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Meet Christina. She's 18 years old and 5 feet 6 inches tall, with black, curly hair, hazel eyes, and a bubbly smile. Indeed, looking over her resume, packed with activities such as varsity swim team captain and yearbook editor-in-chief, it's obvious why the self-described "Ms. Tendency to Get Involved" would decide to go through sorority recruitment (also known as "rush") during her freshman year at Colorado State University (CSU, Fort Collins, CO).

"I wanted to try something new, get a different perspective of College life," says the 4.0 student, who's also planning to walk onto the CSU swim team and join a youth group during her freshman year. "I've heard many different things about sisterhood, and talking to a variety of people seems like a great way to learn more about campus," she smiles. "I'm excited, but have no idea what to expect."

Calling All Recruits
Every year, approximately 300,000 young women nationwide follow Christina's lead and participate in sorority recruitment. Their reasons are as diverse as their backgrounds: Their friends are doing it. They want to meet new people. Their big sister/mom/grandmother was in a sorority. It sounds like fun.

While recruitment policies can vary slightly between campuses, CSU's approach is pretty standard. During the first week of fall semester, Potential New Members (PNMs) participate in a formal three-round process, in which they visit each of CSU's eight sororities and then decide which they're interested in joining. At the same time, sororities choose girls to invite back based on a variety of criteria, including attitude, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and GPA. Once there's a match, a formal invitation, or "bid" to join that sorority is offered.

"Understand this isn't about girls trying out for houses," stresses Katie Bevis, a member of CSU's Kappa Delta sorority and a recruitment guide, or Rho Gamma, for PNMs. "It's a mutual selection process."

"We do not have women who don't get bids," firmly adds Mark Koepsell, CSU director of Greek life. "If she wants to be in a sorority, there's a place for her."

"Joining a sorority offers many benefits: Personal growth, professional networking, lifelong friendships," says vice president for recruitment Sarah Tomsick, to a group of 372 PNMs -- most of whom are freshmen -- during orientation in CSU's Lory Student Center Main Ballroom.

Silver Screen Vs. Sisterly Sorority
Sorority life is nothing like how it's portrayed on TV and in the movies.

Recruitment Myth #1: Everybody is "Legally Blonde"-gorgeous. In actuality, girls range in attractiveness, shape, and size.

"It's a misconception that recruitment is a highly competitive atmosphere where you're chosen based on superficial aspects, like where your daddy works or what kind of clothes you wear," Koepsell says. "In reality, it's based on a woman's character, personality, and skills."

And, if tonight is any indication, these women have a knack for asking questions. They're curious about time commitment, cost, academic requirements, and whether CSU's Greek system bears any resemblance to MTV's Sorority Life. "No!" Sarah exclaims, explaining that the sororities picked for that show aren't members of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), an umbrella organization for 26 women's sororities worldwide that promotes values-based recruitment.

"Anybody can throw a group together and call it a sorority, but NPC members are governed by a higher power," Sarah stresses. To put it another way: No hazing, Alcohol, or elitist practices allowed.

Final Rounds
Outside, the sky is gray and overcast. Inside Christina's Dorm, however, the atmosphere is lively as she scrambles to get ready for the second round of recruitment. "I got asked back to my top five choices!" Christina announces proudly, shimmying into a floral white sundress. "Kappa, Gamma Phi, Zeta, Pi Phi, and Theta!"

Yesterday, during round one, PNMs spent 30 minutes at each sorority, discussing their backgrounds and interests. Afterward, they filled out priority cards stating which five houses they'd most like to return to. These were then matched against a computer-generated list of girls each sorority wanted to invite back.

What PNMs don't know is how sorority members arrive at their decisions. For most houses, the process begins the previous spring, when they vote on what qualities they're looking for in new members. Involved, classy, and well-rounded are always popular choices for her house, claims Ashley DeRosier, a member of CSU's Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

The week before recruitment begins, "Potential Member Reviews" are held; rushees� applications, and photographs are carefully scrutinized. It's here each girl is assigned three or four PNMs to speak with during recruitment based on similar interests, backgrounds, and majors. After each round is over, sorority members meet again to discuss each girl's pros and cons. They admit it's an imperfect process, seeing as how one bad impression could ruin a girl's chance at membership, but believe firmly in trusting their sisters' judgment.

