When I started college, I swore I would never join a sorority. I'd fallen into the trap of believing everything I'd heard, from hazing horror stories to the high cost of being part of these groups. Besides, I wasn't sorority material. I'd never been the popular girl, nor was I even the pretty one. Yes, I went to college with a great many judgments, but sorority and fraternity life had never been portrayed to me as anything but a big party that only those higher up on the social ladder were a part of.
In my first year of college, I found out that I wasn't completely right about the whole thing. As a founding member of my own sorority, I was given the chance to mingle with other Greek organizations on my small college campus as well as sororities from other colleges in the state. What I found was quite surprising to me. Fraternities and sororities weren't all bad. Granted, there were a few stereotypes that were met quite well. They did throw some good parties after all. But my predetermined impression was all but shattered and I spent my college career reaping the benefits of being in a sorority.
To any parent worried about their student joining a fraternity or a sorority, or to any college student unsure if a Greek organization is for them, the following is a list of the positive benefits of joining. You won't see these on a movie or a reality show, but they are just as real and can make for a great college experience.
So you've made the decision to rush. Depending on the Greek System at your college, that might mean meeting hundreds of girls in anywhere from four to twenty-four sororities. No, you won't remember everyone's name. Yes, you will be torn between a couple of sororities. And possibly, you might not get asked back by your first choice. Take a deep breath, be true to who you are, and remember, there is life after rush.
One of the highlights of crossing into a fraternity or sorority is gifts. After all the hard work, you finally get to show off the organization that you labored to enter. The gifts become a part of you and your experience.
Out of all the gift that you could receive, the one of the most popular ones is a paddle. Wikipedia says that paddles are "commonly exchanged between 'little Brothers' to 'Big Brothers,' or as a gift from 'little Sister's' to their 'big Sisters'. It is a symbol of their induction to the sorority or fraternity." You honestly can't go work with presenting someone a paddle of a gift in this situation. They make great gifts, especially for deans. A common practice is for an entire line a line is the group of people that the dean brings into the organization. People how have been deans numerous times usually have paddles from the various lines they've brought in. Paddles are really fun to make and are also very easy to make.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Horror Stories
On almost every college throughout the United States, students have joined fraternities and sororities. However, recent horror stories in the news have frightened students and scared them away from joining a campus' Greek life. A recent story was brought up by every major news outlet in the country in which a guy in a fraternity at Rider University died after drinking half a bottom of vodka during a pledging event. Other horror stories emerged in Long Island of people viciously hazed in order to gain acceptance into the fraternity. Sorority girls have been no exception as they have been known to circle the fat on a girl's body and order her to lose weight if she intends on joining their sorority. While I admit that these events and stories are tragically true, Greek life does have a side that most people never see- the fundraising, community service and campus unity that Greek life represents.
Most fraternities and sororities are known for hosting charity events. In the Northeast region, members of a fraternity chapter in Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton took turns moving a keg across the region in a marathon. The money raised from the event went to the family members of a former fraternity brother who died fighting for his country in the Iraqi War. The noble charity event caught national attention and the charity event was able to raise a lot of money for the fallen soldier's family.
Another charity fundraising event on the Syracuse campus involved a pudding wrestling competition between girls and guys. The money used from the entrance fee of the participants and viewers went towards a cancer foundation. The event was a huge success as more than a hundred people came to participate in the fun and exciting event that the fraternity had.
Reasons to join a sorority are many. If you are the only one of your high school friends attending your college, it might be a good idea. The Greek System is a great way to meet new friends and find your niche so to speak. If you are a born leader, joining a sorority is a great way to shine and continue to build your leadership skills. At a lot of schools, entry into other high-profile campus organizations is paved by connections in the Greek System. While campus officials and non-Greeks don't like to admit it, there's a lot more exposure and opportunity for Greeks. While that exposure, as you've probably seen on the news, is not always positive, no publicity is bad publicity right? Leadership opportunities abound within the sorority as well. Depending on the size of the sisterhood, there might be anywhere from six to twenty elected executive board positions every year. These can range from President to Rush Chair to Alumni Relations to Panhellenic representative. If you enjoy sports, a lot of sororities participate in intramural leagues on campus. It is important to get involved in college so that you are well prepared for the outside world. Don't ever take for granted the opportunities that you can get through college.
Most fraternities and sororities are known for hosting charity events. In the Northeast region, members of a fraternity chapter in Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton took turns moving a keg across the region in a marathon. The money raised from the event went to the family members of a former fraternity brother who died fighting for his country in the Iraqi War. The noble charity event caught national attention and the charity event was able to raise a lot of money for the fallen soldier's family.
Another charity fundraising event on the Syracuse campus involved a pudding wrestling competition between girls and guys. The money used from the entrance fee of the participants and viewers went towards a cancer foundation. The event was a huge success as more than a hundred people came to participate in the fun and exciting event that the fraternity had.
Reasons to join a sorority are many. If you are the only one of your high school friends attending your college, it might be a good idea. The Greek System is a great way to meet new friends and find your niche so to speak. If you are a born leader, joining a sorority is a great way to shine and continue to build your leadership skills. At a lot of schools, entry into other high-profile campus organizations is paved by connections in the Greek System. While campus officials and non-Greeks don't like to admit it, there's a lot more exposure and opportunity for Greeks. While that exposure, as you've probably seen on the news, is not always positive, no publicity is bad publicity right? Leadership opportunities abound within the sorority as well. Depending on the size of the sisterhood, there might be anywhere from six to twenty elected executive board positions every year. These can range from President to Rush Chair to Alumni Relations to Panhellenic representative. If you enjoy sports, a lot of sororities participate in intramural leagues on campus. It is important to get involved in college so that you are well prepared for the outside world. Don't ever take for granted the opportunities that you can get through college.
Greek Honors Society
Sororities aren't just about partying.
Scholarships
Every semester, graduating seniors who have a 3.5 grade point average or higher and second semester juniors who have 3.65 GPA or higher receive an invitation to be initiated into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. This year, Phi Kappa Phi chapter received a 50-year honor society award. To continue to have the honor society, the top 10 percent of students at the school should maintain a 3.5 GPA or above, said Gus Lease, the SJSU chapter president. Phi Kappa Phi honor society in 1954 with Fresno State University, Lease said.
Phi Kappa Phi is one of many recognized honor societies in the nation, and it has existed for more than 100 years, Lease said. SJSU joined the honor society early in comparison to the other institutions, Lease said. We're Chapter 67 in the national society, and today they have almost 300 chapters. Lease said he wants students to understand what a privilege it is to be in Phi Kappa Phi. About 800 Phi Kappa Phi invitations are sent every year to students with a 3.5 GPA or higher, however, only some students are initiated.
A lot of them don't want to take the time to fill out an application. When Stacey Ruesch, a senior photojournalism major, received a Phi Kappa Phi invitation, she said she lost the paperwork and didn't apply for membership. However, Ruesch had an opportunity to meet with Lease, and he recommended that Ruesch apply for the $2,000 fellowship from the SJSU chapter.
Before she joined the honor society, Ruesch said, she thought, I'm not going to get a scholarship, that will never happen to me, but I did." Although Ruesch has a college fund, she said because of an economic crisis, she had a little difficulty paying tuition. "But now I have a scholarship, and that helps me a lot, Ruesch said. Ruesch is the only local student who received a $2,000 chapter fellowship last semester.
Even though some students have a GPA higher than 3.5, they may not receive the invitation, Lease said. If this happens, Lease said, students shouldn't hesitate to ask to join the honor society. Having proof that students were in the top 10 percent of students in the university is very honorable, Lease said. Even though students worked hard during their school years, if their effort isn't recognized, Lease asked, Who else will honor you?
The honor society isn't only for students, but also for outstanding faculty and community members, Lease said. They are recommended by other faculty members. Each year we will invite three-to-five faculty members, but they have to be recommended and voted on to membership, he said.
Head football coach Fitz Hill was invited to join Phi Kappa Phi this March.
I was very honored, Hill said. It has been always very important to me combining athletic and academic. It is great combination of teaching students about life to let them know that you can do both.
Lease said, "Everybody likes to be honored." He said he can't find anybody in any field who doesn't want to be honored. Lease, a lecturer and an emeritus chair of the school of music and dance, has been teaching at SJSU for 55 years. Exactly 30 years ago, Lease was the president of the chapter, and last year he was re-elected as president.
He is a very unique individual and fun to be around. It's been great thanks to Phi Kappa Phi (of ) San Jose State. It was very fortunate he felt I was a qualified to receive such a distinguished award. Hill said. Once a student becomes a member, they have several scholarship opportunities.
Some are offered the opportunities to study abroad and fellowship in both local and national chapters, Lease said. Local chapters give $2,000 awards for second-semester juniors such as the one Ruesch received, however, students are expected to come back to study at SJSU. National chapters also give $5,000 awards for graduating seniors who will continue their education at graduate schools, Lease said. Learning doesn't stop when people finish their college studies, Hill said. Learning is a long-term continuation. Hard work, studying and persistence" are the keys to learning, Lease said. Lease said he is very proud of SJSU to have a 50-year honor society award. He said, It's wonderful that we here at San Jose State can honor students for 50 years for academic achievement.
