Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is Helenes a big time commitment?

In your Rosebud Semester, you can expect to spend an average of four to five hours a week on Helenes events. These commitments will include Helenes meetings on Wednesdays from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Rosebud Meetings one night a week, schedule-flexible rendezvous with your fellow Rosebuds, and various Helenes events devoted to service, spirit, and family. As a general member, you’ll have total freedom to design your Helenes involvement around the other facets of your schedule.

 

What if I have another commitment from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Wednesdays?

Unfortunately, it is mandatory to have the time slot of Wednesdays from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM free during your Rosebud Semester. Our weekly meeting takes place during this hour, and Rosebuds get to learn about the organization, bond with older members, and benefit in many other ways by attending.

 

Can upperclassmen try out?

Of course! It’s typical for Helenes to select juniors and even seniors for our fall semester Rosebud Classes, and we happily select juniors each spring. We don’t admit seniors in their last semester at USC because we want to ensure that members to get the most out of their Helenes experience, but seniors who anticipate postponing their graduation or embarking on a fifth year at USC are more than welcome to try out in the spring, as well.

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Is Helenes an all-female organization?

While Helenes has a history of only accepting female members, we're looking to change that moving forward. We recognize that Trojans of all gender identities have so much to offer to our organization, and that identifying as "all-female" has become exclusive rather than inclusive. For more information, check out our DEI page and feel free to contact us with any questions.

 

What if I can't make it to all of the prospective events?

Don’t worry! Although some prospective events (the Information Session, the Application, Testing, and Interviews) are mandatory, the others simply serve as opportunities for you to better get to know the different sides of Helenes and for us to better get to know you. Missing these optional events due to pre-existing commitments should not negatively affect your recruitment status. That said, come to every event you can--they’re a great way to serve the community, make new friends, and make the most out of recruitment, too!

 

Is the test hard?

The test will be straight-forward. You’ll be held responsible for everything that appears on the Helenes Fact Sheet, including knowledge of the names of parks and buildings on a campus map. That said, the 90% or higher required to pass the test means you should study hard in preparation. We strictly adhere to our grading rubric, and it’s always a shame when applicants can’t continue with recruitment because they didn’t study enough for the test.

 

What should I expect from the interview?

The interview will last approximately ten minutes. Generally, it will take place with all twelve members of our executive board. By this point, you should be familiar with these Trojans, so don’t stress--just think of the interview as a chat with friends!

 

How many people do you accept each semester?

We do not have a set number of people that we accept--it all depends on the number of people we perceive to be right for Helenes and for Rosebud Class dynamics. That said, it’s typical for us to select 20-25 new members per semester.

 

Any general advice for the recruitment process?

It may sound cliché, but our best advice is to be yourself! The more genuinely we get to know you, the more we’ll genuinely love you. Regardless of what happens, you’ll emerge from recruitment with new friends from Helenes and your fellow prospectives. Just relax, and enjoy the adventure!