Resources for Potential New Members and Families / Supporters

Sending a child to college is an exciting yet challenging time for any student, parent(s), family, and supporters. At George Washington University, students have numerous opportunities to get involved outside of the academic experience, including joining a fraternity or sorority. It’s important for you, as a potential new member, parent, family member, or supporter, to understand the enriching and impactful experiences that fraternity and sorority life can offer.

Before the Recruitment/Intake Process

What Does It Mean to Be Part of a Fraternity or Sorority?

While media stories often focus on extreme cases, they rarely highlight the positive aspects of fraternity and sorority life. Membership provides students with lifelong benefits, offering them a sense of belonging and community within GW’s dynamic campus environment. At a university in the heart of Washington, D.C., fraternities and sororities create a smaller, close-knit community for students amidst the larger university setting. Research consistently shows that involvement in Greek life enhances academic performance, increases graduation rates, and boosts career opportunities post-college.

Through fraternity and sorority membership, students:

Develop Leadership Skills: Gain hands-on experience in leadership roles.
Serve the Community: Participate in meaningful service and philanthropy projects in the local D.C. area.
Focus on Academics: Join organizations that emphasize academic excellence and provide peer support.
Build Professional Networks: Connect with GW alumni and national organization networks to support career growth.
These benefits extend far beyond college, as membership in a fraternity or sorority is a lifelong commitment to personal growth, community engagement, and connection.

What Should I Tell My Student if They’re Considering Joining?

Joining a fraternity or sorority is an important decision that should involve thoughtful consideration by both the student and their family. Since membership is a lifelong commitment and comes with financial and time responsibilities, here are some steps to help your student make an informed choice:

Research Together: Explore the organizations available at GW and review their values, commitments to academics and service, and campus impact.
Ask Questions: Encourage your student to speak with current members and attend recruitment events. Many families also find it helpful to connect with parents of current members to hear about their experiences.
Discuss Expectations: Talk openly about time management, financial obligations, and the goals your student hopes to achieve through membership.
Support Exploration: Encourage your student to explore a variety of chapters to find the organization that aligns with their values and interests.

By working together and having open conversations, you can help your student determine if joining a fraternity or sorority is the right fit for their college experience at GW.

Recruitment/Intake Basic Requirements for Potential New Members (PNMs)

The recruitment/intake process by which you join a fraternity or sorority at GW will vary depending on the Council in which you seek to join an organization. Regardless of the council, all potential new members must meet and/or complete the following requirements:

Register for recruitment – complete the Potential New Member Interest and Disclosure Form. This form authorizes us to verify your grades and eligibility and share that information with an organization.
Complete the FSL 101 online education module.
Have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
1. Some chapters and/or councils may have higher minimum GPA requirements.
2. First-semester students may still be eligible to participate in recruitment depending on their council's requirements.

What Does Each Council Require?

1. Potential New Member Interest and Disclosure Form

In order to be eligible to accept a bid from any GW fraternity or sorority, potential new members must complete the Potential New Member Interest and Disclosure Form.

2. Complete FSL 101 online educational module

Launch FSL 101

3. Register for/Attend Recruitment

Depending on your council, you may be required to register to participate in recruitment. Check each council to see what their timeline looks like!

4. Attend the New Member Retreat

For the 2025-2026 academic year, all new members are required to attend one New Member Retreat that is offered during the year.

The New Member Retreat is a required education program for all new members of a social fraternity or sorority at the George Washington University. The program, hosted by the Fraternity and Sorority Life team, covers various topics such as, but not limited to, bystander training, alcohol/substance abuse, sexual assault awareness, diversity and inclusion, involvement beyond your membership, risk management, and hazing.
The goal of the program is for potential new members to gain a better understanding of the role that fraternity and sorority members play in the Greek and GW communities, while also getting to know their peers. The Retreat is offered twice a year, and dates are communicated to chapter leadership months in advance. Chapters and councils may have additional requirements for new members.
Register for the upcoming New Member Retreat through the FSL Events page on Engage!

Interfraternity Council (IFC) Formal & Informal Recruitment Information:

The GW Interfraternity Council consists of 10 member chapters. There are two options for potential new members who want to join an IFC fraternity: Fall Formal Recruitment and Informal Spring Recruitment. The Interfraternity Council holds a formal recruitment process at the beginning of the Spring semester for the 10 fraternities and informal recruitment in the Fall semester and/or after formal recruitment.

Formal Recruitment: A structured process during which both potential new members (PNMs) and current fraternity members get to know each other throughout several rounds of recruitment events. In 2025, formal recruitment will occur in-person from January 26 to February 4.

To be able to participate in formal recruitment, potential new members must:

Complete the GW Potential New Member Interest and Disclosure Form (FSL-wide requirement).
Complete the FSL 101 Online Module (FSL-wide requirement).
Be a regularly matriculated undergraduate GW student within a degree-granting program with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA (FSL-wide requirement).
Must be in good standing with the university (FSL-wide requirement).
Register for IFC Recruitment.
Attend IFC PNM Orientation.