Scholarships
Every semester, graduating seniors who have a 3.5 grade point average or higher and second semester juniors who have 3.65 GPA or higher receive an invitation to be initiated into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. This year, Phi Kappa Phi chapter received a 50-year honor society award. To continue to have the honor society, the top 10 percent of students at the school should maintain a 3.5 GPA or above, said Gus Lease, the SJSU chapter president. Phi Kappa Phi honor society in 1954 with Fresno State University, Lease said.
Phi Kappa Phi is one of many recognized honor societies in the nation, and it has existed for more than 100 years, Lease said. SJSU joined the honor society early in comparison to the other institutions, Lease said. We're Chapter 67 in the national society, and today they have almost 300 chapters. Lease said he wants students to understand what a privilege it is to be in Phi Kappa Phi. About 800 Phi Kappa Phi invitations are sent every year to students with a 3.5 GPA or higher, however, only some students are initiated.
A lot of them don't want to take the time to fill out an application. When Stacey Ruesch, a senior photojournalism major, received a Phi Kappa Phi invitation, she said she lost the paperwork and didn't apply for membership. However, Ruesch had an opportunity to meet with Lease, and he recommended that Ruesch apply for the $2,000 fellowship from the SJSU chapter.
Before she joined the honor society, Ruesch said, she thought, I'm not going to get a scholarship, that will never happen to me, but I did." Although Ruesch has a college fund, she said because of an economic crisis, she had a little difficulty paying tuition. "But now I have a scholarship, and that helps me a lot, Ruesch said. Ruesch is the only local student who received a $2,000 chapter fellowship last semester.
Even though some students have a GPA higher than 3.5, they may not receive the invitation, Lease said. If this happens, Lease said, students shouldn't hesitate to ask to join the honor society. Having proof that students were in the top 10 percent of students in the university is very honorable, Lease said. Even though students worked hard during their school years, if their effort isn't recognized, Lease asked, Who else will honor you?
The honor society isn't only for students, but also for outstanding faculty and community members, Lease said. They are recommended by other faculty members. Each year we will invite three-to-five faculty members, but they have to be recommended and voted on to membership, he said.
Head football coach Fitz Hill was invited to join Phi Kappa Phi this March.
I was very honored, Hill said. It has been always very important to me combining athletic and academic. It is great combination of teaching students about life to let them know that you can do both.
Lease said, "Everybody likes to be honored." He said he can't find anybody in any field who doesn't want to be honored. Lease, a lecturer and an emeritus chair of the school of music and dance, has been teaching at SJSU for 55 years. Exactly 30 years ago, Lease was the president of the chapter, and last year he was re-elected as president.
He is a very unique individual and fun to be around. It's been great thanks to Phi Kappa Phi (of ) San Jose State. It was very fortunate he felt I was a qualified to receive such a distinguished award. Hill said. Once a student becomes a member, they have several scholarship opportunities.
Some are offered the opportunities to study abroad and fellowship in both local and national chapters, Lease said. Local chapters give $2,000 awards for second-semester juniors such as the one Ruesch received, however, students are expected to come back to study at SJSU. National chapters also give $5,000 awards for graduating seniors who will continue their education at graduate schools, Lease said. Learning doesn't stop when people finish their college studies, Hill said. Learning is a long-term continuation. Hard work, studying and persistence" are the keys to learning, Lease said. Lease said he is very proud of SJSU to have a 50-year honor society award. He said, It's wonderful that we here at San Jose State can honor students for 50 years for academic achievement.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Advantages of Holding a Position
Now that I have talked about some of the basic disadvantages of holding a position in the sorority house, I will talk about some of the major advantages as well. One of major advantages of holding a position in the sorority house is that it makes you a more mature, responsible person. How many people do you know can go through college saying they were responsible for taking care of 45+ chapter members by listening to all of their problems and dealing with them, taking care of all of the events, scheduling things, and talking with other sororities about planning and deciding events? This is definitely something that will make you a more rounded and mature person whether you like it or not; it will definitely help you enter into the real world when you leave college.
Holding a position in the sorority house will also keep you on your toes at all times. When I say this, I mean that holding a position will make you be ready for anything. You never know when a problem will come about with a girl that you have to figure out how to handle, or issues among your chapter with other chapters are happening. Holding a position will make you be ready to make decisions right away. This is a great advantage of holding a position; knowing how and when to make decisions quickly. I have seen this many times in my own sorority and have been impressed by the chapter members who do this.
It is obvious that holding a position is good for your resume. I have been to multiple interviews now, and almost 99% of my interviewers ask me when I have demonstrated leadership. If you hold a position, this is a great way to expand on your leadership abilities and it look so good to employers. Who knows, you just may get the job you want because you were responsible and help a position in your sorority house!
Another advantage of holding a position is that you are in charge. A lot of people like to be in charge. When you hold a position, you tell everyone else what to do, not vice-versa. This will make you very stern but in a good way. You will be seen as a role model by the members in your sorority, especially by the new chapter members who just join. They will look up to you and if you do a good job, they will want to follow in your footsteps.
Another huge advantage of holding a position is that you get your own room in the sorority house. You do not have to share with anyone! This would be great because when I lived in the sorority house I had to share a very small room with two girls. Although it was nice to have their company, I would have liked to have my own room at times.
These are only some of the advantages to holding a position in a sorority house. Some people might say the advantages are endless, but I wanted to give you a few major ones that I thought you would like to know about.
Holding a position in the sorority house will also keep you on your toes at all times. When I say this, I mean that holding a position will make you be ready for anything. You never know when a problem will come about with a girl that you have to figure out how to handle, or issues among your chapter with other chapters are happening. Holding a position will make you be ready to make decisions right away. This is a great advantage of holding a position; knowing how and when to make decisions quickly. I have seen this many times in my own sorority and have been impressed by the chapter members who do this.
It is obvious that holding a position is good for your resume. I have been to multiple interviews now, and almost 99% of my interviewers ask me when I have demonstrated leadership. If you hold a position, this is a great way to expand on your leadership abilities and it look so good to employers. Who knows, you just may get the job you want because you were responsible and help a position in your sorority house!
Another advantage of holding a position is that you are in charge. A lot of people like to be in charge. When you hold a position, you tell everyone else what to do, not vice-versa. This will make you very stern but in a good way. You will be seen as a role model by the members in your sorority, especially by the new chapter members who just join. They will look up to you and if you do a good job, they will want to follow in your footsteps.
Another huge advantage of holding a position is that you get your own room in the sorority house. You do not have to share with anyone! This would be great because when I lived in the sorority house I had to share a very small room with two girls. Although it was nice to have their company, I would have liked to have my own room at times.
These are only some of the advantages to holding a position in a sorority house. Some people might say the advantages are endless, but I wanted to give you a few major ones that I thought you would like to know about.
Disadvantages of Holding a Position
Even though it may seem like there could only be advantages to holding a position in a sorority house, there are a lot of disadvantages that most people do not think of when they take up the responsibility of holding a position. First of all, holding a position is a major responsibility. It can make you feel like you have a lot on your shoulders and stress you out. I know a lot of girls in my sorority that hold positions and are extremely stressed out because they have so much to take care of all of the time. This isn’t how you should feel in your sorority; it should be a stress free environment all of the time.
Another disadvantage to holding a position in the sorority is that you have to live in the sorority house when you hold the position. Many people may not see this as a disadvantage because they like living in the sorority house, but for an older member, they might not like this because they would probably want to get their own apartment. What senior do you know would want to live with a bunch of new members just to hold a position in the house? Probably not many. This is why it is important to think about taking a position before you actually do; you should not rush into it without thinking because if you do you might regret it.
Holding a position is also very time consuming. Whoever takes on a position must be ready to give up their free time. This can conflict with school work and your social life, which will not be the best thing if you like to party and have time to relax by yourself. I know personally that I need time to relax and I like to go out so this would probably not be something I would be interested in. I am also very conscious about my grades so I would not like it if I started doing bad in school. This is just personal, some girls are able to balance their school and sorority work very well.
You also have to watch what you do at all times. Remember, when you hold a position you are representing your whole sorority house. The president has this the worst because everyone knows who she is not only in her sorority but in other sororities as well; she is responsible for talking to other sorority presidents about events, etc. If a problem arises, the president is the first person a member will go to. She needs to be someone that is respectful and trustworthy. My president was someone I always felt comfortable talking to and she represented our sorority well.
These are only a few of the disadvantages that can go along with holding a position. However, as I stated above, not everyone will see these things as disadvantages; some people may actually see these as advantages. I am just telling you these as a personal perspective of how I feel about them.
