Fall recruitment is just around the corner and fraternities and sororities are gearing up for what could be the largest recruitment season greek life has ever seen.

Gentry McCreary, director of Greek Affairs, said he anticipates between 1,600 and 1,700 women and around 1,000 men will participate in recruitment this fall.

Last year, more than 1,490 women and 900 men joined a sorority or fraternity at the University, McCreary said.

“To my knowledge, we had the largest number of women pledge to sororities after formal recruitment,” McCreary said. “I know of only one school, Indiana, that had more participate in the recruitment process.”

According to the University’s greek life website, sorority recruitment will begin on Sunday, Aug. 8 with commencement and end on Bid day, Sunday Aug. 15.

This spring, Greek Affairs put a stop to spring recruitment events because of a few challenges, McCreary said.

Over the summer, a group of students and alumni have been evaluating all of the University’s recruitment policies and will be releasing a list of recommendations when students return in the fall, McCreary said.

“This will include a number of new policy recommendations regarding spring recruitment,” McCreary said.

McCreary said preparation for fall recruitment is in full swing, despite setbacks during the spring process.

“We just finished the final edits to the recruitment manual that will be mailed to all students that registered for sorority recruitment,” McCreary said.

Candice Rosenkranz, director of recruitment for Panhellenic, said her team was planning the logistics to make the week run smoothly.

Rosenkranz said this includes meeting with sorority recruitment chairs and advisors, the University of Alabama Police Department, parking and transportation.

“Most people have no idea how much planning really goes into one week of recruitment,” Rosenkranz said, “but it takes a lot of time and teamwork to pull it off.”

Allison Pace, vice president of Chi Omega sorority, said the Chi Omega recruitment team has been actively preparing for girls by organizing paperwork and other necessities.

“Chi Omega is so excited to meet all the girls and cannot wait for an amazing rush week,” Pace said.

McCreary advised participants to be open-minded during the recruitment process.

“Know what it is you are looking to gain from the experience, and be yourself,” he said.

Emma Keener, an incoming freshman from Baltimore, Maryland, said she registered for recruitment in the spring and attended Panhellenic weekend, a weekend of spring sorority recruitment.

“I am very excited about rush, but I am also very nervous,” Keener said.

John Voltz, an incoming freshman from Tuscaloosa, said he is excited to join a fraternity in the fall.

“I am looking forward to meeting a good group of lifelong friends and a great college experience,” Voltz said.

Rosenkranz said the most difficult part of recruitment for potential members is making their final decision at the end of the week.

“Some people worry about the right thing to say, or the cutest clothes to wear,” Rosenkraz said, “but the biggest decision you have to make is where you’ll fit in for the next four years of your life.”