Panhellenic strongly discourages any language that suggests some chapters are better or more desirable than others. Each CPA sorority provides a similar membership experience, and all 9 chapters are held to high standards in the Greek Life core values of academics, leadership, changemaking, belonging, and wellbeing.

"Panhel love" is a common phrase that communicates how members often have friends, roommates, mentors, and role models outside of their own sorority. PNMs are expected to practice positive Panhellenic spirit and refrain from making any disparaging remarks about any chapter or member of the community.

Membership selection is based on how your values and the chapter's values align, and it is a lifelong commitment to an organization much bigger than even SDSU. There is no best chapter for everyone and no one right chapter for a PNM, so all PNMs are encouraged to keep an open mind throughout the process.

No, letters of recommendation are not required! Panhellenic is very clear that PNMs do not need to seek out letters of recommendation to participate in recruitment, and that requiring letters of recommendation can be a barrier to membership. Panhellenic, the Pierce Greek Life Center, and SDSU do not manage, process, or forward any letters of recommendation. Please do not send them to us. 

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If someone offers to write a letter of recommendation, or a PNM wants to submit one, they should follow each inter/national organization's specific process. You can find more information on our home page when navigating through our Chapters!

There is not a pre-determined number of bids at the beginning of primary recruitment. The goal of primary recruitment is to grow the Panhellenic community through mutual selection, so it changes every year and even fluctuates during recruitment.

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There is no guarantee that a PNM will receive an invitation to membership, but PNMs who participate with an open mind throughout the entire process have a greater likelihood of finding the chapter for them.

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The most common reason on our campus that a PNM doesn’t receive a bid is that they choose to withdraw from the process. For PNMs who choose to stay in the whole process at SDSU, approximately 97-99% receive an invitation to membership each year!

The exact definition of a “legacy” can vary across organizations, but typically refers to a potential new member with a close family member (such as a grandmother, mother, or sister) who is an initiated member in good standing of a Panhellenic sorority. It’s totally up to you if you want to share your legacy status on the registration form, tell the chapter(s) during a recruitment event, or not tell anybody! You can find more information on our Chapters tab!

In 2020, many sororities began eliminating policies that gave preferential treatment to legacies in the recruitment process. For all of our chapters, being a legacy is not a guarantee that you will receive an invitation to membership.

No, there is no minimum GPA or unit requirement to participate in primary recruitment! You just need to be enrolled as an SDSU student. However, students on academic notice may be ineligible to receive a bid (an invitation to membership).  Additionally, each chapter might have their own unique GPA and/or unit requirements, both for potential new members and for staying active within the chapter.

 If you have questions or concerns about your GPA, Panhellenic encourages you to talk more with your recruitment counselor. They can help prepare you for recruitment and connect you to other SDSU academic resources.

San Diego State Panhellenic has a zero-tolerance policy for hazing of any kind. Any and all reports of hazing are taken very seriously and adjudicated to the full extent. The safety and wellness of our current and prospective members is paramount. Members are encouraged to report any form of hazing to reporthazing@sdsu.edu. Previous judicial sanctions from San Diego State University can be found on SDSU Student Life and Leadership. 

Participation in a hazing practice will result in both individual and organizational disciplinary action, including possible expulsion. Commission of hazing is also a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine. Hazing cases that involve serious bodily injury or death may be charged as felonies. Disciplinary action will also be instituted against officers who permit hazing to occur within their own organization and students who allow themselves to be hazed may also be subject to disciplinary action. Any proven hazing incident involving serious bodily injury will result in revocation of University recognition, and where applicable, a recommendation to national organization for revocation of the organization's charter.