Another disadvantage to holding a position in the sorority is that you have to live in the sorority house when you hold the position. Many people may not see this as a disadvantage because they like living in the sorority house, but for an older member, they might not like this because they would probably want to get their own apartment. What senior do you know would want to live with a bunch of new members just to hold a position in the house? Probably not many. This is why it is important to think about taking a position before you actually do; you should not rush into it without thinking because if you do you might regret it.
Holding a position is also very time consuming. Whoever takes on a position must be ready to give up their free time. This can conflict with school work and your social life, which will not be the best thing if you like to party and have time to relax by yourself. I know personally that I need time to relax and I like to go out so this would probably not be something I would be interested in. I am also very conscious about my grades so I would not like it if I started doing bad in school. This is just personal, some girls are able to balance their school and sorority work very well.
You also have to watch what you do at all times. Remember, when you hold a position you are representing your whole sorority house. The president has this the worst because everyone knows who she is not only in her sorority but in other sororities as well; she is responsible for talking to other sorority presidents about events, etc. If a problem arises, the president is the first person a member will go to. She needs to be someone that is respectful and trustworthy. My president was someone I always felt comfortable talking to and she represented our sorority well.
These are only a few of the disadvantages that can go along with holding a position. However, as I stated above, not everyone will see these things as disadvantages; some people may actually see these as advantages. I am just telling you these as a personal perspective of how I feel about them.
Holding a Position
Positions
There are many positions that you can hold in your sorority. The first and more important position is the President. The president is responsible for basically everything. Even though this sounds like a lot of work, it is actually really smart because you get the most recognition and everyone looks up to you. I thought about running for president, but then I realized how hard it would be. However, it does look really good on your resume when you graduate college. The president in my sorority barely goes out because she has so many responsibilities. It is also important to remember that when you are president of your sorority, you are representing your whole chapter. You can not do things that would make your chapter look bad because it reflects on each and every member. The president is in charge of scheduling all events, taking care of all of the problems in the sorority and is basically like a mom to all of the girls. She is definitely someone you can look up to. If i could go back to when I first joined the sorority, I would think more about being the president because it shows definite leadership skills that employers are looking for.
Vice President of Recruitment
Vice President of Recruitment is also another position that can be held. This is actually a very fun position because you get to take care of recruitment. However, it is a ton of work and requires a great amount of flexibility. VP of recruitment is fun because you get to know all of the secrets of recruitment and are basically a teacher to all of the girls in the sorority. If there was one position I thought about doing right away, it was VP of recruitment. My friend does it now, and likes it because it is fun and she gets to recruit new members, but it is a lot of work and is very tiring.
Vice President of New Member Education
This is also a very fun position that can be held. When you are the vice president of new member education, you are responsible for teaching the new members everything they need to know. You also plan events for them, help them with any problems and are their educator. This position is fun because it allows you to meet the new girls. I remember when I was a new member; I knew the vice president of new education the most because she was with us the most out of anyone.
Treasurer
Being treasurer is also another position that can be held. Personally, I would never want to hold this position. It is very complicated and takes a lot of responsibility. You have to be very careful you do not mess anything up and if girls get mad about money or something that went wrong, you are the one that they will yell at. It can be very nerve wracking and whoever takes this position deserves a lot of respect.
Secretary
This is one of the last positions that can also be held. The secretary is responsible for taking notes at chapter and for e-mailing girls about fines and sending them outlines of what will be covered during chapter meetings.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Major Benefits of Joining a Sorority
Major Benefits of Joining!
Joining a sorority has major benefits. Some of these benefits include leadership skills, especially if you hold a position in the house. For example, if you join and are president you are going to have major leadership skills. This will help you in your future career and also in any job you may have for the future. Being president has you leading your sorority and being the prime example for everything that your sorority stands for, which is a pretty big position.
Being in a sorority is also a really good resume builder. Personally, I have been asked about my sorority for every internship I have applied for. It has helped me a lot and given me a lot of examples to talk about through my experiences. It shows that I didn't go to college just to screw around but that I went and was actively involved. This just happened to me recently when I got an internship position. They asked me several questions about my sorority and the benefits it gave me. They also asked me how I think being in a sorority would benefit me for their company. I think they were impressed with my answers. I landed a position with the company and I think a huge part of this is because I was in a sorority.
A huge benefit is that you will always have an active social calendar. Whether it be planned activities with fraternities, sorority activities, dances, etc. You will always be busy. Some people actually get too busy and see it as a bad thing! Personally, I have loved every minute of my social life in my sorority. I know that a lot of non-sorority members always ask me how I am so lucky to have events planned for me all the time. If you are not in a sorority, you will definitely not have as many events planned for you and you will have to figure out your plans on your own. If you know girls in sororities, you can hang out with them but not do all of the activities that they participate in.
You will have higher grades if you are in a sorority. When you first join, you have to have at least a 2.5 GPA otherwise you won't be able to join. Also, if you do not maintain this GPA your sorority can kick you out. They always push you to do your best whether it be having study hours for you or making sure you stay up to your academic potential. This is a really great way to make sure you have a good resume because future employers will always be looking at your GPA, not just that you were actively involved.
Lastly, the most obvious but perhaps most beneficial benefit of joining a sorority is the lifelong friendships you will make. Your sorority sisters will probably be the girls standing next to you at your wedding. I know this is the case for me! My sister just got married and had her sorority sisters in the wedding. The girls in your house will be some of the best, lifelong friends you will have for the rest of your life. You should take advantage of this and make the best of it!
Joining a sorority has major benefits. Some of these benefits include leadership skills, especially if you hold a position in the house. For example, if you join and are president you are going to have major leadership skills. This will help you in your future career and also in any job you may have for the future. Being president has you leading your sorority and being the prime example for everything that your sorority stands for, which is a pretty big position.
Being in a sorority is also a really good resume builder. Personally, I have been asked about my sorority for every internship I have applied for. It has helped me a lot and given me a lot of examples to talk about through my experiences. It shows that I didn't go to college just to screw around but that I went and was actively involved. This just happened to me recently when I got an internship position. They asked me several questions about my sorority and the benefits it gave me. They also asked me how I think being in a sorority would benefit me for their company. I think they were impressed with my answers. I landed a position with the company and I think a huge part of this is because I was in a sorority.
A huge benefit is that you will always have an active social calendar. Whether it be planned activities with fraternities, sorority activities, dances, etc. You will always be busy. Some people actually get too busy and see it as a bad thing! Personally, I have loved every minute of my social life in my sorority. I know that a lot of non-sorority members always ask me how I am so lucky to have events planned for me all the time. If you are not in a sorority, you will definitely not have as many events planned for you and you will have to figure out your plans on your own. If you know girls in sororities, you can hang out with them but not do all of the activities that they participate in.
You will have higher grades if you are in a sorority. When you first join, you have to have at least a 2.5 GPA otherwise you won't be able to join. Also, if you do not maintain this GPA your sorority can kick you out. They always push you to do your best whether it be having study hours for you or making sure you stay up to your academic potential. This is a really great way to make sure you have a good resume because future employers will always be looking at your GPA, not just that you were actively involved.
Lastly, the most obvious but perhaps most beneficial benefit of joining a sorority is the lifelong friendships you will make. Your sorority sisters will probably be the girls standing next to you at your wedding. I know this is the case for me! My sister just got married and had her sorority sisters in the wedding. The girls in your house will be some of the best, lifelong friends you will have for the rest of your life. You should take advantage of this and make the best of it!
Friends Outside of Your Sorority
Is it true you can’t have friends outside of your sorority?
Some people think this is true...
I have heard this statement many times, however, I have found through my own personal experience that it is not true. However, some people think that it is true. I joined a sorority as a sophomore, and already had tons of friends when I joined. I was just as close to my non-sorority friends as I was with the girls in my house. However, I did see girls that joined as a sophomore and gave up on their non-sorority friends. I thought this was childish and wrong. I made sure that this never happened to me because I really loved my non-sorority friends. Sometimes, actually, a lot of times I enjoyed hanging out with my non-sorority friends better. It gave me a chance to break away from being told what to do and being around the same girls all the time. It is nice to have the best of both worlds.
Forgetting about old friends is horrible. I lived in my sorority house for a year and never once forgot about my other friends. It can cause a lot of fights and problems between friends. For example, when I had to live in my sorority house my other friends were mad that I wasn't going to live with them junior year. However, there was nothing I could do because it was a requirement to live in the sorority house for a year. My other friends did not understand at first but I let them know that I wasn't going to forget about them. We now live together (my senior year) and I still maintain friends with my sorority sisters. This is definitely the best of both worlds because I was able to not fight with either of them in a tactful way.
It is also smart to have both groups of friends become friends. For example, I would have my sorority sisters meet my other friends and have them party together. It would take time for them to get along since there were hard feelings involved, but if they turn into friends we could all go out together without me having to pick which friends to hang out with. This is the smartest idea for anyone joining a sorority to do.
