What Not to Say During Sorority Rush Week

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Sorority rush week, one of my favorite times of the year. For me and my chapter it means finding and choosing the best women to carry on our legacy here at my school. We want the best of the best girls, someone well rounded, positive, smart, sweet, and can hold her self to a higher standard. Sounds pretty hard to be right? No one is perfect and we surely know that, trust me we aren’t either! But during sorority rush week it’s highly important to stray away from certain topics so as not to offend, up set, or turn anyone away from you, so let’s talk about what’s not okay to say during sorority rush week.

  1. Boys. It’s okay if you’ve had a boyfriend for 4 years and you love him a lot, but the woman you’re talking to doesn’t want to know about him she wants to know more about you! Same goes for those of you who are a little more boy crazy, it’s not appropriate to ask sororities which fraternity men they hang out with the most or something along those lines, trust me you’ll get the chance to meet plenty of boys once you’re in greek life.
  2. Money. Yes it’s important to know pricing for the sorority you wish to join, however during a recruitment conversation is not the time to ask it. Most will post that type of information in a packet, booklet, or on their website.
  3. Politics/religion. This one should be a no brainer, because you don’t want to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and offend them. That won’t be a good time for either of you.
  4. Partying. Yes a joining a sorority means you’re joining a social organization, some of the members choose to enjoy their free time at parties or get togethers, but not everyone is into that scene. So stray away from party topics to avoid coming off as someone only interested in sororities for the parties.
  5. Negative Topics. This can get pretty broad but stay away from topics like bad grades, a horrible breakup, a girl you don’t like, bad mouthing other sororities, how you’re broke, etc.

Overall I suggest trying to get to know the woman you’re talking to, try to connect with her on a personal level so you too can get more out of her and what her organization has to offer. I know this may seem like a lot of things that are off limits but if you can remember to just keep things positive and make sure to present your self in the best light you won’t have any problems finding the right sorority for you.

Have more specific questions regarding sorority/college life? Feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]

Also check out my youtube channel for more sorority and college related advice!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

How to Choose the Perfect Big

 

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What’s better than bid day? That’s right big-little reveal. It’s the one thing that every new member in a sorority looks forward to from the start. Everyone is itching for that perfect big-little relationship, you know the ones you see all over Pinterest and Totalsororitymove.com. Well I’m here to help y’all find YOUR perfect big, whether you’re someone looking for the perfect person to have some fun with or someone that helps you push yourself in ways you wouldn’t imagine.

One of the best ways to pick a big is to really ask your self these questions, it helps to narrow down your decisions and really help you choose the type of big you need in your life.

1. What do you want to get out of a big?
     A mentor, friend, someone to push you to do fun things, someone to help you get involved, someone to study with?
2. Do you have anything in common?
     Does she have the same major? Are you from the same city? Do you both love a certain sport?
3. Has she been kind to you and not pushy or rude? Will she treat you with respect?
      You want a big who isn’t going to make your life miserable. You’d hopefully want someone upbeat and positive!
4. Is she someone who talks behind others back or is she sweet and supportive?
       To really get a feel for this hang out with her one on one and with her group of friends, this will be a great way to really see how she truly is.
5. Will she be there for you when you’re upset?
       One of the most important things a big can do for you is be there for you and support you with whatever you do.
6. Will she tear you down for a bad decision or help you make a better one next time?
       Everyone makes mistakes, everybody has those days (comment if you understood that reference) seriously though, a true big would be there for you and help you get over anything whether you made an awful mistake or not.
7. Can you see yourself going to her for advice and help?
       Try to reach out to her before you decide and ask her for advice on things. Boys, school, work, anything at all and see how she responds.
8. Do you like her whole family, g-big, gg-big, twin?
        This is something not a lot of people think about, but you’ll want to try and hang out with her family too and make sure you click with them as well!
9. Will she help you become a better version of yourself?
         A big is there as a mentor and someone you can look up to. Without my big I doubt I’d be where I am now. She’s been the one to push me to try leadership positions, study for tests and quizzes when I really didn’t want to, and even cheer up after a few boy incidents.
A big can make a world’s difference when it comes to your time in your sorority. She’s someone who should not only inspire you, but should be there for you and mentor you every step of the way. Words can’t even begin to describe the love and appreciation I have for my own big and I hope my little would think I was even half the big that mine was for me. Which is why I want you all to find the best big out there for you! She should be someone to lift you up and never tear you down, and make you feel like you’re never alone.
Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

Game Day

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Dress | Booties | Crossbody | Watch

Game day is here and I can’t help but love this adorable garnet colored dress. From the ruffled back to the gorgeous color and flowy style it’s perfect for tailgating and football games. Usually I’d pair it with a pair of cowgirl boots but today I decided to show you all the versatility of the dress and pair it with my favorite booties, a black cross body purse and my favorite Kate Spade watch.

Keeping it simple makes this outfit casual and fun, but it can easily be dressed up for a fancier occasion. I never understood the concept of dressing up for southern football games, but I sure do love it anyways. I look forward to throwing on this cute dress on Saturday mornings and heading out to tailgate with my friends and root on my school’s team!

What do you like to wear on game days? Let me know in the comments!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

Being A Leader in Your Sorority

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One thing I’ve always encouraged and pushed people to do is to get involved and take on a leadership role in their sorority or organization. I believe it’s  an awesome way to learn useful skills that you’ll need when you’re in the adult world working. After taking on several smaller positions in my chapter I decided to run for a council position, where I am now our Vice President of Membership Education. With this title comes a lot of responsibility, hard work, and long days, but in the end it’s made me a strong leader, sister, woman, and student. So now I’m going to tell you why YOU should be a leader in your sorority.

 

What You Should Know:

Holding a leadership position can first be a big time commitment, depending on the position that is. Smaller positions are better for those of you who want to take the initiative and be involved while still having time for other things.

There will be criticism, and you will probably get stressed out and upset at some point, but don’t let that ruin it for you! You’re making a difference in your chapter and you can’t always please everyone! So smile and move on because one persons opinion doesn’t mean everything and you’re probably doing a killer job anyways!

You will have to sacrifice some things. By this I mean sleep, time with your boyfriend, and some times just free time. Honestly it can be tough to turn all these things down when you have a huge task at hand, but once you see the results it’s totally worth it.

 

How To Do It:

So you’ve decided you can handle the stress and task now let’s get into how you go about being a leader. Most sororities have several smaller positions and large ones as well! So take it from me and start somewhere small. I took on three small positions my freshman year in Kappa Delta. It was a great way to learn what areas I wanted to really work in and I met a ton of sisters and learned a lot about my leadership style.

After holding smaller positions and doing them successfully run for a larger position for example a council seat or executive position. All sororities have this and they are the main women in charge of large portions of the chapters events, PR, membership, finances, and more!

Maybe you want to hold a position on your Panhllenic council, make sure to have some experience under your belt and know that you’ll have enough time!

At some point you may have to give a speech for why you should be chosen, my tips for those are to stand up tall, speak loudly and with confidence, and plan your speech ahead of time and practice practice practice. People love strong confident people to be leaders of their organization! Just believe in yourself!

Talk to girls who hold large positions and get to know their duties, tasks, and how things work. This will be a great way to figure out which position is for you!

Get involved where ever you can! That’s being a leader!

 

How to Manage Your Time:

With being a leader comes meetings, scheduling, events, planning, and more and it’s crucial to plan out your days and time efficiently so everything is getting done. You’ve probably heard this a thousand times but don’t procrastinate. The sooner you start on your project or event planning the smoother it will go!

Keep a planner with all of your dates and times and schedule in time for planning or anything that deals with your leadership position duties!

Make time for fun things though too!

 

 

Overall being a leader in a sorority will teach you a lot about your self and what type of person you truly are. In turn you’ll also learn a lot about others. Just remember that as a leader people are looking to you for answers and have expectations so be the best role model and figure for them and you’ll do an awesome job! Don’t forget to be confident in your self and get involved in however you can. You don’t always have to have a title to be a leader.

Have more tips you want to include, leave them in the comments below!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

My Morning Routine: School Edition

That’s right college has finally come back to town and it’s time to get myself into a routine schedule and start off my mornings productive. With a hectic schedule and numerous classes piled with work and sorority life, and even my blog I have to make my mornings early and productive so I get the most out of my days! So I thought what better than to share with you all my morning routine and what it consists of.

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I start my morning off by first really waking my self up. I spend time stretching out my muscles and doing a few quick workouts like crunches and squats. This is a great way to get my blood flowing and myself truly awake!

I then move to the basics of getting ready. I start with a clean face and clean teeth so I’m fresh faced and ready to go.

Next I start with my hair, I typically curl it with a 1 1/4 in. curling wand for loose curls that are casual and cute!

I then proceed to my makeup where I typically do the same thing every day. Starting with BB cream, concealer, powder, blush, eyeliner, and mascara to top it off!

I then of course pick out my outfit or put on what I chose the night before and then throw all my stuff in my backpack and head downstairs!

When I have early classes I like to grab my breakfast and take it on the go and eat it as I walk to class or in class. I also make sure to pack a water bottle so I’m staying hydrated throughout my classes!

My normal morning has 2 classes and then I can walk back to my room and relax for a while or do homework until it’s work later at 3pm!

 

 

School rolling around really made me realize the importance of organization, consistency, and a routine so I decided last week to implement this structured morning routine and so far I’ve found myself being more productive throughout my whole day and just in a better mood overall.

 

What’s your favorite part of your morning routine? Let me know in the comments!

 

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

Gifts for Your Sorority Little

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Sorority big little reveal is just around the corner! And with so little time to prepare it is crucial that you bigs out there get a head start on spoiling your new little! I personally couldn’t wait to get my little and I was so excited to get to spoil her and buy her everything and anything! After searching the internet far and wide I came across several stores on Etsy that were perfect for these gifts. Etsy is a great place to find unique monogram and sorority items. Lucky for you guys I’m going to show you a few of my favorite stores so you’ll know where to get the best gifts for your perfect little.

 

Gift Idea 1: T-shirts on t-shirts on t-shirts. There are so many cute and fun shirts out there for any all sorority girls. Any easy and fun monogram tanks like this one from Simply Sew Precious is an essential for any sorority girl. It’s great to throw on with some leggings and nikes and head out the door!

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Or this adorable stitched Kaydee tank from KyiStitches. What sorority girl doesn’t love Lilly and comfort color tanks, not many! Making this tank adorable and fun!
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My next favorite style for shirts have been racerback style with writing down them! It’s so unique and no one will have a shirt like this one which is from KyiStitches.

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My next favorite shop for shirts is Silly Little Girls. She creates tanks that are perfect for reveal day so that you and everyone in your fam can match. She is great at customizing shirts for anything you’d like!

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I also suggest passing down several of your old shirts or people’s from your family. It will have sentimental meaning and trust me she will love them all!

2. Accessories:

Now that your little is clothed to perfection in her new sorority apparel. I suggest working on the accessories. Accessories are a cheap and easy way to spoil your little with out breaking your bank!

My first favorites are from the adorable shop of Simply Sew Precious. If your school is near a beach or you know your little loves swimming these could be perfect! Her monogram bathing suit is to die for and the monogram spiker is perfect for the sand!

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One of the best things for rainy days or bad hair days is hats. I’m a huge fan of baseball caps and these are two of my must haves. The first being a sorority hat from the Kappa Delta Boutique and the other an adorable monogrammed hat from KyiStitches. Hats are inexpensive and great way to shower your little with fun gifts.

