Digital Guide
The Social Media Playbook
Even if you don’t put your handles on your application, chapters will very likely find your profile. And in the few seconds they spend looking at it, your grid is either helping you or hurting you.
This guide walks you through how to audit your social media, what basement teams are actually scanning for, and how to present yourself online in a way that’s authentic without giving anyone a reason to put you on the wrong list.
$47
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The Rush Guide Co. is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NPC or any member organization. Recruitment is a mutual selection process, and no guide can guarantee a bid. This is educational guidance based on the author’s experience. Always follow your campus Panhellenic Council’s official rules.
What’s Inside
Your profile is already in the room.
- How chapters use your social media during the evaluation process
- A quick audit framework to see your profile the way they see it
- What to clean up, what to post before recruitment, and the timing that matters
- DMs from active members: what they mean, how to respond, and why most PNMs are missing an opportunity
- The answers to every social media FAQ that keeps PNMs up at night
Who This Is For
Your Instagram is in the room before you are.
Even if you don’t put your handles on your application, chapters will probably find your profile. And in the few seconds they spend looking at it, your grid is either helping you or hurting you. Most PNMs don’t realize this is happening, which means they don’t prep their profile, which means they’re walking into recruitment with a first impression already set against them.
This guide is for PNMs who want to control their first impression before it’s made for them. It’s especially helpful for first-generation sorority recruits, anyone with a “boyfriend grid” or a lot of bikini photos from spring break, and anyone who’s been told to “just make your Instagram private” without understanding why that’s actually the wrong move.
What Makes This Different
Most social media advice for rush is either paranoid or naive.
Half the content out there will tell you that one wrong post will get you cut from every house on campus. The other half tells you it doesn’t really matter and you should just be yourself. Neither is true. The reality is somewhere in the middle, and it’s based on a small set of specific things basement teams are actually scanning for.
This guide was written by someone who has been in the basement watching social media audits happen in real time. I know what flags get raised, what gets ignored, and what specific patterns end up putting a PNM on the wrong list. The guide also covers the timing of when to clean things up, what to post in the weeks before recruitment, and the question of private accounts in a way most other resources get wrong.
It’s also the only place you’ll get a clear answer on whether to make your account private during recruitment. Spoiler: the obvious answer is the wrong one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What you’re probably wondering before you buy.
Do sororities actually check your social media during recruitment?
Yes. Instagram is the primary platform basement teams check, and they’ll do it whether or not you put your handles on your application. The guide explains how they use what they find, what they’re scanning for in those first few seconds on your profile, and how to make sure your grid is working for you instead of against you.
Should my Instagram be public or private during sorority recruitment?
The instinct most PNMs have is the wrong call. The guide walks you through what to do with your account settings, when to do it, and the reasoning behind a recommendation that surprises most people.
Can chapters see my finsta?
The guide covers what to do about finstas, secondary accounts, and tagged photos so nothing on your profile (or anyone else’s) catches you off guard.
Do they check TikTok?
The guide covers TikTok and other platforms beyond Instagram so you know where to focus your prep and where you can stop worrying.
What do I do about photos with alcohol on my profile?
The guide covers exactly which types of photos get flagged in the basement, what to do about them, and why the answer is the same even if you’re of age. There’s a clear cleanup framework so you’re not guessing.
When should I start cleaning up my social media for recruitment?
The guide gives you a specific timeline that protects you in a way most PNMs don’t think about. The “when” matters as much as the “what.”
What should I post before sorority recruitment starts?
The guide includes guidance on what to post in the weeks leading up to recruitment and just as importantly, what NOT to post. There are specific things PNMs do online that quietly hurt them, and most of them are easy to avoid once you know.
Is this a physical guide or digital?
Digital. You’ll get an instant download after purchase that you can read on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Pair It With
Your profile is one part of your first impression.
The Social Media Playbook handles your online presence. Your written application materials are the other half of your paper impression, which is exactly what The Application Playbook covers. And once you’ve made it through the door, The Conversation Playbook prepares you for what happens in person. Get everything together at the best value with The Full Recruitment Bundle.
You’ve read this far. You already know.
Instant digital download for The Social Media Playbook. Read it on any device.
$47
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