Inside the Rho Gamma Experience
By: Carly N.
For many potential new members, the recruitment process begins with guidance from a recruitment counselor, more commonly known as a Rho Gamma. As PNMs turn into initiated members and grow in their individual chapters, some dedicated Panhellenic women are lucky enough to become Rho Gammas themselves — bringing their recruitment experience full circle!
As PNMs tackle the four-round recruitment process, the Rho Gammas act as a guide for PNMs. While in training and during recruitment week, these Rho Gammas cross-affiliate with their chapters to keep their affiliation a secret from PNMs until bid day. During the first round of recruitment Rho Gammas walk with their recruitment class group, a small group of PNMs assigned to each Rho Gamma, from chapter to chapter. After round one, the Rho Gamma’s are divided up and stationed across all the chapter facilities, helping PNMs as they make their way from chapter to chapter.
Aside from being a shoulder for PNM’s to lean on, Rho Gammas have a plethora of responsibilities. Anna Katherine W., a communications major and member of Alpha Delta Pi, recalls some of the tasks she handled during her time as a Rho Gamma during Fall 2023 recruitment.
Philia (PA): Describe your day-to-day responsibilities as a Rho Gamma.
Anna Katherine W. (AW): Each round was different, but we followed a pretty similar schedule throughout recruitment week. We’d wake up early, gather to eat breakfast, and talk about the day. After breakfast, the Rho Gammas walked together to Landis to meet our PNMs and give them the day’s rundown. We’d give PNMs their schedules and then everyone would disperse to handle their responsibilities. We were in charge of timing, attendance, and the overall morale of the PNMS. After the day was over, the Rho Gammas got back together for dinner and debriefed the day.
PA: What inspired you to become a Rho Gamma?
AW: Similar to a lot of other Rho Gammas, the Rho Gamma I had when going through recruitment inspired me to apply. Recruitment can be a very stressful process, but my Rho Gamma was so incredibly helpful during the whole week. She made the experience so much more enjoyable and she seemed to have so much fun with it — her attitude definitely rubbed off on me!
PA: How did being a Rho Gamma benefit you as a leader?
AW: I had never been in a leadership role of this capacity before being a Rho Gamma, so the lessons and takeaways I have are endless. I learned a lot about my personal leadership style and saw the areas I needed to grow in. Being a Rho Gamma took a lot of introspective work that revealed so much about myself. This opportunity prepared me for any future leadership roles or positions I’ll hold!
PA: What is your advice for future Rho Gammas?
AW: My advice is to take it all in and talk to everyone! It’s going to be hard and exhausting, but it was one of the best things I've done during my time at FSU. The friends and memories you’ll make are unlike anything else. Feel the feelings and be there for each other. Sisterhood takes on a whole new meaning when you become a Rho Gamma!
Similarly to Anna Katherine, Hannah C., a senior in Alpha Chi Omega studying political science and economics, reflects fondly on her experiences as a Rho Gamma during fall 2023 recruitment. Additionally, Hannah will continue her Panhellenic journey after graduation with a career as a national chapter consultant at Alpha Chi Omega’s headquarters.
PA: Describe your day-to-day responsibilities as a Rho Gamma.
Hannah C. (HC): The roles and responsibilities of a Rho Gamma are incredibly vast. They range from hosting morning and nightly meetings with your recruitment group, offering emotional support to PNMs, ensuring chapters’ events are attended and timely, and creating lifelong bonds with your fellow recruitment counselors!
PA: What is your favorite memory from your time as a Rho Gamma?
HC: My favorite memories from being a Rho Gamma would have to be seeing each of my PNMs truly connect with a chapter and discover a sisterhood that was the right fit for them. I loved the way their eyes lit up when they would talk about their conversations with the chapter women, or their happy screams as they opened their bid day shirts. Nothing beats watching someone find where they belong.
PA: How did being a Rho Gamma benefit you as a leader?
HC: The greatest lesson I learned as a Rho Gamma is to have humility, patience, and recognize that you can only control your response, not your circumstances. Being a Rho Gam developed my emotional intelligence in ways I never thought possible. It has changed my outlook on leadership and assisted in my development as an individual, leader, and friend.
