Attention ladies! This is your final, full week before you decide to go through sorority recruitment. There is no right or wrong choice here. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. Sororities are not for everyone, but many women love being a part of them.
Last year, I wanted to go through recruitment and join a sorority because that summer, I had just binged watched the television show Greek on Netflix. However, my friends in sororities tell me that the show is nothing like the real Greek experience. And real life is nothing like the movies and shows… duh! But, my parents told me not to join at least the first year because they wanted me to watch from the outside to see if I would be at all interested in joining without the misconceptions from the TV show. And I have to say, I am beyond jealous and wished I would have joined my freshman year.
As a sophomore, going through recruitment can be a little difficult. You saw your friends from freshman year join a sorority and they told you all those crazy stories about their experience. It makes you want to join all of them or one in particular. You need to go through the process with an open mind and not be influenced by what your friends say. You want to find the sorority that makes you feel you, the place you want to call home, and the girls you want to call your sisters. Â Â
There are multiple misconceptions about sororities being a place where you pay for your friends. The people who say that do not know what they are talking about. I am not in a sorority and I even know that. If you are from a different state or country (and even if you are from Ohio), meeting new people can be intimidating. You meet people in a sorority who you never thought you would get a chance to. After joining, you get a “big” who can be your mentor, counselor and friend all wrapped in one. She is the person that shows you the sorority ropes. But being in a sorority is not just a place where you gain everlasting lasting friendships.
It is also a place of connections…because, networking is everything nowadays. But, you don’t have to be in a sorority to network.Â
While still being on the outside, I watched my sorority friends take part in courageous acts of kindness by volunteering and putting on charity events to raise money for their philanthropies. If you are selfless and want to help raise money for a great cause, join a sorority. On a side note, you don’t have to be in a sorority to be charitable. Kent State offers plenty of non-Greek service opportunities.Â
I was jealous of my friends when they got to dress up according to themes for date parties. Or dress fancy for the formal dance. I would see girls loudly and proudly representing their sorority with their letters on their shirt. It almost made me feel left out of the group.
But with the good, comes the bad when deciding to join a sorority. You have the potential of not clicking with your big like you did in the beginning, or not getting along with all the girls. You might not like the rules that come with being in a sorority, like wearing certain colored clothes for events.
If you are still on the fence with joining, make a pro con list, if that does not help, go through recruitment. If you really like a sorority then accept the bid, and if not, that’s okay too. Do not feel obligated to accept a bid if you end up not liking any sorority. It is your own personal decision.Â
If you decide to go through recruitment like me, there is a $40 registration fee. Money can play a huge role when joining a sorority. The first year you join, it can be expensive, but it all depends on your sorority and their payment options. I wish it would be as cheap as the frats, but that’s not the case because sororities do more cute fun things right?
But all in all, join one if you want to. If you end up not liking it, you can always change your mind. If you do not join one now, don’t worry! There will always be next year. Good luck to everyone going through recruitment and I hope you can find the place you will call home.