It is wise to have an open mind when you are in a sorority. Just because you are in a sorority doesn't make you better than anyone else. If you are in a sorority and feel superior, you are wrong. You should treat everyone as equals and realize that if you act like you aren't in a sorority then people will treat you with more respect. So many times people have come up to me and said, "You are in a sorority? I would have never guessed." I took this as a compliment, because most people see sorority girls as stuck up, and when you are nice and don't brag about being in one people see that as a good thing.
Some people think this is true...
I have heard this statement many times, however, I have found through my own personal experience that it is not true. However, some people think that it is true. I joined a sorority as a sophomore, and already had tons of friends when I joined. I was just as close to my non-sorority friends as I was with the girls in my house. However, I did see girls that joined as a sophomore and gave up on their non-sorority friends. I thought this was childish and wrong. I made sure that this never happened to me because I really loved my non-sorority friends. Sometimes, actually, a lot of times I enjoyed hanging out with my non-sorority friends better. It gave me a chance to break away from being told what to do and being around the same girls all the time. It is nice to have the best of both worlds.
Forgetting about old friends is horrible. I lived in my sorority house for a year and never once forgot about my other friends. It can cause a lot of fights and problems between friends. For example, when I had to live in my sorority house my other friends were mad that I wasn't going to live with them junior year. However, there was nothing I could do because it was a requirement to live in the sorority house for a year. My other friends did not understand at first but I let them know that I wasn't going to forget about them. We now live together (my senior year) and I still maintain friends with my sorority sisters. This is definitely the best of both worlds because I was able to not fight with either of them in a tactful way.
It is also smart to have both groups of friends become friends. For example, I would have my sorority sisters meet my other friends and have them party together. It would take time for them to get along since there were hard feelings involved, but if they turn into friends we could all go out together without me having to pick which friends to hang out with. This is the smartest idea for anyone joining a sorority to do.
It is wise to have an open mind when you are in a sorority. Just because you are in a sorority doesn't make you better than anyone else. If you are in a sorority and feel superior, you are wrong. You should treat everyone as equals and realize that if you act like you aren't in a sorority then people will treat you with more respect. So many times people have come up to me and said, "You are in a sorority? I would have never guessed." I took this as a compliment, because most people see sorority girls as stuck up, and when you are nice and don't brag about being in one people see that as a good thing.
Problems With Joining a Sorority
Some Problems With Joining a Sorority...
A lot of girls feel that there are some problems when they decide to join a sorority. I am going to talk about a few of these problems and how they can be addressed.
When I first joined my sorority, I heard that it might take away from my individuality. A lot of people go to college and figure out who they are and grow up. When I joined, I felt as though I was being told what to do and was conforming to other peoples norms and lifestyles. I did not really like the thought of it. A lot of my friends who didn't join a sorority used to ask me, "Why do you let them tell you what to do all the time? You should be able to decide things on your own; you're in college." I totally agreed with this statement and it made me re-think why I actually joined.
You are always in a huge group of girls that are in your sorority. Even when I am walking through the quad I see tons of sorority girls walking together in a pact. Some people see this as a "cult." I think it can be annoying seeing sorority girls walking around together not talking to anyone else but themselves. In a way it almost seems like sorority girls think they are better than everyone else. Sadly enough, this is the case for some girls, but a lot of girls do not feel this way.
It is hard to get out of mandatory things once you are in a sorority. If you do not want to do something ( I know a lot of times I didn't want to do certain activities because I felt uncomfortable or just was busy for the night ) you were pretty much out of luck because they made you do it anyway. I think college should be the time when you figure out who you are and turn independent and learn on your own; not a time to do things that other people tell you.
There is also a lot of conflict with other sororities on campus. There is ALWAYS gossip about who the "best" sorority on campus is. Being in a sorority has a very competitive atmosphere that some girls do not like. However, some girls like the drama of it. When I joined my sorority, I was friends with girls on other houses on campus. However, there was rivalry between my house and those houses. So, girls in my sorority didn't understand why I was friends with them. This was really upsetting to me and I hated it. It is hard to keep friendships with other girls in sororities if you are in one.
However, if you are strong like me you will find a way to remain friends with girls in other sororities. Until this day, I am great friends with many other girls on campus that are in other sororities. It is not always the case that houses will hate each other, but it is just very competitive and hard to stay friends with them.
Being in a sorority has its ups and downs and these problems I have mentioned are not always the case for everyone. These are just some experiences I have gone through and I hope you can learn from them if you ever go through the same thing.
A lot of girls feel that there are some problems when they decide to join a sorority. I am going to talk about a few of these problems and how they can be addressed.
When I first joined my sorority, I heard that it might take away from my individuality. A lot of people go to college and figure out who they are and grow up. When I joined, I felt as though I was being told what to do and was conforming to other peoples norms and lifestyles. I did not really like the thought of it. A lot of my friends who didn't join a sorority used to ask me, "Why do you let them tell you what to do all the time? You should be able to decide things on your own; you're in college." I totally agreed with this statement and it made me re-think why I actually joined.
You are always in a huge group of girls that are in your sorority. Even when I am walking through the quad I see tons of sorority girls walking together in a pact. Some people see this as a "cult." I think it can be annoying seeing sorority girls walking around together not talking to anyone else but themselves. In a way it almost seems like sorority girls think they are better than everyone else. Sadly enough, this is the case for some girls, but a lot of girls do not feel this way.
It is hard to get out of mandatory things once you are in a sorority. If you do not want to do something ( I know a lot of times I didn't want to do certain activities because I felt uncomfortable or just was busy for the night ) you were pretty much out of luck because they made you do it anyway. I think college should be the time when you figure out who you are and turn independent and learn on your own; not a time to do things that other people tell you.
There is also a lot of conflict with other sororities on campus. There is ALWAYS gossip about who the "best" sorority on campus is. Being in a sorority has a very competitive atmosphere that some girls do not like. However, some girls like the drama of it. When I joined my sorority, I was friends with girls on other houses on campus. However, there was rivalry between my house and those houses. So, girls in my sorority didn't understand why I was friends with them. This was really upsetting to me and I hated it. It is hard to keep friendships with other girls in sororities if you are in one.
However, if you are strong like me you will find a way to remain friends with girls in other sororities. Until this day, I am great friends with many other girls on campus that are in other sororities. It is not always the case that houses will hate each other, but it is just very competitive and hard to stay friends with them.
Being in a sorority has its ups and downs and these problems I have mentioned are not always the case for everyone. These are just some experiences I have gone through and I hope you can learn from them if you ever go through the same thing.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Holding a Position in the Sorority
Holding a Position in the House Brings Responsibility...
When you join a sorority, you can get involved in many ways. For example, every sorority has what is called an "executive board." This board is made up of members of the sorority who are in charge of everything. They are the ones who delegate responsibilities and who are in the front at every chapter meeting letting the house know about upcoming events and rules. They are basically the responsibility factor of the sorority.
The most important position is the president. A lot of people don't want this position because it takes the most responsibility. The president has to do everything for the house and has to keep everything in order. She is the prime example of what the sorority stands for. For this reason, the president doesn't exactly "have a life," because she has to make sure she makes responsible decisions since she is setting the example for the whole sorority.
The vice president of recruitment also has a big job. She is responsible for managing recruitment. In my sorority, the v.p. of recruitment organized the whole recruitment process and was extremely busy. The reason our sorority received so many good new members was because of her. Her job can be frustrating though, because she sometimes has to yell at girls to keep them in check.
The vice president of new member education is the girl responsible for taking the newly initiated members and teaching them all of their responsibilities and duties. Her job is fun because the new girls look up to her since she is already a member of the chapter. However, this job is time consuming and can interfere with homework and other responsibilities. It takes a really responsible girl to handle this position; or any position for that matter.
The treasurer has one of the most important jobs; she handles the sororities money. Money can become a sensitive issue within the sorority, especially when girls don't have the money to pay for certain things. The treasurer collects money and tells girls when they owe money. She also has to be able to let each member know what she specifically owes money for and has to be accurate in doing so. If the treasurer messes up it is a big deal. For example, our treasurer had girls paying the wrong amount of money for things and got into a lot of trouble. This position holds the most responsibility after the president in my position.
The secretary takes notes curing chapter and delegates duties to all other office members. The secretary doesn't have as big of a job as the other members but has to be responsible and able to attend every chapter meeting. She is the one who writes out agendas for members and sends e-mails to members as well.
Any one of these positions is a good way to create responsibility for yourself and establish a good position in the house. It is good to put on your resume as well because it shows you took initiative to be something proactive in your sorority.
Disadvantages of Living in a Sorority
Living in a Sorority Isn't Always Fun and Games...
You may be thinking that it would be hard to live in a house with so many girls at one time. This can be true for a lot of girls. In my sorority, I personally never had any issues living in my house, but a lot of other girls did. Some sororities tend to have a lot of drama when there are 30+ girls living in a house at one time. As you know, a lot of girls cause fights and drama over little things.