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I am obsessed with adorable makeup bags, I’m pretty sure I have more than I will ever need, but if your little is like me and just can’t have enough a cute makeup bags, this one with her monogram or sorority letters is great, mine is from KyiStitches and I get compliments on it all the time!

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The next few items are drinking related, these are not for everyone and by no means am I saying you have to buy these for your little. You know them and whether they are into that sort of thing or if they are old enough for that, so keep that in mind when purchasing these items!

I think koozies are a great gift for anyone, cheap and fun and with you monogram or sorority letters it’s just adorable. This one is from KyiStitches. I couldn’t help but love this adorable monogrammed shot glass either. It’s even pink on the bottom and looks great on my new desk, lol. You can find it at PutMyNameOnIt . My new favorite glass to use for any drink at all (aka, Coca-Cola) is this monogram wine glass tumblr. It’s adorable and chic and I got so many comments on it, it’s from Simply Sew Precious.

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My next favorite items are the cutest for your little’s car keys and backpack! I’ve been loving cute keyrings, wrist straps, and water bottles for adding a little spice to a not so cute key ring or backpack. The adorable Lilly Pulitzer Monogram keychain is from Rocky Top Monograms. I mean how cute is that?! The sorority keychain is perfect for a new sorority member to show off her new organization, this one if from Put My Name On It. Put My Name On It also sells this adorable sorority water bottle which I’ve been getting so much use out of! The Lilly Pulitzer sorority wrist strap is so cute and perfect for your new little and it’s from KyiStitches!

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Last but not least, my most purchased items from Etsy and one of the best gifts to get your new sorority little is monograma and letters! She can use these on her car, laptop, door, cups, water bottles, binders, planners, etc. The options are endless! Here are few of my favorites!

 

A classic circle sorority letter monogram is great for your new little to put on her car or laptop to show off her new sorority! This one is from Rocky Top Monograms

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Also from Rocky Top Monograms is this adorable Lilly Pulitzer printed script monogram, I can’t wait to use this on my planner or laptop for this school year!

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My next three favorite stickers are from Preppy and Painted the first being these cute Lilly Pulitzer Sorority letters which are to die for! My other favorite from her was the adorable Lilly Pulitzer Pineapple and monogram sticker! It’s so original and fun!

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3. Crafts!

There is nothing more fun than creating crafts for your new little. From canvases, pin boxes, wooden letters, coolers, painted glasses/mugs, shadow boxes, picture frames, baskets, and more! Hand made gifts will last a life time and show your little how much you love her!

4. Things she likes!

I loved getting my little her favorite candy, gift cards to her favorites store, food, her favorite drink, her favorite magazine, movie, books, pens, makeup and more!

 

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Stores Mentioned in this post:

Simply Sew Precious 

Put My Name On It: Sorority Gift Pack

Preppy and Painted

Rocky Top Monograms

KyiStitches

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Shopping for a new little can be stressful when all you want to do is buy her everything without breaking the bank. Or maybe money isn’t an object and there are just so many options out there, which is why I’ve shown you all my favorite stores to purchase sorority gifts from as well as some original gifts and ideas to spoil your new little!

 

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

10 Myths About College

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Any incoming freshman can attest to the fact that all you hear from people is college myth this, college myth that and it’s hard to determine which is true and which aren’t. Well luckily I’m here to help debunk 10 myths about college that will hopefully keep you from worrying too much before heading off to school!

1. Most students graduate in 4 years. In fact I know several people who are going into their 5th year, and there is nothing to be ashamed about that! Reasons for not graduating on time might include studying abroad, co-op jobs, having more than 1 major or minor, or changing your major!

2. Everyone drinks and parties. Not true. Although parties and drinking are a stereotypical college activity, many students don’t partake in this. Don’t feel like you have to take up drinking to fit in or go to every party every night. There are plenty of other fun things to do around school that doesn’t include drinking or partying.

