Q: When can I participate in sorority recruitment?

A: Primary sorority recruitment at Coastal Carolina University is conducted in the fall semester before the start of classes. The 2024 Primary Recruitment process begins Thursday, August 29th, 2024, and concludes with Bid Day on Monday, September 2nd, 2024. It is important to note that the Coastal Carolina Panhellenic does not host a formal spring recruitment. If you are unable to participate in fall primary recruitment, but are interested in joining a sorority, you may participate in Continuous Open Bidding (COB).

COB begins immediately following the end of the primary recruitment process, on Bid Day. COB may also be held in the spring semester. However, not all sororities are eligible to participate in COB. In order to host COB events, a chapter must be under Chapter Total, which is established at the start of every semester. Women interested in COB, should complete a COB interest form. Once we receive your COB interest form, we will share it with those sororities under Chapter Total that have elected to participate in COB. For more information about the COB process, please contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Q: Is a Snap Bid the same as COB?

A: No. Snap Bidding is ONLY allowed for those chapters that did NOT match to quota in the bid-matching process of primary recruitment. The Snap Bidding process takes place before bids are distributed on Bid Day, and eligibility is limited to women who participated in at least the first round of recruitment (Sisterhood Round). Snap Bids are coordinated and extended through the Panhellenic Advisor, prior to the distribution of bids and the start of Bid Day activities. Continuous Open Bidding (COB) begins as soon as Bid Day begins.

Q: If I go through recruitment, am I obligated to join a sorority?

A: No, primary recruitment is an opportunity to explore Panhellenic Sorority Life at Coastal Carolina University. If you decide it is not right for you, you may withdraw from the process any time before signing the MRABA.

Q: Do I have to attend all of the parties that I am invited to?

A: Yes! Primary recruitment at Coastal Carolina University is designed to allow you to learn as much as you can about the Panhellenic community. If you miss a party, you will be released from the recruitment process.

Q: Is there a grade requirement to register for recruitment?

No there is not a GPA requirement to register. However, every chapter maintains a GPA requirement to join their particular organization. Additionally, many of our chapters also have GPA standards to become initiated members, be a member in good standing, and to hold officer positions - so as a community we really value scholastic excellence.

Q: How much does it cost to be in a sorority?

A: Joining a sorority is a financial commitment. The 2024 recruitment registration fee is $55. If you choose to accept a bid to a sorority, your first semester dues as a new member will vary depending on the chapter, but this is often your most expensive semester of membership. We suggest being prepared to pay anywhere from $500-$800 Once you are an initiated member, the price of dues often decrease for your remaining semesters. Each chapter will provide the PNMs with detailed financial information during Philanthropy Round. Currently, average new member dues are $678.50 and average returning member dues are $446.33 per semester .

Q: What should I expect to receive after registering for recruitment?

A: The 2024 Guide to Primary Recruitment will be available online in August. After completing registration, you will receive a confirmation email with more information about recruitment. PNM’s will also receive communication from their Recruitment Counselors, whom they are encouraged to reach out to with any and all questions leading up to primary recruitment. PNMs will receive a final email the week of recruitment detailing important logistics. The PNM emails will be sent to their email address they registered with, but we encourage students to register with their CCU email address.

Q: If I decide not to participate in recruitment, is my registration fee refundable?

A: No. All registration fees are nonrefundable, no exceptions. This is clearly stated on the recruitment registration page, so please take this into consideration before you register.

Q: What does accepting a bid entail?

A: When you accept a bid, you pledge yourself to a sorority's new member process. Once you sign the MRABA after Preference Round, you are ineligible to join another organization until the next primary recruitment period at Coastal Carolina University. Please know that once you are initiated into a sorority you are unable to ever join another NPC sorority. Initiation occurs about 6-8 weeks after Bid Day.

Q: If I am a legacy to a sorority, what do I need to know?

A: Legacy simply means that you are the immediate family member (i.e. daughter, sister, granddaughter, etc.) of an initiated member of a Panhellenic sorority. With that said, legacy is not a preferential status and does not guarantee you a bid to any sorority. Additionally, being a legacy is not synonymous with obligation. You are encouraged to keep an open mind and consider what each chapter has to offer, regardless of which sorority you are a legacy. Likewise, each PNM is considered individually, and you should not feel any pressure from the chapter members to join a particular sorority.

Q: DO i need any recommendation letters to join a sorority?

A: No. At CCU we do not utilize recommendation letters as part of our recruitment process. Please do not provide any to our chapters nor should you ever be asked for one by any member.

Q: What is the MRABA?

A: The Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA) is formerly known as the “Preference Card.” The MRABA is a binding agreement that is effective for one calendar year. By signing this document, a PNM agrees that she is willing to accept a bid for membership from any sorority that she ranks on the MRABA. Please note that if a PNM receives an invitation to membership (a bid) from any sorority that she ranked on her MRABA, then she is bound to that group for one calendar year (August 2024 to August 2025). Most importantly, if she receives a bid from any sorority that she has listed on her MRABA, and she chooses not to accept it, she is not eligible to participate in Continuous Open Bidding (COB) in Fall 2024 or Spring 2025.

If a PNM receives invitations to Preference, at the conclusion of her last Preference party, she will make her final selections, ranking the chapters she visited on during preference round in preferential order. A campus volunteer will assist each PNM in making her selections, as Recruitment Counselors are not allowed to assist in this process.

Please note that once a PNM has submitted her final preferences and agreed to the MRABA it cannot be altered or changed.

Prior to signing the MRABA, PNMs will have several options to consider, and we suggest that PNMs thoroughly reflect on these before signing the MRABA.

• First, PNMs may choose not to complete the MRABA, thereby withdrawing from recruitment. If a PNM chooses this option, she is eligible to accept a bid for membership from any sororities participating in Continuous Open Bidding (COB). Please recognize that not all chapters will be eligible to hold COB and for those that are, participation in COB is up to the discretion of the chapter and not all will choose to participate.

• Secondly, a PNM may choose to list any sorority whose preference event she attended and from which she is willing to accept an invitation to membership (a bid). Please note that a PNM should not rank any sorority on her final selection that she is absolutely not willing to accept a bid for membership. If a PNM matches with a sorority that she listed on her MRABA, it is important to note that she is bound to that sorority for one calendar year (August 2024-August 2025) regardless of whether she accepted their invitation for membership or not.

• Lastly, a PNM may choose to limit her choices to just one or list any sorority whose preference round (last) event she attended and is willing to accept membership. A PNM must understand that if she chooses to single intentional preference then she is not guaranteed to receive a bid for membership. Only PNMs who maximize their options and list ALL of the chapters that they attended during the Preference Round are guaranteed to receive a bid for membership during formal recruitment.

Q: When do you officially become a member of your sorority?

A: You officially become a member of your sorority once you are initiated. The time between Bid Day and Initiation varies by chapter but typically ranges from six to eight weeks in length. Please know that once you are initiated into a sorority you are unable to ever join another NPC sorority.

Contact the recruitment team below: