The recruitment process is different for everyone and overwhelming for many...and that’s to be expected! You’re in a new place, meeting new people, and you’re hearing sorority terms that you’ve never heard before. One of those not-so-familiar phrases might be “suicide bidding.”
Although the rush process is unique to each school, they’re all similar in the fact that you’ll list your top houses after each round to help determine which parties you’ll attend the next day. You’ll receive a score from every sorority, and you’ll give every sorority a score too! When you get to the final pref day, it’s important to rank your remaining sororities according to the best fit for you.
So what is a suicide bid?
A suicide bid (aka single preference vote) is when a PNM chooses to put down only one sorority after the preference round of recruitment. This means if you don’t get a bid from that house, you will be cut from the entire process. All your eggs are in one basket, which is a very risky scenario to be in!
So is suicide bidding a good or a bad thing? To gain some perspective, we sat down with Maddie King, a 2020 graduate of Texas Christian University who pledged Alpha Delta Pi as a freshman, as she recalls the sorority recruitment process and her decision to suicide bid. Check out some insight from Maddie below!
Why did you decide to suicide bid?
“On my final day of recruitment, I had three houses left. Even though I liked all of the sororities, Alpha Delta Pi was the only one where I felt surrounded by people I could see myself building long-term relationships with and who would become more than just sorority sisters. I couldn’t see myself in any other sorority, so when it came down to ranking houses at the end of the day, I knew I would only be happy with ADPi. I also didn’t want to take another girl’s spot in a different sorority if I already knew it wasn’t for me.”
Did your recruitment counselors advise you not to suicide bid?
“The process can be confusing when you’re the one going through it. My Rho Gamm, who led me through recruitment, told me that if I only put down one sorority, my chances to get in would be super low. I learned later on that this isn’t true! Sororities don’t get notified if you suicide bid so your chances will be the same no matter what.”
What would you tell a PNM who was considering to suicide bid?
“For me, sorority life was important but it wasn’t everything. I knew I would’ve been ok if I didn’t get a bid from ADPi or I could’ve participated in COR (continuous open recruitment) later on. If your heart is set on being in a sorority no matter what, I would recommend putting multiple houses down on your last day and making the most out of whatever happens. Suicide bidding is definitely not a safe option. I just knew where I was comfortable, felt a connection with the girls and went with my gut! “
Throughout Maddie’s college experience, she had friends in every single sorority and knew she would’ve been happy no matter the circumstance. However, it’s worth noting that one of Maddie’s good friends—her future college roommate and eventual sorority sister—also made the decision to single pref and wasn’t as happy with the outcome, as she did not receive a bid. If she could go back and do it again, she notes that she wouldn’t have made such a risky choice. After going through a semester of college, she knew she still wanted to be in a sorority and went on to rush Alpha Delta Pi later in the spring.
In conclusion, we encourage you to stay as open minded as possible to give yourself the highest chance of sorority recruitment success. However, everyone is different and only YOU know what’s ultimately right for you!
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