If you’ve ever thought, “Is it too early to start preparing for sorority recruitment?” the answer might surprise you.
The most confident, prepared, and successful potential new members don’t start the summer before recruitment. They start building their foundation much earlier. Sophomore year of high school is actually the perfect time to begin preparing for sorority recruitment in a smart, low-pressure way.
Hiking in Heels has worked with thousands of girls across the country, and trust us – we’ve seen things! The ones who feel the most at ease, confident, and excited going into recruitment all have one thing in common: they gave themselves time to prepare.
Here’s exactly why starting your sophomore year can give you a major edge.
Why Sophomore Year Is the Sweet Spot
Sophomore year is early enough that there’s no stress, but intentional enough that every step you take starts building toward a strong recruitment experience.
At this stage, we’re not talking about “hardcore rush prep.” (Side note – I don’t like the phrase *hard core rush prepping*, rush prep should be something that makes the experience more fun and less stressful, that builds an amazing set of professional, transferable skills in a motivating, positive, and encouraging environment.)
Instead, we’re focusing on confidence, writing skills, and positioning. Everything you do now will benefit you not only for sorority recruitment but also for college applications, internships, summer jobs, and future interviews for honors programs or college scholarships. Learning how to communicate the value you offer to an organization and market yourself is an incredible asset!
Think of it as becoming the most educated, polished, confident version of yourself.
Start With a Strong Social Resume
One of the biggest advantages of starting early is having time to build a meaningful resume.
Sororities are looking for girls who are involved, engaged, and passionate about something. That does not mean you need to be involved in everything. It means being intentional about a few activities you truly care about and growing into leadership over time. If you’re interested in joining an organization that values sisterhood, service, and academics, this is your time to shine and demonstrate an interest in those activities.
Sophomore year is the perfect time to:
- Get involved in school clubs, sports, or organizations
- Begin volunteering consistently
- Explore leadership opportunities
- Track your accomplishments and hours
- Start organizing everything into a polished activity resume
Creating a resume early allows you to add to it gradually rather than scrambling senior year trying to remember everything you’ve done. It’s SO much easier to capture everything if you take a few minutes to jot down a few honors or accomplishments each semester as you go.
Practice Networking Skills
Once you arrive on campus for recruitment (don’t forget those campus visits beforehand), sorority recruitment is essentially one big conversation. The girls who stand out most are warm, engaging, and confident communicators.
Starting sophomore year gives you time to develop genuine networking and conversation skills that will serve you for life.
This can include:
- Learning how to introduce yourself confidently
- Practicing eye contact and conversation flow
- Becoming comfortable talking to new people
- Learning how to tell your story in a natural way
- Building relationships with teachers, mentors, and peers
These are life skills that will help you in job interviews, internships, and leadership roles far beyond recruitment. Getting comfortable with networking is something that will open so many doors for you!
Be Intentional About Social Media
When someone applies to join the Hiking in Heels team, the first thing we do is look them up on social media. Sorority chapters are no different. Your social media presence is often the first (and potentially only) impression chapters have of you. Starting early allows you to shape your online presence thoughtfully rather than rushing to clean it up (or build one to begin with) right before recruitment.
Sophomore and junior years are ideal for:
- Creating a polished, positive Instagram presence
- Posting photos that reflect friendships, activities, and personality
- Removing anything you wouldn’t want a future employer or sorority president to see
- Learning how to present yourself authentically online in a way that others can connect with
You don’t need a “perfect” feed. You don’t need to be an influencer. You don’t need 20,000 followers. You simply want an account that reflects who you are in a confident, positive way.
Practice Interview and Conversation Skills Early
Many girls wait until senior year to think about interview skills, but starting early makes everything feel natural by the time recruitment arrives. You can take a practice test for the SAT. Why not put the same level of effort into sorority recruitment?
You can work on:
- Answering common recruitment-style questions
- Sharing stories about leadership and involvement
- Practicing conversations in a relaxed way
- Learning how to feel comfortable being yourself
When you begin your sophomore or junior year, there is zero pressure. You’re simply building skills that will make senior year and recruitment season feel exciting instead of overwhelming. After all, you’re getting ready to join a sisterhood and find lifelong best friends – that’s exciting, and it should feel like it!
The Biggest Benefit: Confidence
The number one reason to start preparing sophomore year is confidence.
When you know you’ve taken time to build your resume, polish your social media, and develop strong communication skills, you walk into recruitment feeling calm and ready. There is no last-minute panic. No scrambling. No wondering if you did enough.
You don’t have to “trust the process and be yourself.” You get to show up as your best self. That’s SO much better!
Final Thoughts From Stacia
Starting early doesn’t mean adding pressure. It means giving yourself the gift of time.
Sophomore year is the perfect moment to begin preparing in a way that feels fun, empowering, and exciting. Every skill you build now will serve you not only during sorority recruitment, but throughout college and beyond.
If you’re not ready for full coaching yet, that’s completely okay. Even small steps like organizing your activities, being intentional about social media, and practicing conversation skills can make a huge difference.
Your future bid day confidence starts with the choices you make today.
Wishing every single one of you the most successful sorority recruitment and a fun journey along the way!!
-Stacia
Want a Head Start Without the Pressure?
If you’re a sophomore or junior who wants to start preparing now but has a ways to go until college, the Hiking in Heels Insider Pass is the perfect place to begin.
The Insider Pass is a monthly membership designed for girls who want an edge during sorority recruitment. You’ll get insider-only tips, resume and social media guidance, conversation and confidence coaching, templates, and surprise bonuses throughout the year. Everything is designed to help you feel prepared, polished, and confident long before recruitment begins.
Think of it as your behind-the-scenes access to what actually matters for sorority recruitment success. No stress. No overwhelm. Just smart preparation that builds over time. Call us biased, but we think it’s also pretty fun! 🙂
Whether you’re a sophomore starting early, a junior getting serious, or a senior not quite ready for full coaching, this is your chance to dip your toes in and start building your recruitment confidence now.
Join the girls who are thinking ahead.