iona, we stress to "Go Greek", in general. No matter what sorority you decide is best for you, during recruitment be open minded. You might go into recruitment week with your heart set on one organization but your mind might change during the week while you get to know the sisters better. 

You will know what organization is right for you at the end of it. In your heart and in your gut, you will know so don't stress too much. Just keep an open mind :) 

4. Don't be a follower

Are you going out to recruitment with your best friend? Your roommate? Do you have your heart set on being sorority sisters?

Not to be harsh, but don't think that way. Don't follow your friends or roommates to the organization they want. If you don't want that particular sorority, don't worry. This is your decision and your decision alone. It's not fair to you to follow your friends because you're afraid of doing something alone or because you think you won't be friends if you separate.

That is so not true! I went to recruitment with my roommate and we chose different sororities; we are still roommates and still the best of friends! I think being in different organizations made our relationship stronger because if we were in the same one, we might get sick of each other.

This tip goes back to keeping an open mind; don't be a follower if that's not the sorority you want.

5. Have fun!

Don't think so much about this week; yes it's stressful and very nerve wracking but ultimately, this should be the most memorable week of your life! You are making the first step in becoming part of a sisterhood that will change your life forever. 

A sorority is the greatest thing and it will make your college experience. Enjoy recruitment week, you only get one!

Good luck to everyone going through recruitment this semester! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment and ask :) 

I've written here before about my involvement in my sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma. 

I was initiated in Fall 2011 and since then, one year ago, my life has done a complete 360. Since joining Phi Sig, I've learned so much about myself. 

I learned that I have a drive to do good, no matter who it is for. I learned that I truly enjoy being in a leadership position and commanding a room. That is something I never thought would happen to me because I am naturally a shy person.

On that note, I've opened up SO much. I learned that the people who truly matter will accept you no matter what, despite your quirkiness and weirdness. 

Joining Phi Sig has instilled in me the confidence that I was seriously lacking. I used to beat myself up a lot about the things I couldn't change but now, I tell myself that I could do anything. I did something that wasn't comfortable, I went through recruitment and formed this entirely different life for myself.

If you can join a sorority, you can do anything.

Since joining Phi Sig I've been blessed with the most amazing friends, my big, my pledge class, and ALL my sisters. They are truly incredible individuals and without them, my college career would be NOTHING.

During my freshmen year, I had a really tough time making friends, as corny as that sounds. I was away from home for the first time and it took a toll on me. I was considering transferring but then I went out to recruitment and I found my home.

This week is one year since my recruitment and seeing all these new girls who are just as scared and just as nervous as I was is odd. I want to just hug them and tell them that yes, it's overwhelming but in the end, it is so worth it and you will be grateful.

I want to say that to anyone who is going through recruitment or is thinking about it: Just be yourself, when you go to the houses or meet the sisters, just be yourself because that is what we thrive on, girls who are comfortable in their own skin and know who they are.

If you're struggling in finding your place in at school, go to Greek life because they will welcome you with open arms. There is an organization for everyone, no matter if you're the "typical" sorority girl or a misfit, there is a house that you could call home.

The benefits of Greek life are endless; networking, a family, friends, leadership, support system, confidence, involvement, self esteem, a home...the list goes on and on.

If the thought of sorority life has EVER entered your mind, DO IT! I have never met a Sorority woman who has regretted her time spent in chapter.

You won't be sorry; just GO GREEK :)

Here's a picture of my chapter last night at the first night of recruitment !!

There's this challenging floating around the blog-o-sphere and I decided I'd take a stab at it. It's called the 31 Day Challenge where you pick a topic and blog everyday about it. 

I've chosen my topic and it's: