How to Join

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for membership, a candidate must:

1. Be a full-time enrolled undergraduate student in good standing with the University of Pennsylvania
2. Have at least 4.0 course units completed on their University of Pennsylvania transcript.
3. Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
4. Must register on Campus Director or complete Aspirant Grade Verification Form within respective timelines.

Please note that individual chapters may impose additional academic requirements to the University standards listed above.
Course credits and academic eligibility vary across undergraduate schools. If you are considering in participating in recruitment, we encourage you to speak with your academic advisor.

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Organizations to Join

There are 48 fraternities and sororities at Penn organized into three councils.

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Intercultural Greek Council (IGC)

Membership in IGC organizations is open to all, and the Intake/Recruitment process will vary from chapter to chapter on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. Each chapter coordinates their own process that is not regulated by the IGC. Both the frequency and timing of the process are at the discretion of each organization. IGC chapters embrace a lifetime commitment and focus on academic achievement, cultural competence, and community service.

IGC conducts recruitment/intake processes which may include interest meetings and/or chapter-specific events where candidates (also known as “aspirants”) can learn about the organization. Some chapters work closely with a Graduate Chapter, comprised of members who were initiated after having graduated college, and/or their inter/national headquarters to receive permission to conduct a recruitment/intake process. All second-semester freshmen, as well as sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible to participate in the recruitment/intake if they meet the eligibility requirements.

If you have questions about a specific chapter’s recruitment/intake process, please contact the IGC advisor, Jon Bell, for more information.

Interfraternity Council (IFC)

There are two major periods in which IFC recruits new members to its 26 organizations (24 men’s and 2 co-ed groups): Informal Recruitment in the Fall semester, and Formal Recruitment in the Spring semester. It’s important to note that Informal Recruitment is only for sophomores, juniors, and seniors, which Formal Recruitment is also open to freshmen.

However, only students that meet the eligibility requirements are able to join in the fall. Students must have at least a 2.50 GPA and have 4 completed course units. Individual chapter requirements may apply.

Registration for 2021 IFC Formal Recruitment is coming soon!

For spring recruitment, the process begins by signing up on Campus Director, in which prospective students fill out an e-application that helps OFSL determine eligibility for joining.

After registering, if you would like to request accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Office of Student Disabilities Services at 215-573-9235 or through their website. Please contact the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life if you would like to request access to an event by calling 215-898-5264.

Panhellenic Council (PHC)

Panhellenic Primary Recruitment is the formal process through which potential new members (PNMs) consider sororities, while sororities choose new sisters. The Primary Recruitment period is comprised of multiple rounds where potential new members visit each of the 8 chapters on Penn’s campus. Through a process of mutual selection, students narrow their choices until they are matched to a sorority following the last round.

There are two major periods in which PHC recruits new members to its sororities: Fall Continuous Open Bidding (COB) in the Fall semester, and Spring Primary Recruitment in the Spring semester. All second-semester freshmen, as well as sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible to participate in primary recruitment if they meet the eligibility requirements. Fall COB is only open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Note: Penn Panhellenic is dedicated to ensuring that everyone who identifies as a woman is given full opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of sorority life, regardless of her race, religion, background, socioeconomic status, disability, or sexual orientation.