Winter quarter at Ohio State is marked with frigid temperatures, full class schedules and the beginning of formal sorority recruitment.

Tuesday was the official kickoff of the two week process of becoming Greek. About 250 females interested in joining a sorority attended the information session hosted by the Pan-Hellenic association at the Ohio Union, said director of recruitment officers Michele Lacquaniti.

The program included a detailed agenda of the formal process and ended with a fashion show telling interested students what to wear and what not to wear during the recruitment process.

Lindsey Sadd, a freshman in business, attended the recruitment in hopes of meeting new people and learning how to get more involved at OSU.

“It’s just another way to make OSU smaller,” Sadd said.

“This is the second annual informational session and fashion show,” said president of the Pan-Hellenic association Tanya Rutner, a senior in political science. She compared the formal recruitment process to a job interview.

“It’s the best thing we do,” Rutner said. “It helps the girls make an important life decision.”

Interested students must register and meet two requirements – a 2.25 GPA and at least 12 college credit hours – and attend all rounds of recruitment before receiving membership in a sorority.

The introductory round, which displays general information about each chapter, will be held Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. in the Ohio Union. The women will be making their first selections the following morning and can tour up to 10 sorority houses. Sorority hopefuls can then pick up invitations for round one on Tuesday or Wednesday night in the Ohio Union.

Saturday, Jan. 15 begins the philanthropy round in which the women in recruitment play an active role in a service project with a chapter. The last and most formal day of recruitment is Sunday, Jan. 16, when final invitations are picked up.

The grand reveal will take place Tuesday, Jan. 18 in the Ohio Union when all chapter selections are unveiled in bid day.

“It can be overwhelming, but the point is to meet people and have fun,” Michelle Groleau said during the information session.

Katie Sofrank, a freshman in exercise science, is going through the recruitment process because of something her mother always regretted not doing.

“My mom rushed, but didn’t get a bid and she always wished she would have,” Sofrank said.

Seeing high school friends from other colleges over winter break sporting their sorority’s gear such as sweatshirts and chapstick encouraged Heather Casterline, a freshman in exploration, to attend formal recruitment. She said she still had one fear about the whole process.

“I’m scared I won’t wear the right clothes,” Casterline said.

Each residence hall is assigned a recruitment officer to be a helpful source to women interested in joining a sorority. All of the 15 Pan-Hellenic sororities are represented in the recruitment officers. Each officer’s sorority loyalty is kept a secret until bid day to prevent any biases, said Gina, a recruitment officer who could not release her last name during the formal process.

“The biggest thing I try to convey during this stressful time is just comfort,” said Gina. “It’s going to be OK; it’s going to fall into place.”