"Basically, when you become initiated into a sorority, you take an oath," Ashley says. "Part of that oath is to have loyalty toward your sisters, which includes trusting their opinions on what would be in the chapter's best interest."

Sorority Stereotypes
Still, inevitably, there have been problems: Devastated siblings, irate parents, or alumnae who send bribes through the mail. But none of this can deter the sorority members from preparing for recruitment.

Their hard work is evident now on the front porch of the Pi Beta Phi house, where members -- dressed in 1950s-style pink-and-black flared skirts -- are greeting second-round PNMs with an elaborate Grease-themed presentation. Afterward, PNMs will take house tours and learn more about the importance philanthropy plays in Greek life. Rho Gammas wait for them outside, discussing some additional sorority myths.

"Probably the biggest one is that we buy our friends, which is ridiculous," says Laura Stickney, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. "All we pay for is room, board, and membership dues, which cover our social functions -- non-Greeks have to pay for the same things."

Then there's the party girl rep. "People say we don't do anything except party," says Amanda Wedding, who's quick to point out that CSU's all-Greek GPA is higher than its all-campus GPA, and that sorority and fraternity members have raised more than $150,000 for pediatric cancer patients throughout the past three years.

"Sure, there are Greeks who drink occasionally, but so do all college students," Laura concedes. "It's just easier to label us because we're an actual organization." Although the Rho Gammas can't hear them, PNMs spend a large portion of round two gossiping about the different house reputations: Kappa Kappa Gamma is known as "Visa Visa Mastercard"; Kappa Delta means "Campus Dogs"; and Gamma Phi Beta is called "Grabba Thigh Beta." Sorority members say they know such talk exists, mostly because people have a bad experience with one sorority member, and looking for a scapegoat, decide to label an entire house. They try their best to ignore it and encourage PNMs to keep an open mind.

"When people are unwilling to give all chapters a chance, they limit their possibilities," Koepsell warns. By the third round of recruitment, 129 girls will have dropped out for reasons ranging from personal to financial, and the 243 who are left will be dressed in formal attire. Christina's Preference Night (when she visits her top picks) will include dessert parties at Gamma Phi Beta and Pi Beta Phi, where seniors will reiterate the commandments of sisterhood and service. After that, rushees will be ushered back to the main ballroom and given an hour to make their final selections.

Recruitment Regret
"I was a total mess," recalls Christina. "I didn't know what to do." In the end, she chose Pi Beta Phi, whose celeb alumnae include Oscar-winning actress Faye Dunaway and Alias star Jennifer Garner, based on instinct. "Immediately after I pledged, I knew I made the wrong decision," she admits. Not because of the girls ("They're great!"), but because her increasingly busy schedule forces her to reevaluate her priorities.

"I want to go to law school -- I don't have time to be in a sorority," she declares. To be certain she's making the right decision, Christina has decided to "halo" -- or forgo initiation -- until spring. "I'll probably end up dropping out before then," she says reluctantly. "But I'm glad I tried it and found out for myself. Otherwise, I would've always wondered."

Six Things Most People Don't Know About Sorority Recruitment
1. Each house has a "quota�" or maximum number of new members, they can take. The formula? Take the total number of people rushing and divide it by the number of houses on campus.

2. Fall recruitment isn't the only option. Each spring, a more laid-back recruitment is offered, and many sororities also participate in "Continuous Open Bidding," where they extend invites to women they meet throughout the semester.

3. In light of all the bad press Greek life has received, many houses have hired consultants to advise them during recruitment and oversee the voting process.

4. What you talk about during recruitment does matter. Good subjects to bring up: Anything that shows interest in the house. Bad topics: Alcohol, partying, and boys.

5. "Dirty rushing" is strictly prohibited. Sorority members can't have contact with rushees outside of recruitment, they can't offer them presents or favors, and they can't indicate who might receive an invitation to the next round.

6. Most sororities give "legacies" (a close relative of a current or former member) preferential treatment, but aren't obligated to pledge them.

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