Why do people join sororities?
The first and foremost goal of every fraternity and sorority is to bring together a group of men and women of similar values and beliefs and share with them the history of their organization, its traditions, and symbols...all while building life-long friendships.
You'll join a community of like-minded women.
Sorority membership provides a community of women who share similar values, goals and aspirations. These women will support you as you navigate your collegiate experience.
Fraternities and sororities were created as a place to foster academic, community service, and social initiatives that are unique to each chapter. Fraternity and Sorority life is based on the tenets of friendship, leadership, scholarship, and philanthropy.
A huge portion of membership is the sense of belonging and friendships gained. This is what encourages many women to join a sorority. When women go to college they may find themselves searching for a place to call their own.
There are many advantages when it comes to joining a fraternity or sorority. Greek life is a great way to meet new people, gain leadership skills, and build lasting connections — and then there's also all the parties and events you'll be attending.
- Make Connections. ...
- Build Your Resume. ...
- Learn New Skills. ...
- Volunteer in the Community. ...
- Balance Academic and Social Activities. ...
- Create Lifelong Friendships.
Do you have to pay to be in a sorority or fraternity? The short answer is yes. In fact, even prior to becoming a member, you will have to pay an initiation or registration fee. This is only the first on the long list of fees you will have to pay as a Greek-letter organization affiliate.
In most sororities, this is called the pledge period. During pledging, you'll get to know your new sisters, gain a better understanding of Greek life and learn about what is expected of you as a sorority member. Remember, though, that your first priority is to attend class and maintain your grades.
The matching process is called mutual selection. The Panhellenic will use your vote and the scores provided by the sororities to create a rush-week itinerary for you. This schedule is meant to provide you with the best chances of getting invited into a sorority that is right for you.
On average, joining a sorority costs between $1,000 and $4,750 per semester. These costs typically include member dues, housing, recruitment fees, application fees and social expenses.
How much do girls pay for sororities?
A sorority sister's dues average a little over $1,000 per semester, though this will vary by chapter and cost of operation. Sisters may be offered the option to pay in increments throughout a semester. They might also be given a percentage discount for paying up front.
The Expectation to Drink
Partying can seem like the top priority of Greek organizations at times, but getting drunk isn't a requirement for membership. Fraternities and sororities won't kick members out for turning down a shot or missing a party.
Myth #1. By joining a fraternity/sorority, I'm just paying for my friends! Fact: Greek members know the money they pay goes toward benefits for their national chapters, like many other non-affiliated organizations. In this way, Greek organizations are much like corporations.
Sororities DO look at your social media accounts prior to recruitment to gain a little more insight into your personality and to make sure that what you are posting aligns with their values. However, it's NOT about how many followers you have or your popularity online.
Once you have accepted a bid to pledge a sorority house, you are "committed" to that house and to the process. Understand that although the pledging process takes only about a month, it involves a serious commitment of time during that month that can and typically will draw your attention away from your studies.
Sororities want to know who you are and what you stand for. Think about what drives you and what values you appreciate in other people. For example, loyalty and leadership are two important values for many sororities.
The most expensive sorority, or at least one of the most expensive, is the University of Alabama. A new member will pay over $4,000 per semester.
Depending on where you attend college and the other lodging options available, living in a sorority house may be cheaper than living in a dorm.
You usually need to be a full-time student at a four-year college in order to join a sorority. Some colleges don't allow freshmen to join sororities or limit their involvement in them. Sororities emphasize academics, and most have a grade point average requirement between 2.5 and 3.0.
All fraternities have open-door policies when it comes to walking away. While some brothers may use peer pressure to keep you from quitting, remember that you have the freedom to walk away from the process without punishment at any time.
What is considered hazing in sororities?
Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of a person's willingness to participate.
The Panhellenic required GPA should be listed on your college's Panhellenic website. Most Panhellenic minimum GPAs are around 2.7 to 3.0. However, many times, each sorority's minimum GPA is higher than the GPA on the website. The highest sorority minimum GPA I have seen is a 3.6.
Bid Day is very casual. You will receive a t-shirt from your new sorority, so wear something lightweight that you can put a shirt over. We will be outside, so shorts or jeans and comfortable shoes are a must.
In some fraternities or sororities, only the representatives live in the houses while in others the entire fraternity or sorority may live in the house. Other, larger fraternities or sororities may have more than one house to accommodate all of its members.
Some chapters may have room for all of their members in their facilities while others only have room for certain officers. Other campuses might have a designated campus facility for sorority chapters, such as space reserved a specific dormitory, so sorority members can share living space in that way.
Sororities are frequently involved in putting together charitable drives and causes, as well as working with other organizations in the community, including fraternities. Sorority sisterhood is considered a big responsibility and time commitment, and allegiance to sorority identity is highly valued.
