If I’m completely honest, I jumped into Greek life headfirst with practically no prior knowledge of how it functions. All I knew was that I was determined to make more friends this semester, and I thought a sorority would be the best place to start. Since my father was a member of a fraternity while he was in college, he strongly advocated for the sense of community and family that is built among other members of your chapter and greatly encouraged me to rush. When registration time rolled around, I signed up without hesitation and I wouldn’t change that decision for the world. Now that I am officially initiated into my sorority, I wanted to share some of the wisdom I collected since the beginning of rush week up until now.
1. Rush week is (mostly) impersonal
One of the most difficult parts of rush to grasp is that no part of the process is a thorough and true judgment of your character. There is no fathomable way for someone to get to know you in an hour, let alone five to ten minutes. When the time comes for sororities to decide which girls they want for their newest pledge class, you are no lesser of a human being simply because you weren’t selected for that pledge class. Decisions are made solely on the feel of the conversation, which comes down to whether you were paired correctly and that depends almost completely on luck. Because of this, it is very beneficial to go into rush understanding that the girls making these decisions want you to be happy where you end up as much as you do.
2. Sorority life can be time-consuming
Being in a sorority, for the most part, is about having a good time with good people. From bid day to philanthropy, to sisterhood events and big/little reveal the fun literally never stops after rush week. However, each sorority has specific requirements that must be met in order to participate in these entertaining events. GPA requirements, dues, and mandatory events are just a few things that (for some people) can turn membership in a sorority into a source of stress. Following rush week, I had around one to two mandatory events per week. These events included new member education courses and sisterhood bonding, both of which are crucial to developing your ties to your new sorority. However, these requirements are greatly outweighed by the benefits of a sorority and some sisterhood events (i.e. hiking or ice skating) can be the source of some of the best bonds you will make with your sisters. Also, the amount of time spent each week for your sorority is ultimately up to you. My advice: get involved! You will only get as much out of your time as you put in!
3. Everything will work out
The first thing I felt when I joined a sorority was overwhelmed — overwhelmed with the new opportunities, the numerous girls to meet, and the seemingly endless events to participate in. I was so worried about getting to know the girls and finding my niche in this organization, without realizing that it would all fall into place organically once I gave it enough time. I went into rush week caught up in stereotypes and misconceptions about each sorority and I almost let that ruin the whole experience for me. So, as cheesy as it sounds, I believe the best advice I can give is to go with your gut. Who cares about which sorority has the most aesthetically pleasing Instagram page or the “best” reputation? Find the girls you feel the most comfortable around and everything else will fall into place.
Take the curve-balls in stride to the best of your abilities, even if that means waiting to rush or not being in a sorority at all. The letters you wear are not who you are. Your sorority is not your personality or identity. It should be a loving and supportive community filled with empowering women and endless opportunities. Whether you go Greek or not, college will be one of the best times of your life. Enjoy every moment!