National Panhellenic Conference Members

Before we get ready for Bid Day I want to go over the 26 members of the National Panhellenic Conference. It's great to not only have some knowledge about your own chapter but about all the chapters, this is key to becoming a truly Panhellenic woman. I listed the following information from each sorority's website along with the logos I've included. I also italicized sororities that have chapters at my school, Washburn University.

Pi Beta Phi

http://www.pibetaphi.org/

Joined NPC: 1902

Founded: 1867 at Monmouth College

12 Founding members

Symbols: Carnation and Angel

Colors: Wine and Silver Blue

Kappa Alpha Theta

http://www.kappaalphatheta.org/

Joined NPC: 1902

Founded: 1870 at Indiana Asbury College which is now DePauw University

4 Founding members

Symbols: Kite and Twin Stars

Colors: Black and Gold

Kappa Kappa Gamma

http://www.kappa.org/

Joined NPC: 1902

Founded: 1870 at Monmouth University

6 Founding members

Symbols: Owl, Key, Fleu-de-Lis

Colors: Light Blue and Dark Blue

Alpha Phi

http://www.alphaphi.org/

Joined NPC: 1902

Founded: 1872 at Syracruse University

10 Founding members

Symbols: Lilly of the Valley, Forget Me Not, Ivy Leaf, Bear

Colors: Silver and Bordeaux

Delta Gamma

http://www.deltagamma.org/

Joined NPC: 1902

Founded: 1873 at Lewis School for Girls

3 Founding members

Symbols: Anchor, Hannah doll

Colors: Bronze, Pink and Blue

Gamma Phi Beta

http://www.gammaphibeta.org/

Joined NPC: 1902

Founded: 1974 at Syracruse University

4 Founding members

Symbols: Crescent Moon, Pink Carnation

Colors: Light Brown and Dark Brown

Delta Delta Delta

http://www.tridelta.org/

Joined NPC: 1902

Founded: 1888 at Boston University

4 Founding members

Symbols: Poseidon, Pearls, Pine trees, the Pansy, Dolphins

Colors: Silver Gold and Cerulean Blue

Alpha Chi Omega

http://www.alphachiomega.org/

Joined NPC: 1903

Founded: 1885 at DePauw University

7 Founding members

Symbols: Red carnation, Lyre, Hera

Colors: Scarlet and Olive Garden

Chi Omega

http://www.chiomega.com/

Joined NPC: 1903

Founded: 1895 at University of Arkansas

5 Founding members

Symbols: Owl

Colors: Cardinal and Straw

Alpha Xi Delta

http://www.alphaxidelta.org/

Joined NPC:1904

Founded: 1893 at Lombard College

10 Founding members

Symbols: Pink Rose, the Quill, teddy bear

Colors: Light Blue, Dark Blue and Gold

Sigma Kappa

http://www.sigmakappa.org/

Joined NPC: 1905

Founded: 1874 at Colby College

5 Founding members

Symbols: Violets, Dove, Heart, Pearl

Colors: Maroon and Lavendar

Alpha Omicron Pi

http://www.alphaomicronpi.org/

Joined NPC: 1905

Founded: 1897 at Barnard College

4 Founding members

Symbols: Ruby, the Rose, the Wheat and the Panda

Colors: Cardinal

Zeta Tau Alpha

http://www.zetataualpha.org/

Joined NPC: 1909

Founded: 1898 at Longwood Normal School

12 Founding members

Symbols: 5-point Crown, the White Violet, the Strawberry, Themis

Colors: Turquoise Blue and Steel Gray

Alpha Gamma Delta

http://www.alphagammadelta.org/

Joined NPC: 1909

Founded: 1904 at Syracuse University

11 Founding members

Symbols: Pearl and Squirrel

Colors: Red, Buff and Green

Alpha Delta Pi

http://www.alphadeltapi.org/

Joined NPC: 1909

Founded: 1851 at Wesleyan Female College

6 Founding members

Symbols: Lion, and Woodland Violet

Colors: Azure Blue and White

Delta Zeta

http://www.deltazeta.org/

Joined NPC: 1910

Founded: 1902 At Miami University

6 Founding members

Symbols: Turtle and Diamond

Colors: Rose and Green

Phi Mu

http://www.phimu.org/

Joined NPC: 1911

Founded: 1852 at Wesleyan College

3 Founding members

Symbols: Quatrefoil, rose colored carnation, Lion

Colors: Rose and White

Kappa Delta

http://www.kappadelta.org/

Joined NPC: 1912

Founded: 1897 at Longwood Normal School

4 Founding members

Symbols: Nautilus shell, dagger, teddy bear, katydid

Colors: Olive Green and Pearl White

Sigma Sigma Sigma

http://www.sigmasigmasigma.org/

Joined NPC: 1951

Founded: 1898 at Longwood Normal School

8 Founding members

Symbols: Sailboat, and Skull and Crossbones

Colors: Royal Purple and White

Alpha Sigma Tau

http://www.alphasigmatau.org/

Joined NPC: 1951

Founded: 1899 at Michgan State University

8 Founding members

Symbols: Anchor

Colors: Emerald Green and Gold

Alpha Sigma Alpha

http://www.alphasigmaalpha.org/

Joined NPC: 1951

Founded: 1901 at Longwood Normal School

5 Founding members

Symbols: Ladybug, Star, Crown, Palm Tree and Phoenix

Colors: Crimson and Pearl

Alpha Epsilon Phi

http://www.aephi.org/

Joined NPC: 1951

Founded: 1909 at Barnard College

7 Founding members

Symbols: Giraffe and Pearl

Colors: Green and White

Theta Phi Alpha

http://www.thetaphialpha.org/

Joined NPC: 1951

Founded: 1912 at University of Michigan

2 Founding members

Symbols: the Penguin, and the Compass

Colors: Silver, Gold and Blue

Phi Sigma Sigma

http://www.phisigmasigma.org/

Joined NPC: 1951

Founded:1913 at Hunter College

10 Founding members