The average capacity for a fraternity house is 40 students, average capacity for a sorority house is 50 students. Fraternity and sorority housing is generally available the second year of membership and members are encouraged to live in the facility for at least one year.
In addition to earning a monthly salary, I don't pay for rent, utilities, parking, laundry, or most of my meals. Like many house moms I know, I also have a second job, which means I make two salaries. My apartment isn't huge, and I don't have a kitchen, but for the money, it's worth it.
The age at which an individual is restricted from rushing a sorority or fraternity can vary by organization and school. As long as you are a full time undergraduate or graduate student there is no official age restriction . If you have the free time and 1–2 years of school left joining at 22–25 isn't necessarily bad.
- Zeta Tau Alpha.
- Kappa Kappa Gamma.
- Delta Delta Delta.
- Gamma Phi Beta.
- Alpha Phi.
- Sigma Sigma Sigma.
- Delta Gamma.
- Delta Zeta.
Is sorority initiation scary?
5. Creepy rituals will occur. Unlike the movies, sorority initiation is not scary and gross. Instead, harmless rituals are performed that seem cult-like at first glance, but have been a part of your sorority since the beginning of its existence.
All sorority members are able to drop from their sorority at any time as long as they are in good financial standing. So choosing when you want to drop your sorority is totally up to you.
Big/Little Reveal!!
So for those who know nothing about Greek Life (don't worry, that was me a year ago) every sorority has Bigs and Littles. Basically, every new member is a Little and gets a Big, who is someone a year older than them to show them the ropes and hang with a ton.
Yes! Literally any woman in college can go through sorority recruitment and join a sorority regardless if they are introverted or extroverted. You shouldn't let the fact that you're shy or introverted hold you back from joining a sorority.
What do dues pay for? Sorority membership dues are fees paid to a chapter or inter/national organization to fund things such as events, chapter programming and operational expenses relating to that specific chapter.
Most fraternities and sororities charge new members money for initiation, pledge and building fees. These are one-time fees that vary in cost from one Greek house to another, but it seems that women are more expensive to house and care for.
Most chapters post the GPA minimum on their chapter website or on the Panhellenic website. If you know a house sets a 3.2 minimum and you have a 3.4 GPA, you are most likely clear for that house, assuming you do not have issues.
Students often want to know if they should add Greek life to their resumes, and if so, how they can highlight such experiences in professional and relevant ways. It is recommended that you always include sorority or fraternity information on your resume, as many components of your membership are selling points.
Recruitment is the formal process through which sororities find new members and officially ask them to join. In any given year, a lot of girls are going to be interested in joining sororities, and there are often a lot of sororities at every university.
Aside from providing a space for new students to meet like-minded friends, sororities do serve a greater purpose for its members. Over the years of belonging to a sorority or fraternity while in university, students will feel like they're a part of a community, a sisterhood, or a brotherhood.
How does being in a sorority help you in the future?
Members have the opportunity to have their views challenged and learn more about the world. These new interactions help create well-rounded members who are more caring and empathetic toward others. It also prepares them for a career full of meeting new people with diverse perspectives.
One of the most important tenets? Be open and honest with everyone around you. This might seem obvious, but some of the time, people feel like they have to put on a front. Some sisters-to-be will go out of their way to create (what they believe to be) a “perfect” version of themselves, free of uncertainties.
Your sorority is your place to socialize, get engaged, give back and learn about what really matters to you. It's your place to grow during your four years in college, with lessons and memories you'll cherish for life.
Whether you are on your sorority's executive board or not, being in a sorority helps you gain leadership skills that will last a lifetime! After graduation, you will still have the opportunity to maintain those leadership skills by participating in regional or even national sorority organizations.
MYTH: Being in a Sorority Means Paying for Your Friendships
Dues are essential to making sure that a sorority will be recognized and allowed to participate in events on campus. But paying dues doesn't mean that you're buying your friends!
These dues go toward chapter expenses and activities such as educational programming, fundraising events or sisterhood activities. They also cover things such as insurance for each member and fees to the inter/national organization to ensure they can provide educational and helpful resources to chapters.
Sororities emphasize academics, and most have a grade point average requirement between 2.5 and 3.0. Some follow the academic guidelines set by their national or international organizations.
The Panhellenic required GPA should be listed on your college's Panhellenic website. Most Panhellenic minimum GPAs are around 2.5 to 3.0. However, many times, each sorority's minimum GPA is higher than the GPA on the website.
Initiation – A formal ceremony during which a man or woman begins full membership in an organization. Interfraternity Council (IFC) – The representative body of all men's fraternities.
