Sorority Recommendation Letter

A Sorority Recommendation Letter (also called a Sorority Letter of Support) is a short letter that backs a person who applies to join a sorority. Some of the existing sororities do not require a recommendation letter, but most of them do. The main purpose of the document is to show the applicant's best traits and biggest achievements. That helps the sorority know who it admits to the community.

Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.

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Who Can Write a Sorority Recommendation Letter?

The sorority admissions committee expects an alumna of this particular sorority and chapter to provide the social resume. Of course, it would be perfect if you have a former sorority member (alumna) who is close to you or if you are a legacy. But what happens if you do not have any close relationships of such kind? Several important questions arise in this regard:

  1. What do I do if I do not have an alumna to help me compose and sign a recommendation letter?
  2. What if the specific alumna and I do not have a relationship strong enough for her to write me a Sorority Recommendation Letter?

First, if you do not know a sorority alumna directly, try to reach one through your friends, family members, or colleagues. If that does not work, you can contact the National Panhellenic Conference and ask for help finding an alumna. It is an advocacy organization for sorority experience advancement.

As a last resort, contact the national offices of local sorority communities. They can connect you with an alumna who is willing to write a letter for you.

Second, suppose you and the alumna do not have a strong bond. In that case, give her a list of your accomplishments, so she has facts to work with:

  • Volunteer work and community projects
  • Academic awards and scholarships
  • Sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities
  • Any other personal achievements that show your character

With that list in hand, she can write you a more persuasive letter.

Send the alumna your list early and add a few details about yourself. A letter with specific examples sounds more personal than a general one.

Compulsory Content to Include

A strong letter is short, specific, and easy for a busy admissions committee to read. A good Sorority Recommendation Letter consists of four to five paragraphs and includes four constituent parts, as follows:

  • Salutation
  • Introduction
  • Main body
  • Conclusion

But there is particular content that the recommendation letter author should consider including in each of these paragraphs. Thus, a high-quality letter must include:

  • Author’s name and qualifications (the higher the level, the better)
  • Relation to the subject applicant and personal opinion of them
  • Examples of the most outstanding accomplishments in studying, sports, volunteering, and other related activities
  • The strongest personality traits and their real-life examples
  • Arguments for accepting the candidate into the sorority
  • A semi-formal sign-off at the end

How to Write a Sorority Recommendation Letter

Larger sorority communities usually provide letter samples on their official websites, but smaller ones often do not. You can use our form-building software to create and customize the letter you need. You can also follow the six steps and the samples below to learn how to write a letter of your own. A complete letter has:

  • A proper salutation
  • An introduction of the author and the applicant
  • A main body with accomplishments
  • Personality traits and qualities
  • A short conclusion
  • A signature and the current date

1. Provide a Proper Salutation

The author might not always know exactly who the letter is addressed to. So, it would be a good practice to follow the rules of business correspondence protocol and begin the letter with “To whom it may concern.”

2. Introduce Yourself and the Applicant

Once you have saluted the addressee, you can proceed to the introduction part. It is a compulsory element of any recommendation letter and should include a detailed description of the author, their name, relation to the applicant, and primary qualifications that make them eligible to write this letter.

3. Compose the Main Body

It is the main part of the letter describing the necessary qualifications the subject sorority candidate has to get in. Ensure you include the applicant’s academic and sports accomplishments, hobbies, social and volunteer work projects, and other awards. They help demonstrate their most vital personality traits.

4. Insert Personality Traits and Qualification

This part would be a logical sequel to the previous one. You, as a mentor, should describe the best positive personality traits of the potential sorority member. Personal achievements and accomplishments may not always provide a complete picture of a person’s character, and the admissions committee must know for sure that the newcomer is friendly and well-liked. Support your point of view with examples.

5. Write the Conclusion

This part must not be too long. Typically, it consists of 3-4 sentences that wrap up your argumentation regarding the applicant’s membership in the sorority. Make sure your closing argument emphasizes your personal support of the application.

6. Affix the Signature and Current Date

Double-check your final letter sample and see if all the inserted information is accurate. Then, ensure to affix your signature and current calendar date at the bottom of the document.

Sample Sorority Recommendation Letters

Use these three samples as a starting point. Each one is written from a different author's point of view, such as a family friend, a former sorority member, or a coworker. Pick the one closest to your situation and replace each blank with real details. Before you start, gather:

  • The applicant's full name and the name of the sorority
  • How the author knows the applicant
  • Two or three accomplishments, with dates
  • The personality traits the author can back up with examples

Sorority Letter: Sample 1

To whom it may concern,

I am a proud alumna of __________________. I am aware that only highly intelligent, strong, and independent women (and LGBTQ+ community representatives, if applicable) are accepted into the sorority, and I personally believe that ____________ would be an excellent addition to the sisterhood.