Hannah C. after returning to her chapter facility on Bid Day of fall 2023.
PA: What is your advice for future Rho Gammas?
HC: I would advise new Rho Gammas to be present and vulnerable. This is so cliche and easier said than done, but when you find yourself in a negative headspace waiting for Bid Day, try to remember that I — and other past Rho Gammas — would do anything to be in your shoes again. It’s a tumultuous, emotional journey that will reward you more than you can imagine.
Being a Rho Gamma is such an insightful and rewarding position for many Panhellenic women. But with such heavy responsibilities, Rho Gammas must be fully prepared and ready to guide their PNMs. Emmy J., a writing, editing and media major originally from Tennessee, is one of the many Panhellenic women currently going through Rho Gamma training.
PA: What sparked your desire to become a Rho Gamma?
Emmy J. (EJ): I had a lot of anxiety about fitting in and finding a place within the Panhellenic community. After a family friend asked me to go through recruitment with her, I decided that I would try it, but I was incredibly nervous, overwhelmed, and terrified of what people would think of me. Despite this, I decided to go for it and I’m so happy I did. Ultimately, I decided to be a Rho Gamma to help inspire other women to find their place in Panhellenic, or — as Freddy, the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, always says — to do something as simple as helping women find someone to eat lunch with.
PA: Describe your experiences with Rho Gamma training so far.
EJ: So far, my training experience has been incredibly positive. Typically training begins with a debrief with our team leader, in which we work on being better listeners. Then we typically do an activity that ties into some aspect of recruitment. Overall, it’s an incredibly interesting class and a super unique and interactive way to learn.
PA: What are you looking forward to most about becoming a Rho Gamma?
EJ: One thing that I am looking forward to whilst being a Rho Gamma is the new friends and experiences that I’m being introduced to. I love meeting new people, and one of the biggest reasons that I decided to go through this program was to grow close to more women in the Panhellenic community. I am also incredibly excited to meet my PNMs and help them find chapters that they can call home.
Emmy and the other Rho Gammas in training have a lot to look forward to as they prepare for recruitment week. Peyton K., an interior design major from Orlando, is equally as excited about recruitment week as Emmy.
PA: What sparked your desire to become a Rho Gamma?
Peyton K. (PK): My cousin was a Rho Gamma and always talked so highly about the entire process and experience. She’s the person who inspired me to try recruitment upon coming to Florida State my freshman year, which led me into my current chapter and the person I am today. I am so grateful I had someone to encourage me to join the Panhellenic community, so I wanted to have a hand in helping a new group of women find their home, just like I did.
PA: Describe your experiences with Rho Gamma training so far.
PK: We have weekly classes, on Thursdays from 5:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M., where we cover a wide variety of material centered around teamwork, communication, and leadership. Every class is completely different — some focus on learning to understand your personality type through personality tests, while others are activities that teach us lessons about effective communication, team dynamics, and working well with other personalities.
One of my favorites has been the circle of influence activity — each of us wrote down all the things we were stressed about inside a circle, and then outside the circle wrote things that are within our control. We’ve also been learning about listening probes, or the idea of finding small details others mention and using those details to guide a conversation deeper.
PA: What are you looking forward to most about becoming a Rho Gamma?
PK: I’m so excited to help a new group of women find their home at Florida State. Coming to college can be such a scary and turbulent time — I had my own first-year troubles, as most do — but having a community to fall back on when you need support can make all the difference in someone’s college experience. I am really excited to help women join the Panhellenic community and find their best friends and support systems for the remainder of their time at FSU.
Being a Rho Gamma — from the training to the actual week of recruitment — has the capacity to help women grow bonds and flourish into amazing leaders. As Rho Gammas support and lead their PNMs, they are actively inspiring future Rho Gammas to take on the rewarding experience. The dedication of Rho Gammas to give their PNMs a great recruitment experience, during recruitment and prior, helps ensure PNMs will find their Panhellenic home.