Sororities also involve girls sharing a lot of things. Think about sharing a room with more than one girl. I had to share a room with two girls and it got hard to have privacy at times. Also, two big bathrooms were shared throughout the entire house of girls. This could get frustrating if I wanted to get ready and people were in my way. Also, people are always on different time limits. My roommates would sometimes wake up at 6 a.m. and I would be going to bed every night at 4 a.m. It all depends on communicating with your roommates; if you let them know what bothers you or if you want to change something you should tell them immediately before it all bottles up inside and a huge fight occurs. This happened to a couple of girls in my sorority and things were never the same. So, instead of bottling up your feelings you should talk things out right away.
I found that a lot of my things were missing at the end of the year. A lot of times girls would take my things without asking and I would never know who had them. A lot of my favorite clothes and makeup were missing at the end of the year and I never found out who had them. This can get frustrating especially because I spend a lot of money on my things.
It can be hard to have alone time and study time to yourself if you live in the sorority house. As I said before, I was constantly surrounded by girls and sometimes needed a breath of fresh air. If I didn't want to go to the library I would stay at the sorority and study, but I found that it was very loud and I would get frustrated because I wouldn't be able to study as well.
A lot of girls grades tend to go down when they live in the sorority house. Think about it; if you are constantly surrounded by girls who want to party all the time and are constantly doing things, school won't always tend to be your number one priority. I knew this going into my sorority because my sister warned me, so I made sure to have separate time for just studying and said no to going out a lot of the time. Even though it can be hard because girls peer pressure you, the smart thing is to set aside study times because school should always come first.
A lot of girls think that living a sorority gives you a lack of freedom. Living in the house, you have to conform to the sorority's needs and listen to what they say. It is hard to get out of things if you don't want to do them because everyone always knows what you are doing and you can't get away from it.
The food can be an issue as well because if you don't like the cooking style of the food there is really nothing you can do. A lot of times girls in my house would frequently spend money on going out to eat when the cook already made them dinner they didn't want to eat.
You may be thinking that it would be hard to live in a house with so many girls at one time. This can be true for a lot of girls. In my sorority, I personally never had any issues living in my house, but a lot of other girls did. Some sororities tend to have a lot of drama when there are 30+ girls living in a house at one time. As you know, a lot of girls cause fights and drama over little things.
Sororities also involve girls sharing a lot of things. Think about sharing a room with more than one girl. I had to share a room with two girls and it got hard to have privacy at times. Also, two big bathrooms were shared throughout the entire house of girls. This could get frustrating if I wanted to get ready and people were in my way. Also, people are always on different time limits. My roommates would sometimes wake up at 6 a.m. and I would be going to bed every night at 4 a.m. It all depends on communicating with your roommates; if you let them know what bothers you or if you want to change something you should tell them immediately before it all bottles up inside and a huge fight occurs. This happened to a couple of girls in my sorority and things were never the same. So, instead of bottling up your feelings you should talk things out right away.
I found that a lot of my things were missing at the end of the year. A lot of times girls would take my things without asking and I would never know who had them. A lot of my favorite clothes and makeup were missing at the end of the year and I never found out who had them. This can get frustrating especially because I spend a lot of money on my things.
It can be hard to have alone time and study time to yourself if you live in the sorority house. As I said before, I was constantly surrounded by girls and sometimes needed a breath of fresh air. If I didn't want to go to the library I would stay at the sorority and study, but I found that it was very loud and I would get frustrated because I wouldn't be able to study as well.
A lot of girls grades tend to go down when they live in the sorority house. Think about it; if you are constantly surrounded by girls who want to party all the time and are constantly doing things, school won't always tend to be your number one priority. I knew this going into my sorority because my sister warned me, so I made sure to have separate time for just studying and said no to going out a lot of the time. Even though it can be hard because girls peer pressure you, the smart thing is to set aside study times because school should always come first.
A lot of girls think that living a sorority gives you a lack of freedom. Living in the house, you have to conform to the sorority's needs and listen to what they say. It is hard to get out of things if you don't want to do them because everyone always knows what you are doing and you can't get away from it.
The food can be an issue as well because if you don't like the cooking style of the food there is really nothing you can do. A lot of times girls in my house would frequently spend money on going out to eat when the cook already made them dinner they didn't want to eat.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Advantages of Living in the Sorority
There are Many Advantages of Living in the House
Not only are there privileges, but advantages as well...
Your friends will always be by your side. Now that I live in an apartment, my sorority sisters are scattered around different parts of campus. Living in the house, they were just a second away down the hallway. This was amazing because I got to see them whenever I wanted; when you live together it makes everything easier and brings you closer to your friends. I think this is why they call us "sisters."
A huge advantage of living in the house is that you will never be lonely. I know living in the dorms I would get depressed sometimes because I would miss my family or feel like I didn't get to see my friends enough. Living in the sorority you will constantly be surrounded by people and I can guarantee that you will never be lonely. I know a lot of college students who feel alone and get really depressed; especially when school starts up and they have a huge work load. Living with all of your sisters you will go through everything together; the ups and the downs and the good times and the bad times. You can talk it out with them and feel better if you are lonely, sad or frustrated.
Being able to share things from your sorority sisters is really fun too. Living in the house, I think I wore my own clothes only a couple times on the weekends! It is like having a huge closet to pick from; everyone shares everything. It is fun getting ready with a house house of girls, too. I get alone now in my apartment on the weekends and it isn't nearly as fun.
It is really nice not having to leave to go to the sorority when you live there. For example, when you first join you have to walk to the house for chapter when you have it every week and you have to find a way there if there is an event going on at your sorority. This can be a pain if no one is available to pick you up. Living in the house you never have to worry about that because you are already there!
You also always know what is going on in the sorority. When you don't live in the sorority, you sometimes don't get fully informed about what is going on. My sorority would e-mail us about events and remind us at chapter. But, if you miss chapter, aren't paying attention or don't check your e-mail you might forget about these things if no one reminds you. You are always informed when you live in the sorority!
Privileges of Living in the Sorority House
You Will Receive Special Privileges Living in the House
Living in a sorority is a lot different than living in an apartment or dorm...
I bet you are wondering how living in a sorority is different than living anywhere else on your campus. Well, I am going to tell you a few things that you are going to like! First of all, you get special privileges that most college kids won't get through their four years of college. It may be different at certain schools (which if you haven't noticed by now, many things are). One of the first privileges you will receive living in the sorority house is that you will get a cook!! This was one of my personal favorite parts of living in the house. Your cook will make every meal for you- and put up a menu every week of what is going to be served. You can even request certain things you would want to have cooked for you if you don't like what is on the menu or if you area allergic to something. If you are late for any meal, you can sign up for a "late plate" and the cook will save you a plate for later. This is how it worked at my school, at least. Having a cook is awesome because dorm food is the same all the time and is pretty unhealthy. Our cook made meals that were pretty healthy and they were always different so I never got sick of them. He was a really nice guy too and we became good friends :) Another good thing about having a cook is that you never have to go grocery shopping! I live in an apartment now, and I always have to go grocery shopping and cook my own meals. It is a lot harder; especially because I am not a good cook at all! Having someone make every meal for me spoiled me and I wish I had it again this year!
Another privilege you will receive is having a maid. Yep, I said it; a maid. For my sorority, our maid cleaned every day. This was amazing because our house was constantly clean and I never worried about having to clean if I expected someone! Now that I live in an apartment it is a reality check because I have to constantly clean because no one is doing it for me. Our maid was really nice and made sure the dishes were done, vacuuming was done, and everything else in between. I guess you can say we relied on her a little too much, because if she was sick for a day the house got messy! It is also nice to have a maid because living in the dorms no one cleaned for me either and I had to take care of myself. However, it is nice to take on your own responsibility from time to time- in the real world most people do not have cleaning ladies!
Another privilege is that living in the sorority gives you a lot of space. Depending on what school you go to/sorority you are in, houses are typically pretty big. Mine had a basement, living room and upstairs. If I wanted to get away I would sit in our living room or T.V. room and just hang out. I never had that privilege when I lived in the dorms; I was confined to one tiny room at all times which could sometimes get on my nerves and my roomate and I would fight.
When you live in the sorority house fraternities will drop off presents at times just because. I remember our fraternity neighbors making us treats and dropping them off. It was also nice being able to walk next door and hang out with fraternity guys. Girls can be appointed as "DD" which stands for designated driver. When you live in the house, you can sign up for this job on the weekends and get paid for it. Each member pays between $1-2 for a ride and it is a safe way for Greeks to get around. A lot of people who are non-greek will have to walk or call a cab which costs even more money.
Information on Living in the Sorority House
Basic Information on Living in a Sorority House!
Here are some things you might want to know!!
When you join a sorority, you will most likely be a freshman. As a new member, you will be living in the dorms but will be required to live in the sorority the following year. At some schools, you have to live in the sorority for more than one year; but at my school it is only required for one year. However, if you hold a position in the sorority (president, secretary, etc.) you have to live in the year you hold the position also. Holding a position is called being on the executive board.