____________ is ______________(insert the relation type) and I have had the pleasure of watching her grow into the wonderful young adult she is now. I can tell that ___________ teachers and mentors have always had only positive things to say about her (their) character. I can trace her (their) studying and social accomplishments back as far as I can remember. Moreover, she has been a top student and a crowned homecoming queen for a couple of years in a row.

The teachers, coaches, and mentors have always had only the nicest things to say about _______________ (insert the person’s name). She is an outstanding ____________ (name a sports activity) player and an award-winning champion in ___________ of the year ________. Her major in high school is __________, and she has been equally successful in such disciplines as ___________, ____________, and ____________.

However, her true passion has always been art. She made it into a hobby and has developed a decent skill in painting. She knows her strengths and can apply her talents properly. For example, in ___________ (insert the respective month and year), she won a ______ place prize/award in the ___________________ contest/tournament.

I can tell ___________ is a very committed and ambitious person. She has known what she wanted since she was little, and she keeps taking steps toward her goal.  __________ has excellent communication and time-management skills that help her through life. She succeeds both in school and in outside activities thanks to her sense of time and her ability to prioritize.

At the same time, she is a people person and is rather fun to be around. Besides that, _________ is very compassionate and generous, which makes her a great friend. She is trying to do her best for the local communities and works part-time for a local volunteer organization.

From what I have seen, ___________ is an enthusiastic, creative, and dedicated person who would be a perfect addition to the sisterhood. She is an incredibly intelligent young woman who shows all the qualities that ___________ (insert the name of the sorority) is looking for in their new sister. And while ___________ could easily fit into practically any sorority, she wants to be part of the ______________ (name of the sorority) experience. She deserves it.

Sincerely,

_________________

Sorority Letter: Sample 2

To whom it may concern,

My name is _____________ and I was a proud member of the ______________ sorority back in _______. I remember being on cloud nine when I was accepted into the sisterhood. The ________ chapter became my family for years to come and provided the best student experiences a young woman could wish for. I now would like __________ to take on that path. I strongly believe that this community helps to develop leadership and many other strong personal character traits.

____________ (insert the applicant’s name) shows all the essential personality traits of a true ______________ sister, including honesty, leadership, intelligence, and dignity. She is very open-minded and is willing to change people’s lives for the better. That is precisely why I highly recommend admitting her into the sisterhood chapter.

____________ has a lot of hobbies and interests, but sports is her biggest passion. She has been a dedicated athlete for as long as I can remember and quite a successful one, I must say.

During her senior year of high school, she received the ______________ award and then got in ___________ University on a sportsmen scholarship. Throughout her school career, she has helped her __________ (name a sports activity) team win in local, regional, federal, and international championships and tournaments. All her coaches admit that she is a true go-getter and admire her “never-give-up” attitude. To me, those are all qualities of a true-born leader.

You would think that with such an active way of life, her social life would take a backseat. But _________ is also volunteering at a local organization that deals with women abuse and provides all kinds of help to domestic violence victims. She is a very devoted person capable of multitasking, which she constantly applies in real life.

Despite being very busy for most of her time, __________ still finds the time to spend with friends and family. She spends her weekends helping her grandparents around the house and never forgets to pay some respect on holidays. She is very loyal, unselfish, kind, and generous.

It seems only fair if you consider accepting ________ into the sisterhood of ___________. She is an excellent candidate and a perfect friend, let alone her other achievements and personal traits. Without exaggeration, I am proud to know her as an incredibly intelligent and dedicated individual. I am looking forward to seeing the positive changes she can bring to the sorority.

Best regards,

___________________

Sorority Letter: Sample 3

To whom it may concern,

Having worked alongside __________ for two years now, I was very excited to learn that she was willing to apply for a _____________ (name the sorority) membership. I was part of this wonderful community in 2003-2007, back when I was studying at the _____________ University. I have the nicest things to say and remember about that time, and the same applies to __________ (name of the applicant).

Just like myself from a while ago, _________ is a cheerleading captain at ________ High (name of the school). When I learned she was applying, I knew she was perfect for the sisterhood right away. During her senior year, she led her cheerleading squad to win the National Cheerleading Finals.

She is very hard-working. Despite her immense dedication to the team, she never lets it get in the way of excellent marks in all of her classes. Education is just as important to her, and she can draw the line when it comes to her priorities. She has been one of the top students for several years in a row and is tutoring younger students when she has some spare time.

