Being in a sorority at the University of Maryland definitely has its up sides.
Girls are given the opportunity to be part of a sisterhood, as living in a house with over 60 girls gives them the chance to make plenty of friends and socialize to the fullest extent.
Having a big house with a chef, nice living space, planned events and socials is something that not every college girl gets to experience and is something that is appealing to many individuals on-campus and across college campus alike.
However, the pressure and emotional stress placed on sorority girls may outweigh the benefits, as living in a sorority house is not exactly what it’s hyped up to be.
First, the process of getting a bid to a sorority is one of the most mentally draining processes a girl could go through in her four years at school.
Rush week consists of a full week of interviews, house tours, peer pressure and tough choices. Girls have to deal with the conflict of choosing a sorority that all of their friends are joining versus one that they may feel suits them more personally.
“It’s hard to know which sorority is going to be the best fit for you,” said senior journalism major Kelly Rowe. “Everyone has their own opinions, but at the same time you want to be with the people you’ve spent your freshman year with.”
The end of rush week is infamous for the amount of girls in tears as they choose their houses and set themselves, as well as others, up for disappointment.
“It’s hard when you put a lot of effort into getting a girl to join your sorority and she ends up doing another one,” said senior communications major Jamie White. “You have to respect their choice, but at the same time it’s a bit insulting.”
Furthermore, aside from the rush process, the actual living situation of being in a house with 60 girls is not ideal for most females.
Besides the obvious cliques that may form within the house, the constant pressure of trying to fit in while being in an environment of constant rumors and gossip is overwhelming for a college student, to say the least.
“You can tell that certain sororities fit into categories and tend to have a bunch of similar girls in them,” said junior business major Cory Rubin. “Obviously each person is different, but it’s clear there are stereotypes that girls conform to.”
When a girl is in a sorority where most of the girls she lives with act, dress or think a certain way, it’s only human for that girl to mimic that type of behavior. Although this could be beneficial, such as if a sorority is known for their studious nature or high self-esteem and self-respect, this is often not the case.
The problem lies in the fact that when you live in a house with a bunch of 18-21 year old girls, it is difficult to have any privacy. Everything you do, everyone you date, and every food you eat is up for judgment and often subject to ridicule.
It is for these reasons that sororities don’t appeal to everyone. Plenty of girls thrive on the idea of belonging to a group and having their lives planned out for them in terms of food, social life and friends.
Yet, the lack of privacy along with the social pressure is what creates a dilemma in the world of sororities, as girls are forced to pick their poison between having less friends or having less drama in their lives.