Like I said earlier, if you are a new member, you are required to live in the house the first year after you live in the dorms. I never knew why they made new members do this; but I figured it out after my first year living in the house. Living in the sorority allowed me to get so close to every girl in my pledge class. Think about it; if you are living in a house with 40+ girls that you see every day, you are going to get close to them whether you like it or not. I shared a room with two girls that I got pretty close to when I first joined; but sharing a room with them for an entire year turned us into best friends. This sounds cheesy, but I really did feel like they were my sisters. We did everything together. I remember just laying in our beds talking until 4 in the morning about everything and anything.
Living in the sorority is a great way to get out of the dorms. You always know what is going on socially; think about it... if you are living with 40+ girls, you will always know where parties are or what people are doing over the weekend. It is such a social thing living in the sorority. It is also a great way to get out of the dorms. Some people enjoy living in the dorms, but it all depends on the floor you get. I remember my dorm sophomore year (I lived in the sororitiy house as a junior because I joined as a sophomore). My dorm was horrible and depressing. Just the set up of it was totally unsocial and I found myself actually being depressed at times. Living in the sorority my junior year was a breath of fresh air; I knew EVERYONE in the entire house and never felt lonely or depressed. It was also a lot cleaner than the dorms and I could walk around without any makeup on in my towel not having to worry about what people would think or boys on my floor seeing me!
Living in my sorority was actually cheaper than living in the dorms. I am not sure if this is how it is at every school, but this is how it was at my school. So not only was living in the house great socially, but it was a way to save money at the same time. Everything is paid for at once, including food, utilities, etc.
Moving into the sorority is also SO MUCH EASIER than moving into the dorms. Think about when you moved into your dorm. I know my experiences with moving into dorms has been horrible... you have to wait for an elevator and there are SO many people doing the same thing as you. It can take hours and is so frustrating and takes many trips going up and down since you have to use the elevator. It was one of the worst experiences I have had in college! When I moved into my sorority house, I could NOT believe how easy it was. First of all, there are only girls moving in and they do not all move in at the same time. It took me about a half hour to move all of my stuff in max. There was no waiting for elevators, crowded lines, etc. I couldn't have been happier about my move in. Also, other girls in the house will help you move in so it won't take as long!
Involvement With Fraternities
So, You Want To Meet More Guys on Campus??
Well then...you did the right thing by joining a sorority!
A lot of girls have a hard time meeting guys on campus-especially if they are shy! I know I was shy my freshman year, and I had a bad floor in the dorm I lived in which didn't make it any easier on me. When you join a sorority, you not only get close to the members in your chapter, but you get close to fraternity men as well. Many events are planned for Greek members to get to know each other. I remember the first night (Bid Night) when I got into my sorority. My house was located next door to a fraternity on campus. When we ran to our house, the fraternity men were outside of our house with roses to welcome us (since we would be their neighbors the next year.) I was excited to see this because there were about 40 guys outside! I knew it was going to be a great year.
One of the most fun events planned is actual Big Night, which is planned about a month after you get into your sorority. At my school, it consists of two sororities and two fraternities who get together and go out and have fun together. All of the houses on campus do this and it is different who you go with every year. I remember when I went. I had so much fun because I met more people that night than I had my first month in college alone!
Events are planned with fraternities to raise money and volunteer. For example, some fraternities and sororities get together to help others in need by coming up with events to raise money. My sorority planned a car wash with the fraternity who lived next door to us. We also had spaghetti dinner where all of the fraternities come over and pay to eat; we they donate this money for a good cause. Even when I would go to class wearing my Greek letters, I would be approached by guys in my class who were in a fraternity. They would tell me they were in one and then we would be class buddies... we would study together and help each other out in class. Through this we would become friends.
Big brother night is also an exciting night planned for new members. It was one of my personal favorite nights. Every sorority is appointed a "Big brother frat." This means that every new member gets what is called a "Big brother." It is just like having a big sister, except it is from a fraternity. When my sorority had Big Brother Night, we all got together to hang out. I did not know who my big brother was until the end of the night, and when I found out we both exchanged presents. Through this we formed a good relationship and I knew I could always count on him. He would invite me to fun events and this allowed me to get to know the other members in his fraternity.
Exchanges are one of the last, but not least, things that are planned between sororities and fraternities. These are planned by position chairs in each sorority and fraternity. They are about once a week where one sorority and fraternity house get together to hang out and get to know one another. It is such a fun time and really a good way to get to know each house on campus.
Involvement With Other Sorority Members!
How Do You Get Close To Other Girls?
Don't worry, they make sure this happens for you ;)
You may be asking yourself, "Isn't it intimidating to talk to older girls in the sorority once you are recruited?" I know you will be thinking this, because I thought the exact same thing when I became a member of my sorority. I remember looking around and being scared to talk to older members because they all seemed so confident; they all knew everything about the sorority already and were all so close. I had just met my pledge class so it was awkward looking at all of the older girls laugh and joke around while my pledge class and I were trying to get to know one another.
Every sorority will have different ways for you to get to know older/younger members in your chapter. Your sorority will organize events so you will be able to get to know others. For example, for my sorority, each new member was assigned a "Big Sister" and a "Rose Buddy." A Rose buddy is the first older member you meet in your house; well, this is how it went for me. On Bid-Night when you find out what sorority you have been accepted into, you run back to the house and find out who your Rose Buddy is. They wait for you there with presents and are basically the person you ask questions to and get to know. They are basically there to back you up and make you feel comfortable. This is how it was for my sorority at least.
Big Sisters are even more exciting to have. When you find out who your Big Sister is, she is meant to be the one who guides you. She is there for you to call if you are feeling down, she is there if you have ANY problems with the sorority, and she basically is your sister- (If you have any blood related sisters, think of her as this). I remember my big sister, Lisa. She did everything for me... from picking me up from my dorm every Sunday so I didn't have to walk to chapter to taking me out with her when I had no one to go out with. She would invite me to the sorority just to hang out... and have sleepovers. She was my guidance and my wing. I would have been scared to talk to her if she wasn't my "Big Sister." It is really great that every girl gets one of these. Once you get your Big Sister, you meet all of her friends in the sorority as well and then become close with them. Once you become an older member and new girls are accepted, you will become the big sister. It is fun to be able to take a new member under your wing and show her the ropes. When I wasn't a new member anymore and got appointed a little sister, it made me feel happy that I could make a member feel comfortable and wanted. I would buy her presents for no reason and make sure she was happy.
Some sororities take it to the level where you can have "Moms" and "Grandparents." This goes beyond having a sister so you can have not only a sister but even older members in the sorority to talk to. I think this is a great idea so you can branch out to other members that are not just one year above you, but two or three years above you. It can be intimidating to talk to a senior member when you are just a freshman; but with ideas like this it is really helpful.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
What to Expect as a First Year Member
There are Ups and Downs to Being a First Year Member...
But mostly ups ;)
NEW MEMBER INFORMATION
Your first year as a new member will be the most overwhelming. When you are accepted into the house you are brand new and don't know what to expect; it can be a little scary especially with all of the older members who are already in the house. Since you will be new to the program you won't know anything yet. But don't worry, because you will learn everything in a short amount of time and your first year will fly by before you know it; I know mine did. The older members in the house make sure you are taken care of and that you learn everything about your sorority.
Being a new member you will get spoiled the most. You will receive more gifts than any other year from girls in the house since you are a new member. I remember getting everything from t-shirts to candles the first night I became a new member. There was a big tub of things waiting for me at the sorority when I got there. Everyone is so nice and they just want you to be happy.
Being a new member, I remember having the most fees to pay. This is the only discouragement I remember having being a new member. You have to buy certain things and it can get a little expensive if you have to pay for it on your own. However, when your first year is over you don't pay nearly as much.
A lot of you are probably wondering what initiation is like as a new member... I am sure many of you have heard different stories. I wish I could tell you, but it is a secret :) However, I can tell you that it is an amazing experience and you have nothing to be afraid about. I am sure a lot of you have heard of hazing; but it is not allowed to go on and if it does sororities could be banned from the school so you have nothing to worry about in that area.
A really good part about being a first year member is that most of the events are planned for you. This is because the older girls want the new girls to bond and get to know one another just as they have. I remember going to so many sisterhoods as a new member and it really worked out to my benefit. I didn't need to go to half of the events I went to my last year in my sorority because I wasn't a new member anymore. The events planned as a first year member are the most fun, too. I remember having sleepovers at the sorority house with some of the girls in my pledge class and some of the older girls too. Your first year will be the fastest year out of all of them so make the best out of it and make as many memories of it as you can.
But mostly ups ;)
NEW MEMBER INFORMATION
Your first year as a new member will be the most overwhelming. When you are accepted into the house you are brand new and don't know what to expect; it can be a little scary especially with all of the older members who are already in the house. Since you will be new to the program you won't know anything yet. But don't worry, because you will learn everything in a short amount of time and your first year will fly by before you know it; I know mine did. The older members in the house make sure you are taken care of and that you learn everything about your sorority.
