Beating the Superficial Sorority Stereotype

Spring rush may not be for a while, but in light of Greek week just ending, I thought I would answer a few of your questions regarding the crazy UCSB Greek system.

The media may portray sorority girls as mindless and sororities as meaningless, but I'd like to fight the rash rumors and explain why joining a sorority can potentially be the best decision of your college career.

Rumor #1:Sororities are way too time consuming!

Response #1:
Sure sororities are time consuming, but this is what is so great about Greek affiliation. Like anything else, you make what you want out of your sorority experience, meaning that you can simply attend meetings once a week or you can be the future president.

Having a sisterhood of 100+ girls ends up being the best way to manage your time because everyone is overly supportive of one another, understanding that college is a busy and crazy time. You will always have another girl to help you prep for an interview, study for a quiz, or practice for a team tryout.

Also, this is what is so impressive to career execs after college...being able to manage your time so well with your sorority shows future bosses that you will be a strong advocate to their company, being able to tackle any task that may be thrown at you. Interviewers know that sorority women are amongst the most proactive students on campus, and have had countless opportunities to hold a leadership position in their chapter.

Need proof? 85% of the Fortune 500 executives belong to a Greek sorority or fraternity! Every U.S. President and Vice President, except for two since the establishment of Greek organizations, have been Greek members! Of the nation's 50 largest corporations, 43 are headed by Greek members!

Rumor #2 (My Personal Favorite, NOT): You buy your friends with Daddy's credit card.

Response #2:
Buying your friends? That's ridiculous! More like paying national dues to be involved in an amazing organization for a lifetime, while meeting incredible friends!

Like any other sort of organization, sororities are a great way to meet new and interesting people every day, whether they are in your own house or another. Despite how well you may know another member of your chapter, I guarantee that she will always be there to give you advice, give you a ride to the airport, get ready for a night out on the town, or eat a carton of ice cream after a crummy break up. (ps, sorority girls are the best at picking out every single miniscule flaw of every single man that may have upset you)! As cheesy as it sounds, a sorority is built upon sisterhood, meaning that each and every girl is your "sister" and will always be there for you.

This ridiculous rumor also brings up the concern of sororities being expensive. Yes, they can be, but each and every sorority allows you to make a payment plan and provides scholarships so that no young lady will be turned down of the privilege to proudly wear her letters!

Also, if you chose to live in your chapter house, this can very well end up being a huge money saver. As a member presently living in the Kappa Kappa Gamma house, I never complain about having a lovely cleaning lady to keep our house tidy, a sun deck to tan on, a huge backyard to slip-and-slide with our fraternity neighbors, and an amazing chef who prepares everything from shrimp skewers to fajitas.

Rumor #3:Sorority girls are stupid.

Response #3:
It is a requirement to uphold a certain GPA while in a sorority, which is what constitutes Greek women to earn the highest grades on campus. Yes, sororities score in the top 10% on university campuses. Hellooo Elle Woods? Yeah, that's right...she kicked ass at Harvard law!

Rumor #4: All sorority girls do is party!

Response #4:
Considering the scenario above involving our GPA's, we clearly fit in the time to hit the books. Like I said, women in sororities know how to manage their time, meaning that they know when to socialize and when to study.

Sororities are great for your social life because there are endless organized events that you can attend whenever you please. From mixers with another sorority or fraternity, to date parties downtown, to daytime philanthropies and barbeques, there is literally always something to do.

Mixer parties are such a great way to meet other high-acheiving females, and also a great way to find a male best friend or even sometimes a date. Socializing with other people who share your similar lifestyle is always a nice break from schoolwork and makes the weekends more exciting. Also, dressing up like it is Halloween in mid-January never hurts!

Date parties and weekenders are another bonus of Greek life. When else can you enter a club when you are under the age of 21? Probably never, unless if you have a fake ID and are planning on getting arrested! Getting dolled up in the sorority house and taking a huge bus or limo downtown is a highlight of every quarter when you are in the Greek system.