3. Everyone has lost their virginity. NO! Don’t fall for the age old trick of everyone is doing it. Girl, if you don’t want to do something with a boy, don’t. If he doesn’t respect that then he is not worth your time. There are so many students in college who are virgins, and there is nothing wrong with that! In fact that should be something you’re proud of!

4. You don’t have to go to your classes. FALSE! It is important now more than ever to attend all of your classes. Just because a professor doesn’t take attendance, does not mean that is a reason to not come to class. Take it from someone who learned it the hard way, you will do much better in the class if you attend all of the classes.

5. Dining hall food is awful. Trust me, most colleges are working to have healthy food options available to students and they are bound to have several options that even the picky eater like my self can enjoy.

6. Freshman 15. Not everyone will gain weight during their freshman year. It’s up to the person and their dieting habits, physical activity, and stress levels to determine if they will gain weight or not.

7. There is no drama. You’re bound to argue with your roommate, hallmates, friends, boyfriend, etc. Depending on the type of people you live around will determine the amount of drama that might show up. Some people are just all about, it’s best to steer clear from them.

8. You’ll be friends with your freshman friends for ever. Sadly, probably not. People go their separate ways and start living in different areas and just don’t hang out as much as they used to. That’s not to say that you won’t stay friends with some of them, it just might not be the same relationship you used to have.

9. You have to decide your career as soon as you get to college. False, you have an entire lifetime to test out different careers, majors, and job opportunities. Coming from a girl who has changed her major 4 times it may take a while to figure out what you’re truly passionate about.

10. You have to join greek life. Don’t get me wrong I’m a strong believer people should try going greek, but there is nothing that requires you too. If you don’t think you’ll enjoy it, you just don’t want to do it, or you think it’s not for you that’s FINE! Don’t worry about what others think and say, you do you boo boo.

 

With college move in day right around the corner, I thought what better topic to talk about than college myths. Hopefully my debunking of these common myths made you a little more confident about college in the fall!

 

Have more college related questions? E-mail me at [email protected]

Have you seen my new youtube video?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo-gI0-09PQ

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

 

Sorority Rush Week: Hair and Nails

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You’ve got your outfits all planned out and you’ve perfected your makeup, but there is still something missing, your hair and nails! You can tell a lot about a girl by how she takes care of hair and styles it. Not only that, but the way a woman takes care of her nails really shows her attention to detail. With sorority rush week just around the corner, I thought what better to share with you all than the best hair and nail tips for sorority recruitment!

 

HAIR:

Don’ts: Stay away from fancy up-dos like people wear in weddings, it isn’t necessary for these nights. DO NOT have frizzy hair if at all possible. Use whatever you need to keep your hair down, but sleek and shiny hair looks great on everyone. Greasy hair is a big no-no. Make sure you’re washing your hair and getting out any product, use dry shampoo if necessary. Grown out roots just don’t look good, get them touched up right before rush week so you won’t have to worry about it during this busy time! Try to stay clear from crazy and harsh colors all over you head. A colorful streak probably won’t be that bad or noticeable. Just be tasteful.

Dos: Hair spray will be your best friend, just makes sure you’re not using too much. I also suggest teasing your hair even just a little to add some extra volume and bounce to your hair style. Especially if you’re rushing a sorority in the south. Make sure to test out different hair styles to find the ones that look best on you! Keep your ends split free. You can never go wrong with simple curls or straight hair if you’re not the most talented at hair or don’t have the time.

 

NAILS:

Stray away from any dark colors like black. Light browns, light pink, and french manicures are the best colors to wear so that they match with every outfit. Do not have chipped nail polish or ragged nails. If you don’t like painting your nails at least trim and file your fingernails so they look uniform and clean. Save the long fake nails for another week and keep it on the more natural side or if necessary short acrylic nails. Also, don’t forget about your toes if you’re wearing sandals!

 

Sometimes we get so caught up in planning the perfect sorority rush week outfit we forget other important aspects of looking nice for sorority recruitment. Luckily for you, your hair and nails will now be on point and help you stand out from the other PNMs during recruitment.