Being a new member you will get spoiled the most. You will receive more gifts than any other year from girls in the house since you are a new member. I remember getting everything from t-shirts to candles the first night I became a new member. There was a big tub of things waiting for me at the sorority when I got there. Everyone is so nice and they just want you to be happy.
Being a new member, I remember having the most fees to pay. This is the only discouragement I remember having being a new member. You have to buy certain things and it can get a little expensive if you have to pay for it on your own. However, when your first year is over you don't pay nearly as much.
A lot of you are probably wondering what initiation is like as a new member... I am sure many of you have heard different stories. I wish I could tell you, but it is a secret :) However, I can tell you that it is an amazing experience and you have nothing to be afraid about. I am sure a lot of you have heard of hazing; but it is not allowed to go on and if it does sororities could be banned from the school so you have nothing to worry about in that area.
A really good part about being a first year member is that most of the events are planned for you. This is because the older girls want the new girls to bond and get to know one another just as they have. I remember going to so many sisterhoods as a new member and it really worked out to my benefit. I didn't need to go to half of the events I went to my last year in my sorority because I wasn't a new member anymore. The events planned as a first year member are the most fun, too. I remember having sleepovers at the sorority house with some of the girls in my pledge class and some of the older girls too. Your first year will be the fastest year out of all of them so make the best out of it and make as many memories of it as you can.
Recruitment Information
You are Probably Wondering How Recruitment Works...
How do you know where to begin?
RECRUITMENT
Recruitment is one of the most fun parts of joining a sorority. I will tell you a little bit about how it worked where I go to school; I hear it is very similar at every school. You will first be given a recruitment counselor after you sign up on-line. You will be paired with a group of about 10 girls. You will then meet with them and get to know them. At your school they will probably have a place where sorority events go on; your group will go there along with tons of other groups of girls who will be going through recruitment.
Each day, different events occur. You go to about 4 houses a day to look at them and see if you like them. You pick what houses are your favorite at the end of each day and the houses can also drop you at any time. The first day is going on house tours just to take a look at the houses and talk to girls in the house to see if you like them and if they like you. The second day is learning about their philanthropy and it is a little bit longer. You watch movies and they give you an exercise to do invonving their philanthropy. The lasy day is the most formal. At mine, all the girls had to wear a black dress. You then decide if you want to stick with the sorority you have been with the whole time or if you want a different one. This is the mose serious day of all because it is getting closer to when you have to decide which sorority you will choose. At the end of the last day, you put down your number one pick. You can also put down a second choice just incase your number one doesn't pick you.
The next night all of the girls meet and there are envelopes on all of the tables with every girls name on it. They tell everyone to open the envelopes at the same time, and it is then when you see if you got the sorority you wanted or not. It is a great feeling when you see the same you wanted to see since day one. You then run around finding other girls that got picked in the same sorority as you. When I did it, we all ran to our sorority house together screaming and when we got there it was a huge welcoming party for us with food. We all talked and got to know each other and see the house again.
I personally did not like the whole idea of recruitment because I felt like it wasn't me. It almost felt a bit fake to me; but maybe that is only because I was talking to so many people and got asked the same question so many times. A lot of girls don't like recruitment, and if you don't like the idea of it you should wait until your sophomore year to see if it is really something you would want to do. By doing this, you will get to see what kind of reputation each sorority has a little better and them make a decision off of what you know.
How do you know where to begin?
RECRUITMENT
Recruitment is one of the most fun parts of joining a sorority. I will tell you a little bit about how it worked where I go to school; I hear it is very similar at every school. You will first be given a recruitment counselor after you sign up on-line. You will be paired with a group of about 10 girls. You will then meet with them and get to know them. At your school they will probably have a place where sorority events go on; your group will go there along with tons of other groups of girls who will be going through recruitment.
Each day, different events occur. You go to about 4 houses a day to look at them and see if you like them. You pick what houses are your favorite at the end of each day and the houses can also drop you at any time. The first day is going on house tours just to take a look at the houses and talk to girls in the house to see if you like them and if they like you. The second day is learning about their philanthropy and it is a little bit longer. You watch movies and they give you an exercise to do invonving their philanthropy. The lasy day is the most formal. At mine, all the girls had to wear a black dress. You then decide if you want to stick with the sorority you have been with the whole time or if you want a different one. This is the mose serious day of all because it is getting closer to when you have to decide which sorority you will choose. At the end of the last day, you put down your number one pick. You can also put down a second choice just incase your number one doesn't pick you.
The next night all of the girls meet and there are envelopes on all of the tables with every girls name on it. They tell everyone to open the envelopes at the same time, and it is then when you see if you got the sorority you wanted or not. It is a great feeling when you see the same you wanted to see since day one. You then run around finding other girls that got picked in the same sorority as you. When I did it, we all ran to our sorority house together screaming and when we got there it was a huge welcoming party for us with food. We all talked and got to know each other and see the house again.
I personally did not like the whole idea of recruitment because I felt like it wasn't me. It almost felt a bit fake to me; but maybe that is only because I was talking to so many people and got asked the same question so many times. A lot of girls don't like recruitment, and if you don't like the idea of it you should wait until your sophomore year to see if it is really something you would want to do. By doing this, you will get to see what kind of reputation each sorority has a little better and them make a decision off of what you know.
Membership Responsibilities
Because it ALL Can't be Fun...
Sorority members take on certain roles and responsibilities within the chapter
CHAPTER ATTENDANCE
As a sorority member, you will be required to attend chapter once a week. Chapter is when the whole sorority gets together to discuss weekly events, problems, issues and dues. Chapter is also a time for members to express any concerns or bring up any new ideas they have for the sorority. It is a time where members are informed of upcoming events and any money they might owe to the sorority for these events. Chapter usually only takes about an hour and is actually pretty fun since everyone is together. It is very important that everyone is in attendance so no one is confused or misses out on any important information.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PHILANTHROPIC EVENTS
Being in a sorority, you will have to complete certain hours of community service per semester. This is a realy great way to give back to the community and it shows that sororities arent meant for just partying. You have to fill out a sheet and give it to the person in charge of community service. For my sorority, I only had to complete 3-4 hours a semester which was really fun and a good experience for me. It was something new that made me feel good about myself.
Philanthropic events are a lot of fun. They are a way to raise money for people in need. In my sorority, we have an event called Dream Man where the fraternities compete in a talent show. People pay to come watch and it is a lot of fun. The money is donated to children who are hearing impaired. Not only is the actual event fun, but knowing where the money is going is even more rewarding. We also have what is called a spaghetti dinner at our sorority house. We invite all of the fraternity houses over and our cook makes a ton of spaghetti and the fraternity boys come over at different times and pay for the food. This money is usually given to our sorority's dues.
MEETING FINANCIAL COMITTMENTS
You will need to pay certain financial comittments to be in the sorority. It differs for every school what your monthly dues are, but at my school living in the sorority was cheaper than living in the dorms. You also have to pay for formals and dances that are not included in your regular monthly dues.
KEEPING GOOD ACADEMIC STANDARDS
It is important in every sorority to keep good grades. At my school, if you don't have above a 2.5 GPA then you can't participate in certain events and can't vote on certain issues regarding the sorority. This is a good thing because it pushes members of the sorority to keep a good GPA. Also, when you first apply to get into a sorority you have to put your GPA. If if is not at the required standard for that school, a lot of sororities won't take you. The good thing is that many sororities have what is called "study hours." This is when the academics chair of the sorority goes to the library and sits with girls who are in academic probation. The girls are required to go until they are off of academic probation.
Sorority members take on certain roles and responsibilities within the chapter
CHAPTER ATTENDANCE
As a sorority member, you will be required to attend chapter once a week. Chapter is when the whole sorority gets together to discuss weekly events, problems, issues and dues. Chapter is also a time for members to express any concerns or bring up any new ideas they have for the sorority. It is a time where members are informed of upcoming events and any money they might owe to the sorority for these events. Chapter usually only takes about an hour and is actually pretty fun since everyone is together. It is very important that everyone is in attendance so no one is confused or misses out on any important information.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PHILANTHROPIC EVENTS
Being in a sorority, you will have to complete certain hours of community service per semester. This is a realy great way to give back to the community and it shows that sororities arent meant for just partying. You have to fill out a sheet and give it to the person in charge of community service. For my sorority, I only had to complete 3-4 hours a semester which was really fun and a good experience for me. It was something new that made me feel good about myself.
Philanthropic events are a lot of fun. They are a way to raise money for people in need. In my sorority, we have an event called Dream Man where the fraternities compete in a talent show. People pay to come watch and it is a lot of fun. The money is donated to children who are hearing impaired. Not only is the actual event fun, but knowing where the money is going is even more rewarding. We also have what is called a spaghetti dinner at our sorority house. We invite all of the fraternity houses over and our cook makes a ton of spaghetti and the fraternity boys come over at different times and pay for the food. This money is usually given to our sorority's dues.
