Here are some of the terms that you may hear before, during, and after going through Formal Recruitment!

Active: An initiated fraternity or sorority member who is affiliated with a campus chapter.
Alumna: A graduated member of a Women's sorority/fraternity (plural is alumnae).
Bid: A formal invitation for membership from a Greek-letter organization.
Big: An initiated member of a sorority who serves as a sponsor, advisor or special friend to a new member (the "Little"), guiding them through their new member program or initiation.
Chapter: A term used to describe the collegiate group of a fraternity or sorority.
Chapter House: A house on campus where members of the organization live. Not all sororities have chapter houses. 

Panhellenic Council: The Panhellenic Council is the governing body of the sororities affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference chartered at Western University. This organization provides leadership and programming for the chapters.
Philanthropy: A community service and/or fund-raising project sponsored by a chapter.
Pin: The pin of an initiated member is received during the initiation ceremony and worn in a designated location.
Potential New Member (PNM): An individual interested in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority.
​Preference: The final parties held by sororities during Recruitment. They are fancier than the previous parties and usually include a ritual that potential new members can participate in. Also known as Pref.

Dues: Monthly or semesterly costs of being in a fraternity or sorority.
Greeks: A casual term used to describe members affiliated with Greek-lettered organizations.
Initiation: A traditional, secret ceremony that brings a new member into full Greek membership.
Legacy: A potential new member whose grandparent, parent, brother or sister is a member of a fraternity or sorority.
New Member: A potential member who has accepted a bid from a fraternity or sorority. May also be referred to as an "associate".
New Member Period:  The time period where the new member learns about their new sorority and fraternity before initiation. Lasts from Bid day until Initiation.
Non-affiliated/GDI: Persons not involved with an inter/national Greek-letter organization. Often referred to as "independents".

Quota/Total: The number of women to whom each sorority may extend bids.
Recruitment: Refers to the process by which chapters select new members.
Ritual: The inter/nationally endorsed traditional, secret initiation ceremonies of a fraternity or sorority.
Rho Gamma: A representative from a sorority that aids female potential members in the formal recruitment process.
Sister: A term used by sorority members to refer to one another.