Symbols: Sphinx and Sapphire 

Colors: King Blue and Gold

Delta Phi Epsilon

http://www.dphie.org/

Joined NPC: 1951

Founded: 1917 at New York University Law School

5 Founding members

Symbols: Unicorn

Colors: Royal Purple and Gold

Sigma Delta Tau

http://www.sigmadeltatau.com/

Joined NPC: 1951

Founded: 1917 at Cornell University

7 Founding members

Symbols: Garden Tea Rose

Colors: Cafe Au Lait and Old Blue

Recruitment: Day 3 (Preference)

This is finally your last day of Formal Recruitment! Not long after this round you'll find out if you got a bid. Following the pattern I mentioned in my last post, this round is much more serious than the previous two. During Preference, or Pref, you will talk with another member of the chapter and there's a good chance it'll be someone you already talked to during recruitment. Most Preference rounds also include a ceremony in which women talk about what their chapter means to them, this is a very emotional experience and it's possible you'll notice some of the girls crying. It's also possible that you will cry, it's not uncommon for potential new members to become emotional during Preference, especially during the ceremony at their first choice house.

I suggest that you look very nice today. It's ideal to wear a dress, heels, and jewelry. If you aren't comfortable in heels feel free to wear nice flats but I suggest avoiding sandals. Below are some examples of outfits, you may notice all of them are colorful outfits. This is because chapter women often wear black or navy dresses so wearing dark colored dresses may make you blend in with them. If you are most comfortable in a dark colored dress feel free to wear what you feel most confidant in.

Preference 1 by Taryn-Wilkins

Preference 2 by Taryn-Wilkins

Preference 3 by Taryn-Wilkins

Recruitment: Day 2 (Philanthropy)

After getting some much needed rest you'll come back to recruitment for Day 2, or Philanthropy Day! This round is a little bit more serious because you will be learning about each chapter's philanthropy, or charity. As a member of Greek life a huge part of your activities will be to raise money or donate time to a cause. Most Greek chapters have at least one official philanthropy as chosen by the national headquarters. Some chapters have more, like two or three organizations they help. Often, during this round of recruitment the women of each chapter will watch a video with you and you'll participate in a small activity such as making tie-blankets to donate or create goodie bags of candy for cancer patients going through chemotherapy. This day calls for less walking than Round 1 but you will still be walking from house to house so it's probably still a good idea to wear shoes you are comfortable in.

For Round 2 you want to look slightly nicer than the day before, I used the example "what you would wear to a high school graduation". It probably brings to mind sundresses, maxi skirts, pretty jewelry and possibly heels or wedges. Once again, I made examples of outfits on polyvore that are good starting points for this round however I cannot stress enough that you should be yourself, which means dress like you would. If you do not like pastels and prefer neon colors or jewel tones or black clothing then wear what you are comfortable in.

Philanthropy night 1 by Taryn-Wilkins

Philanthropy night 2 by Taryn-Wilkins

Philanthropy night 3 by Taryn-Wilkins

Recruitment: Day 1 (House Tours or Open House)

Welcome to your first round of sorority recruitment! The first round is typically house tours. This is a really fun, relaxed round. You may be nervous but the best thing you can do is relax and be yourself, it will all work out the way it's supposed to that way! One of the main questions girls typically have before and during recruitment is what to wear so my next few posts will cover wardrobe and what to expect from each round.

For house tours you want to be cute, but very comfortable. This is a good round to wear a nice pair of shorts, cute top, and flats or sandals. Feel free to add in some jewelry to dress up the outfit! This is an especially important round to be comfortable because you will be visiting ALL of the chapters which could call for a lot of walking along with touring each house. This may mean going up and down stairs. Below I have examples of outfits I made on polyvore, feel free to use these as inspiration in planning your outfit.

During this round you will have a brief time with each chapter during which you'll meet a few of the women and will be shown around the house. You'll learn about different rooms and what the chapter uses those rooms for. These houses are often large and quite beautiful but this will require lots and lots of walking so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. This is also when you will make your first impression so you don't want to be the girl who complained about her feet hurting the whole time.

House tours 3 by Taryn-Wilkins

House tours 2 by Taryn-Wilkins

House Tours 1 by Taryn-Wilkins