MEETING FINANCIAL COMITTMENTS
You will need to pay certain financial comittments to be in the sorority. It differs for every school what your monthly dues are, but at my school living in the sorority was cheaper than living in the dorms. You also have to pay for formals and dances that are not included in your regular monthly dues.
KEEPING GOOD ACADEMIC STANDARDS
It is important in every sorority to keep good grades. At my school, if you don't have above a 2.5 GPA then you can't participate in certain events and can't vote on certain issues regarding the sorority. This is a good thing because it pushes members of the sorority to keep a good GPA. Also, when you first apply to get into a sorority you have to put your GPA. If if is not at the required standard for that school, a lot of sororities won't take you. The good thing is that many sororities have what is called "study hours." This is when the academics chair of the sorority goes to the library and sits with girls who are in academic probation. The girls are required to go until they are off of academic probation.
Sorority Social Events
Have You Ever Wondered What Sororities Do For Fun?
There are many planned events and activities sororities plan throughout the year.
FORMAL
Formal is by far one of the most fun social events that sororities plan. Think back to your senior year of prom. Did you have an amazing time? Well, if you did, you will be able to do it all over again if you join a sorority. Each girl in the sorority gets to ask a date to bring to a planned formal dance. There is food, dancing and fun all night. When I went to mine, I had a great time. I sat at a table with all of my friends and their dates. It is something I will never forget. There are also awards passed out at formal to recognize girls who were outsdanding sorority members. It is something that not all college girls get to do, so having an experience like going to formal is an amazing time.
OTHER DANCES
During the year your sorority may plan other dances as well. My sorority planned a dance called "Crush Dance." This dance was more casual than formal. It is just a good time to have fun with your friends. A lot of girls don't even bring dates; they simply go by themselves just to have a great time with everyone. Sometimes if a girl can't find a date then two of the sorority sisters will go together as friends instead and have just as much fun.
Another dance held is called "Barndance." This is one of the most fun dances of the whole year. The whole sorority brings dates and we get on a bus and go to a farm. (I know, it sounds a little ridiculous doesn't it?) All of the girls and guys are dressed up like cowgirls and cowboys. The music is country at the barn and everyone dances the whole night and has a great time. It is something different and that is why it is so much fun!
SISTERHOODS
Sisterhoods are a big part of being in a sorority. They are planned events for all of the girls to get together and hang out. It can be as simple as one sorority getting together and going out to eat, or two different sororities planning something such as bowling to get to know one another better. Sisterhoods are a really great part of being in a sorority because it allows you to talk to some of the girls that you may not be as close to. That is why sororities are so close; so many events are planned that it is nearly impossible not to get to know everyone. One of the best sisterhoods I went to was when my sorority went out to Alexander's Steakhouse for dinner. It was a really fun time because they were the girls I don't get to talk to as often. A lot of times we will just get together to go out for ice cream, too.
These are only some of the events that sororities do and they differ from sorority to sorority. They are all a great experience and something that every girl loves.
There are many planned events and activities sororities plan throughout the year.
FORMAL
Formal is by far one of the most fun social events that sororities plan. Think back to your senior year of prom. Did you have an amazing time? Well, if you did, you will be able to do it all over again if you join a sorority. Each girl in the sorority gets to ask a date to bring to a planned formal dance. There is food, dancing and fun all night. When I went to mine, I had a great time. I sat at a table with all of my friends and their dates. It is something I will never forget. There are also awards passed out at formal to recognize girls who were outsdanding sorority members. It is something that not all college girls get to do, so having an experience like going to formal is an amazing time.
OTHER DANCES
During the year your sorority may plan other dances as well. My sorority planned a dance called "Crush Dance." This dance was more casual than formal. It is just a good time to have fun with your friends. A lot of girls don't even bring dates; they simply go by themselves just to have a great time with everyone. Sometimes if a girl can't find a date then two of the sorority sisters will go together as friends instead and have just as much fun.
Another dance held is called "Barndance." This is one of the most fun dances of the whole year. The whole sorority brings dates and we get on a bus and go to a farm. (I know, it sounds a little ridiculous doesn't it?) All of the girls and guys are dressed up like cowgirls and cowboys. The music is country at the barn and everyone dances the whole night and has a great time. It is something different and that is why it is so much fun!
SISTERHOODS
Sisterhoods are a big part of being in a sorority. They are planned events for all of the girls to get together and hang out. It can be as simple as one sorority getting together and going out to eat, or two different sororities planning something such as bowling to get to know one another better. Sisterhoods are a really great part of being in a sorority because it allows you to talk to some of the girls that you may not be as close to. That is why sororities are so close; so many events are planned that it is nearly impossible not to get to know everyone. One of the best sisterhoods I went to was when my sorority went out to Alexander's Steakhouse for dinner. It was a really fun time because they were the girls I don't get to talk to as often. A lot of times we will just get together to go out for ice cream, too.
These are only some of the events that sororities do and they differ from sorority to sorority. They are all a great experience and something that every girl loves.
How Do You Know if a Sorority is Right for You?
You may be asking yourself, "Would I fit into a sorority, or is it something I should pass up?" Whether you are about to graduate high school and enter college, or if you are currently in college deciding if you still might want to join one or not, this website will give you some helpful tips to let you see if it is something you would like. Going into my college career I wasn't sure if I would fit into a sorority or not. I didn't join until my sophomore year in college to see how I liked college without it first. My first year as a freshman was fun, but I wanted to meet more people since I didn't have that great of a dorm. Being in a sorority is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have decided to take everything I have learned from my sorority and help others who may be undecided of whether to join or not. You will enjoy being in a sorority if you...
Stereotypes: Are you Scared of What People Will Think?
Another reason some girls aren't sure if a sorority is right for them is because of the stereotypes that come along with them. A lot of times people think that sorority girls just party all of the time and don't do anything else. They may also think girls just join sororities to "buy their friends," because they couldn't make them any other way. It is true that some girls party but one of the best parts about joining is that there is always going to be girls just like you. If you want to stay in one night, there will be plenty of other who will want to stay in. If you want to go out for a little bit, girls will be there too. I personally didn't join because I was having trouble making friends; I wanted to make more friends. It is a great way to branch out and meet a completely new group of people you may never have met before.
Interested Yet? How to Know Which Sorority is Best for You
You might be wondering which sorority would be the best one for you. In all honesty it is a personal decision, and everyone can feel differently about what they want. When I went through recruitment, I chose the sorority that I felt the most comfortable in. The girls seemed real to me and I could imagine myself becoming close to a lot of them. I did not want to leave the house when I went for recruitment; I think that was a big sign. Try to imagine yourself hanging out with these girls on a daily basis. Can you see yourself laughing, crying and spending every day with them? If not then it is probably not the right house for you. There are many sororities to go through and I am sure there is a good fit for every girl who would consider joining.
You may be asking yourself, "Would I fit into a sorority, or is it something I should pass up?" Whether you are about to graduate high school and enter college, or if you are currently in college deciding if you still might want to join one or not, this website will give you some helpful tips to let you see if it is something you would like. Going into my college career I wasn't sure if I would fit into a sorority or not. I didn't join until my sophomore year in college to see how I liked college without it first. My first year as a freshman was fun, but I wanted to meet more people since I didn't have that great of a dorm. Being in a sorority is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have decided to take everything I have learned from my sorority and help others who may be undecided of whether to join or not. You will enjoy being in a sorority if you...
- Like meeting new people
- Want to have tons of friends in college
- Enjoyed going to dances and formals in high school
- Like attending events with boys your age
- Enjoy Helping charity
- Won't mind living in a house with 30+ girls (depending on the chapter)
- Want to have close friendships for the rest of your life
- Will like having a support system
- Enjoy being spoiled by having someone cook and clean for you
- Have responsibility
- Want to take an active role at your school
- Want to have a good resume when you leave college
- Are willing to put in extra time
Stereotypes: Are you Scared of What People Will Think?
Another reason some girls aren't sure if a sorority is right for them is because of the stereotypes that come along with them. A lot of times people think that sorority girls just party all of the time and don't do anything else. They may also think girls just join sororities to "buy their friends," because they couldn't make them any other way. It is true that some girls party but one of the best parts about joining is that there is always going to be girls just like you. If you want to stay in one night, there will be plenty of other who will want to stay in. If you want to go out for a little bit, girls will be there too. I personally didn't join because I was having trouble making friends; I wanted to make more friends. It is a great way to branch out and meet a completely new group of people you may never have met before.
Interested Yet? How to Know Which Sorority is Best for You
You might be wondering which sorority would be the best one for you. In all honesty it is a personal decision, and everyone can feel differently about what they want. When I went through recruitment, I chose the sorority that I felt the most comfortable in. The girls seemed real to me and I could imagine myself becoming close to a lot of them. I did not want to leave the house when I went for recruitment; I think that was a big sign. Try to imagine yourself hanging out with these girls on a daily basis. Can you see yourself laughing, crying and spending every day with them? If not then it is probably not the right house for you. There are many sororities to go through and I am sure there is a good fit for every girl who would consider joining.
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