Informal Recruitment: Informal recruitment is offered by some or all chapters in the Interfraternity Council, depending on whether the chapter has opted to recruit in the fall. During Informal Recruitment, male-identifying students can attend virtual recruitment events with individual chapters, get to know individual brothers, and have the opportunity to join those chapters seeking new members.

Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) Formal & Informal Recruitment/Intake Information:

The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) is home to seven unique chapters with members from different and diverse backgrounds. Most chapters will hold informational sessions in the fall and/or spring semesters. However, the best way to gain information about the recruitment practices of an MGC Chapter is to contact that chapter's representative and/or attend events hosted by the chapter.

Recruitment/intake can look slightly to drastically different depending on which organization you are interested in, therefore it is recommended that you contact the MGC Council for general information about MGC Chapters.

Please note that to be able to participate in formal recruitment, potential new members must:

Complete the GW Potential New Member Interest and Disclosure Form (FSL-wide requirement).
Complete the FSL 101 Online Module (FSL-wide requirement).
Be a regularly matriculated undergraduate GW student within a degree-granting program with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA (FSL-wide requirement).
Must be in good standing with the university (FSL-wide requirement).

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Formal & Informal Recruitment/Intake Information:

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), or the "Divine 9," is home to 9 inter/national organizations. At GW, we currently have seven organizations, all unique chapters with members from diverse backgrounds. Most chapters will hold informational sessions in the fall and/or spring semesters. However, the best way to gain information about the recruitment practices of an NPHC chapter is to contact that chapter's representative and/or attend that chapter's events.

Recruitment and intake can look slightly to drastically different depending on which organization you are interested in, therefore it is recommended that you contact NPHC Council to sign up for general information about NPHC Chapters.

Please note that to be able to participate in formal recruitment, potential new members must:

Complete the GW Potential New Member Interest and Disclosure Form (FSL-wide requirement).
Complete the FSL 101 Online Module (FSL-wide requirement).
Be a regularly matriculated undergraduate GW student within a degree-granting program with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA (FSL-wide requirement).
Must be in good standing with the university (FSL-wide requirement).

Panhellenic Association (PHA) Formal & Informal Recruitment Information:

GW's Panhellenic Association is comprised of ten chapters that are members of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). There are two options for potential new members to join a Panhellenic sorority: Spring formal recruitment or semesterly informal recruitment processes. The Panhellenic Association holds a formal recruitment process at the beginning of the Spring semester for the 10 NPC-affiliated sororities and an informal recruitment process that some chapters participate in immediately following the conclusion of formal recruitment in Spring. We encourage you to follow PHA on social media for recruitment updates.

Formal recruitment: Formal recruitment (early spring): is a structured process during which both potential new members (PNMs) and current sorority members get to know each other throughout four rounds of recruitment events. Formal recruitment ends with Bid Day, where PNMs may be invited to join one sorority (a bid). In 2025, formal recruitment is taking place from January 6 to 12, in the University Student Center.

Requirements for Panhellenic formal recruitment include:

Complete FSL 101 module (FSL-wide requirement).
Have completed at least 12 credit hours at an accredited college/university (excluding AP and dual enrollment) by the time recruitment begins (FSL-wide requirement).
Be a regularly matriculated undergraduate GW student within a degree-granting program with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA (FSL-wide requirement).
Must be in good standing with the university (FSL-wide requirement).
Must register, pay the recruitment registration fee, and sign an Honor Code (within the recruitment registration portal).
Never been an initiated member of any NPC member group.
Must move in before the beginning of spring classes for recruitment.
Plan on attending the PNM Orientation Session.

During the Recruitment/Intake Process

What to Expect When You’re Joining Fraternity and Sorority Life: Want to get a better picture of what it means to join Fraternity and Sorority Life? We highly encourage you to check out our Potential New Member and Families' Quick Guide. It includes need-to-know information, as well as frequently asked questions regarding the recruitment and new member processes. Otherwise, you are always welcome to contact our team at fslgwu [dot] edu (fsl[at]gwu[dot]edu) .

After the Recruitment/Intake Process

FSL New Member Requirements

New Member Retreat:
- The New Member Retreat is a required education program for all new members of a social fraternity or sorority at the George Washington University. The program, hosted by the Fraternity and Sorority Life team, covers various topics such as, but not limited to, bystander training, alcohol/substance abuse, sexual assault awareness, diversity and inclusion, involvement beyond your membership, risk management, and hazing.
- The goal of the program is for potential new members to gain a better understanding of the role that fraternity and sorority members play in the Greek and GW communities, while also getting to know their peers. The Retreat is offered twice a year, and dates are communicated to chapter leadership months in advance. Chapters and councils may have additional requirements for new members.
- Register for the New Member Retreat through the FSL Events page on Engage. New members from Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 are required to attend.