First semester of freshmen year at college can be one the most exciting times in a collegiette’s academic life. With meeting new people at every turn, living away from home for usually the first time, and experiencing upper level coursework, there is so much going on at any second that it all becomes one amazing (and sometimes overwhelming) blur. During first semester, it is up to freshman to figure out which paths they want to go down and activities they want to get involved with at college. And one of the many opportunities offered at Tufts is the ability to rush a fraternity or sorority and go Greek. As most freshman have probably realized by now, Tufts does second semester sorority recruitment during the second week back at school after the holiday break. And although it is ultimately a totally personal choice to as to whether or not to rush, I’m here to advocate for why joining a sorority at Tufts can be such an amazing experience.
I came into Tufts knowing almost nobody and totally out of my element after moving all the way from the Bay Area in California. Moving into this small New England campus was a complete culture shock at first, and although I liked Tufts from the very beginning, during my freshman fall I often felt like something was missing. Although I had made friends and gotten involved with various clubs, I was looking for a group on campus that I could truly feel a part of that would make Tufts home. I had always vaguely considered rushing before I came to college, but it was never an idea that I had taken seriously. When I came to Tufts, though, I realized that Greek life here wasn’t like it is the institutions at schools like USC or Michigan where all my friends went. Instead of being an all-consuming experience, Greek life at Tufts seemed like a very relaxed and easy way to get to know people who shared similar outlooks and interests. People are definitely committed to their individual chapters, but there wasn’t a “join or die” mentality that my other friends had described at their schools. On top of that, I had met girls from various sororities in my classes and on my hall that all seemed so sweet and interesting that it finalized my positive realization about going Greek. So I went into second semester excited to rush!
Through pre-recruitment and my rush experience, I realized that I personally would fit in best at the Alpha Phi chapter here, which was why I was so excited when I got a bid from them at the end of recruitment week. My freshman year Bid Day will definitely go down as one of the happiest days in my college experience, because everyone was so excited to find out which chapter she got into and then run to the place that had become their new home. Almost immediately upon becoming part of Alpha Phi, I felt like I had this whole new support system on campus. I was suddenly joined to all these girls that I had only gotten the chance to see around campus or meet briefly before. Having a chance to meet so many new people was the best, especially since the frenzy of introductions that is the first few weeks of freshman year had definitely calmed down. Suddenly, no matter where I went, I knew girls that I could hang out with or sit and eat with. On top of that, the older girls in my sorority became amazing sources of guidance or inspiration that I could call on whenever I was confused or needed help. I was still able to maintain the relationships outside of Alpha Phi, though, and some of my best friends at Tufts are girls that aren’t involved with sororities at all. Although I had loved freshman fall, spring semester become infinitely better because I had this new community on campus that made everything so much happier and fun.
Being a sophomore has only made my decision to go Greek better. I know that all my friends in the various sororities are all so happy they made the choice to go through the process and stick with it. I spend most of my time with girls in Alpha Phi, whether it’s going to Dewick together, studying for classes, or having dinner dates in Boston. All of these are friends that I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to meet if I didn’t rush. I talk to girls in Alpha Phi who went abroad this semester practically every other day, and when planning my courses for next semester I was able to gain so much insight about what to choose from the upperclassmen. I’m even living in the Alpha Phi house, which is an amazing experience of it’s own. It’s safe to say that joining a sorority totally changed my Tufts experience and I really couldn’t be happier! So, if you are on the fence about going through recruitment, my advice would be to definitely go for it. Deciding to go through recruitment isn’t a binding decision – it’s merely a chance to learn more about each sorority and figure out if one of the four chapter at Tufts could be right for you. You may even be pleasantly surprised about what a rewarding experience Greek life can be at Tufts!
To register for recruitment, sign up here!
Have questions about recruitment? Submit them below!