My first semester of my senior year in high school I began touring the campuses of the schools that I was considering attending the following fall. I remember vividly returning home from multiple campus tours and having the same topic emphasized to me during each one.
Sororities.
Sororities.
Sororites.
I was told multiple times at different schools how amazing the Greek Life at that school was and that it was the best organization they joined in college. They followed this statement up every time with a percentage of girls that were in sororities and the percentage that were not, and time after time again, the percentage of girls in sororities was larger than that of the ones not.
I remember being very intimidated by this information and beginning to think…. If all of my peers are joining, shouldn’t I?
That’s when I began researching sororities and what it meant to be a member of one. I was bombarded with information about how great and meaningful sororities made girls’ college careers and how it made the transition to college so much easier. I was enticed by the thought of having a “big”, the built-in friendships that girls made through their sorority, and the easy way to make connections with those who may already be in my career field. After reading so many pieces of information like this, I was convinced that rushing and joining a sorority in college was the only path for me.
However, soon after I made this conscious decision, I began to search a bit deeper and found information about the costs of being in a sorority, both financially and time wise. I also read on the emphasis on the party aspect of Greek Life. These new pieces of information made me rethink my choice on whether to join a sorority, or not, and honestly I am glad they did.
As a college student on the path to vet school, my grades are crucial, time is not exactly something that I have plenty of already, and with that being said, neither is money. College itself is expensive enough and I could not imagine having to pay even a cent more than I do every year for potentially the next four to eight years. Also, even though it’s considered a huge part of college life, partying has never really been my thing and the concept of having to attend a party/social ever so often made me anxious.
Although a large amount of college girls do join sororities, it shouldn’t feel like all girls are obligated to join one in college. I feel like society as a whole is pressured enough—the last thing young girls who are starting a new chapter in their lives need is the pressure to join something that might not be for them. Sororities are certainly a great option for many different types of girls in college, but you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you are not a part of one.
With that being said, ladies, test your waters, do your research, and join what genuinely feels right!