__________ and I have been working together for a volunteering organization that aims at helping the elderly left without close ones or significant others. I can surely tell that _________ can do anything she sets her mind to, as she is always very focused, calm, and hard-working. Despite being competitive, she is very supportive of her friends and other women around her. She never takes too much pride in her achievements and never acts arrogantly towards competitors. She remains very professional, wise, and human when still being charismatic and fun.

I have absolutely no doubt that ________ would make a great addition to the sorority. ___________ has always been famous for its motto, which lies in promoting happiness, joy, and prosperity amongst its members. Personally, I cannot help but admire __________ for the ability to see the good in people, which is very noble. If you finally decide to accept her into the chapter, I am pretty sure she would make a lot of people happy with your help.

Sincerely,

________________

Avoid sending a sample as it is. Replace every blank and rewrite any line that does not fit the applicant, so the letter sounds like the person who signs it.

Sorority Letter Dos and Don'ts

Every sorority has a recruitment strategy and a set of rules by which they decide on the candidate’s fate. If you want your recommendation letter to be successful and to make an impact, we strongly advise you to get acquainted with that specific strategy before applying.

Dos for a Successful Letter

  1. Make a recommendation letter spreadsheet beforehand. Keep in mind that you need to provide the recommendation by mid-June at the latest. Thus, you have to send out your alumnae information by mid-May to be on time.
  2. Ensure you provide the letter’s author with comprehensive information on your achievements and characteristics. Otherwise, your recommendation letter may turn out uncompetitive.
  3. Try to get as much representation as possible. The more recommendation letters you get, the better. It is not always a good strategy to rely on the personnel’s social value and weight when choosing an author for your letter unless it is a nationally (or even internationally) recognized sorority alumna.

Don'ts for Your Letter

  1. Do not rely on one sole recommendation letter performed by the woman everybody supposedly knows in town. There is a good chance the admissions committee would not care and, even more so, view it as an act of arrogance.
  2. It is important to show you are fun to be around but do not get carried away. If you state that you want the membership to throw parties (and be invited to ones), that will not describe you positively in the eyes of potential sisters.
  3. Do not brag or show evident superiority in your recommendation letters. Take the letter seriously and pay special attention to the style and manner of speech.
  4. An absolute “don’t” would be refusing to submit a recommendation letter because you claim to know some girls in the subject sorority that have promised to get you in. That is the biggest mistake of a newcomer as all sororities have strict admission policies, and they care a lot about preserving their reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can Apply for Membership?

There are five most widely spread sorority and fraternity community names in America: Kappa, Delta, AKA, Sigma, and Theta. Usually, only female representatives apply for sorority membership. But nowadays, there are sorority communities that accept LGBTQ+ community representatives, so there is no discrimination allowed. Those are usually marked with a “Phi,” like a Delta Phi or an Alpha Phi, and so on.

Other than that, people entering their freshman year in the fall should apply for a sorority membership in the spring of the current year.

What is a sorority recommendation letter?

A sorority recommendation letter is a short letter written by an alumna to back a potential new member. It is also called a letter of recommendation or a letter of support. It describes the applicant's character, achievements, and personality traits, so the admissions committee can get to know the applicant.

Who can write the letter?

Usually an alumna of the sorority and chapter you are applying to. If you do not know one, ask friends, family members, or colleagues to introduce you. You can also contact the National Panhellenic Conference or the national offices of local sororities. Ask them to help you find an alumna who is willing to write a letter.

What does the letter include?

A good letter has a salutation, an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. Within those parts, the author covers:

  • Their name and qualifications
  • How they know the applicant
  • Examples of accomplishments and personality traits
  • Why the applicant fits the sorority
  • A semi-formal sign-off

How long is the letter?

Most good letters run four to five paragraphs. The conclusion is usually only three or four sentences, so the whole letter stays short and easy to read. Specific examples do more for the applicant than extra length.

How do I start the letter?

If you do not know exactly who will read it, begin with the salutation “To whom it may concern,” as in business correspondence. Then introduce yourself and the applicant, and explain how you know each other and why you are qualified to write the letter.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Jennifer M. Settles
Jennifer M. Settles
Author & Attorney
With over 25 years of experience as a business and transactional attorney, Jennifer has mastered the craft of closing highly successful deals for her clients. Through her wide-ranging expertise in commercial contracts, real estate transactions, M&A and corporate law, Jennifer secures results that are second-to-none.
Published: May 24, 2022