Have more sorority related questions? E-mail me at [email protected]

Don’t forget to check out my YouTube channels for daily blogs and more sorority advice!

Main Channel Vlog Channel

 

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

Sorority Rush Week: Makeup Tips & Tricks

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Most of us spend hours preparing the perfect outfit for sorority rush week and tend to forget about another important aspect of looking perfect for these nights, which is makeup! Knowing how to apply makeup properly and just the right amount can really brighten up your face and make you look your best. And when you look your best, you’ll be feeling your best. So let’s get into the tips and tricks to help you look your best during sorority rush week.

What Makeup Should You Wear:

Light foundation: Enough to cover any imperfections and even your skin tone out.

Concealer: Under your eyes and on any blemishes that need to be covered.

Powder: To give your face that matte finish without shine.

Bronzer: For contouring and adding color to your face.

Highlight: To highlight your cheek bones and open your eyes.

Blush: To add color to your cheeks and make you look fresh faced.

Eyeshadow: To add depth to your eyes and create a soft look.

Eyeliner: To make your eyes pop

Mascara: for opening your eyes up and looking away and refreshed.

 

Tips:

Blend out foundation around the neck and jawline and make sure that the color matches your skin tone perfectly. Go easy on any powder so that your face doesn’t look caked on. Don’t over do the bronzer or highlight, it should give a little depth to your face but not look so harsh. Concealer should be lighter than your foundation, but not too much. Don’t over do the eyes with dark eyeshadow colors and bright colors, choose natural browns and creams for the best look. Save the winged eyeliner for night outs and stick to natural eyeliner such as brown or black if needed. Waterproof mascara is the best so it won’t smudge and get under your eyes and on your eyelids. Be careful when applying mascara so that it doesn’t clump to much, try taking an old mascara wand and combing through them when you’re finished.

 

Makeup to Avoid:

The wrong colored foundation, bright lipstick colors like purple or green, orange bronzer is a no go, hold off on the glitter, and any harsh eyeshadow colors like blue, purple, red, etc.

 

Preference Night:

Preference night calls for a more serious look and feel to your outfit. Adding in a few darker eyeshadow colors is acceptable just to add more depth to your eyes, but a dark smokey look is still not ideal. Adding a slightly darker lip color is a nice change to your look, just apply it properly with a lip liner and make sure it looks nice with your skin tone.

 

I hope these makeup tips and tricks for sorority rush week made it easier for your to plan your complete look. Having the right makeup can completely change your face and look and will make all the difference in sorority recruitment.

Don’t forget to check out my what to wear for sorority rush week posts for the perfect outfits!

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Have more college related questions, e-mail me at [email protected]

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

Sorority Resume: Everything You Need

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You’re all excited about rushing a sorority in the fall and you can’t wait to see what life is like once you’re in one, but first there are a few things that have to be done. Does your school require a resume? Never had to have one before? Don’t worry about it at all, because I’ve broken it down and created an example just for you so that you don’t have to worry anymore!

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When it comes to writing your resume, leave anything out! Put as much information as you can even that silly participation award you got in the 10th grade. It all counts and it all makes you stand out. Adding a picture at the top of your resume is also a good but optional idea.

One piece of advice I can give is do not lie on your resume, someone will find out and it won’t be good, not to mention embarrassing. Just be yourself and fill it out to the best of your ability.

I hope this post helped you and you’re on your way to making your perfect sorority resume.

Want this resume for yourself on a word document that all you simply have to do is fill out!?! You can purchase it for only $0.99 

and then it’s yours to do as you please with!

Have more questions about sorority recruitment check out some of my recent posts like 11 Things No One Told Me About Sorority Recruitment10 Tips for Preparing for Sorority Rush, and How to be the PNM Every Sorority Wants.

Still have more questions? E-mail me at [email protected]

Have an awesome day!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle