Since the beginning of time, humans have organized themselves into groups. Whether through tribes, family units, partnerships, or friend groups, humans thrive off of connection and a sense of belonging. As times have changed, so has the ways that people interact. One popular way of categorizing oneself, specifically among college students, is through Greek Life-student organizations named after Greek letters.
(Zack Doran. )
For many women-like Molly Doran, a former Alpha Xi Delta member and current business owner–sororities represent more than just a hobby. They’re a way of “finding a lifelong community;a place to grow, to lead, and to land,” a way [of helping] others.
As a Class of 2009 alumni from The Woodlands High School, Doran dove into the world of Greek Life with no prior experience. In high school, Doran spent most of her free time training as a gymnast, and as a result, felt a deep “disconnect from [the] school community.” So, when she got to college, Doran wanted to change that by joining a sorority.
When she initially registered for recruitment, Doran thought it would be simple, however, she did not understand how competitive and strategic sorority recruitment could be. As a result, she wasn’t accepted to any house initially. However, through Continuous Open Bidding (COB), she eventually received a bid, and went on to have a deeply meaningful sorority experience.
Doran was a part of a sorority called Alpha Xi Delta at The University of Texas at Austin. During her time there, Doran learned many skills: “how to lead peers, hold friends accountable, manage large budgets, plan major events, and fundraise for philanthropy,” which then translated into her current career as an operational strategy manager.
Doran’s auspicious experience during–and her lasting experiences after–have motivated her to help others achieve their place in Greek Life.
“My personal experience—including both the missteps and the successes—is what ultimately inspired me to help future students navigate recruitment with clarity, preparation, and confidence.”
After being inspired by online rhetoric that has led to students becoming more overwhelmed, misinformed, or pressured by unrealistic portrayals of recruitment, Doran officially launched her company in October of 2025 under the name: Behind the Bids. The name, Behind the Bids, is derived from the word “bids,”acting as a formal invitation into a sorority. Doran mentions that her company focuses on everything that happens before that moment.
“Every recruitment is different, and my goal is always to meet students where they are, and help them prepare in a way that fits their school, their goals, and their personality,” Doran remarked.
During high school, especially at The Woodlands High School, students prepare and study extensively. From prep courses, to extensive online resources, and in-person lessons for almost any activity one could imagine,Doran wanted
to bring this level of preparedness and confidence to another important milestone.
She noted that “[The Woodlands] is a competitive, high-achieving community that values excellence, and recruitment deserves the same level of thoughtful preparation.”
Seminars, experiences, dates, and prices all vary, and can be found on the Behind the Bids’ website. Though the business is still relatively new, Doran has had ample experience with the recruitment process.
“Over the years, I have participated in 15 recruitment seasons–from my own experience as a potential new member to serving in advisory and leadership roles with collegiate chapters,” Doran explained.“Recruitment should be fun, and it truly can be when students show up prepared and informed.”
High school students and sorority prospects, Bailey Biermann and Allison Locker, have a basic understanding of the sorority process:“The week you get there, you tour different houses and talk to a bunch of their girls, and they’ll decide whether you’re a good fit for their community or not; and then you’ll come back the next day, and they’ll incite you back; [you do the] same thing over and over again, until you get the one house you belong to,” stated Biermann and Locker.
Their desire to join one of these organizations stem from a multitude of reasons.“I want to join for, like, automatic friends, and things to fill up my free time in college,” said Biermann. Locker stated additional benefits, such as: “the activities and the friendship bonding and community that it comes with,” make the idea even more appealing.
Even now, Biermann and Locker are thinking beyond their sorority years.
“I want to join because of its friends and its connections in the future, like in a future job” stated Locker.
With such ideas in mind, faced with the pressure of recruitment, both girls have stated that they would likely find Doran’s company useful and reassuring.
For women of the modern age, sororities not only provide a way to make friends and connect over shared experiences, but also to learn valuable life skills such as leadership, which encourage young women to go out into the world and make a difference.
As Doran explains, “participating in a sorority provides hands-on leadership experience at a critical stage of life, and I strongly believe it offers young women one of the most practical forms of early career development available.”
