<p>what have any of you guys heard about the sororities on campus?
also, is being part of a sorority and frat really time consuming?(what kind of things do you have to do in a sorority)
are most ppl in a sorority/fraternity?</p>
<p>From what I know, VERY time consuming when you are rushing/pleding, not as bad after, but still a real time commitment, and about 15% of students are memebers of a frat/sorority</p>
<p>get the book "Girls on the Verge" by Vendela Vida. She is a reporter and for one of the chapters she went thru rush at ucla and ended up receiving a bid to a sorority.</p>
<p>I decided to post my personal opinion here, which is that most women are better off NOT rushing as frosh. Let me explain why. Rush happens before school even begins, so you have to choose a sorority before you've even found out what college life is like. For most frosh, they are anxious to begin with about starting college. Will I make friends? How hard will it be? And so on. </p>
<p>Then throw in rush, where the women in the various houses are judging you, deciding if they want you in their house. As you might know, the first night you briefly meet women from each house but after that you return by invitation only, and the houses are allowed to invite fewer each nite. So cuts are guaranteed by the system, and this can be crushing to entering frosh who may get few (or none) invites back; they begin to wonder if something's wrong with them, whether they'll make friends at ucla, and so on. Not only that, but since they don't know the houses they rely on rumor to find out the reps of various houses they are visiting, rumor that can be quite a distance from reality!</p>
<p>As a pledge you will be spending lots of time at the house because they want to bond the pledges together, as well as to the house. This is time you could have spent making friends in the dorms, at a time when everyone is new and are looking to build social circles. It was my observation that women who pledged as frosh tended to be "super-sorority girls", focusing their life around their house and not that involved with people at the dorms. This may have been self-selection, or as a result of spending so much time with the house, I don't know.</p>
<p>And I'm not trying to bash sororities, btw. I think many people find them to be a rewarding part of their college experience, in which they make friends that last thru college and beyond. What I suggest, though, is rush sophomore year. By then things have changed. You have a group of friends, so joining a house adds to them rather than replaces them. You will have a year of college under your belt and more self-confidence, which in turn makes you more attractive TO the houses. If you don't get called back to some favorite houses, it won't be such a crushing blow. And over your frosh year you'll have gotten to know frosh/soph's in various houses who live in the dorms so you'll know the type of women each house has, plus if you have friends in houses you'll have someone there pulling for you. And you'll still have 3 years to enjoy the greek experience.</p>
<p>I'd echo this advice for guys, of not joining frosh year. But rush for guys is much less formal than sororities, and many guys like going thru rush frosh year with no intention of joining. Its a good way to go to lots of parties and meet some guys in various houses, then rush for real as a soph.</p>
<p>That's some good insight, thanks for that mikemac. </p>
<p>Ddoes anybody know about the financial cost(s) to rushing/pledging?</p>
<p>I was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority for a bit over a quarter before I quit. I rushed (I was quite naive to the entire process and did not really understand I was being "graded" so carefully on my hair, height, weight, etc) during Fall of my second year at UCLA and was offered a bid to KD. I accepted and went through the entire process (and finally pledged). Toward the end of the Fall Quarter, I ran and was elected as the Secretary of Kappa Delta (a Council Position). I attended the retreat/training and quit both the Secretary position and Kappa Delta Sorority.</p>
<p>I am writing an indepth article about my experience and the experiences of other UCLA ex-sorority members which will be featured in the December issue of FEM Newsmagazine (free at UCLA).</p>
<p>Sororities can be very time-consuming as there are mandatory dinners/meetings on Monday nights which run from 5:30-8. Also, "ritual meetings" and mandatory as are certain other events. The social events are usually not mandatory but there is definite pressure to attend (some houses award points to those who attend). </p>
<p>Sororities at UCLA do not haze. Instead they treat new members VERY WELL. In fact, new members are generally treated better than returning members to ensure they stay with the house.</p>
<p>As for price, Kappa Delta had an annual charge of around $1700 (its higher for those living in the house). Also, there are monthly charges of $120-210. You will also be expected to buy certain types of clothes for certain events (this can get quite costly). If you take on a little sister, expect to pay lots of money for their presents. In short, it's not cheap. Attending rush, however, is only $20-25.</p>
<p>If you have the stomach for it, I recommend going through Rush. It is an experience unlike any other (take this however you like). Although my sorority experience was negative, I do not think I would be able to make justified criticisms of the Greek System without having been "Greek" for a moment in time myself. </p>
<p>For more information, feel free to e-mail me at <a href="mailto:agent_michi@hotmail.com">agent_michi@hotmail.com</a></p>
<p>Thank you agentmichi for sharing us your experience with a sorority, it was very helpful and insightful!</p>
<p>Besides the Panhellenic Council, how are the Greeks like in the other Councils such as the Asian Greek Council, National-PanHellenic Council, Latino Greek Council, and the Multi-Interest Greek Council?</p>
<p>I don't know if I want to actually join a sorority anymore, but I'm still interested in rush, so out of curiosity what exactly are the differences anyway between the various sororities? like what should one be looking for during rush week?</p>
<p>Well, each house will tell you that they are not "the typical sorority". Take this with a grain of salt. Remember that all the sorority members will be on their best behavior during Rush as they 1) want women to want to join them and 2) want positive public relations. </p>
<p>Beyond this, I can tell you that Kappa Kappa Gamma is known as the "pretty/hot blonde" sorority. Kappa Alpha Theta is known as the "rich, hot girl" sorority" and Alpha Epsilon Phi is known as the "nice sorority". I have heard that Delta Delta Delta is very open sexually, whatever that means.</p>
<p>When I rushed, one girl asked me the same question three times. When she realized her error she apologized and confessed that everyone was so tired from being kept in the Sorority for the entire week working for Rush's success (they do have goal quotas which they have to meet).</p>
<p>I would recommend going through Rush (even if you KNOW you don't want to join a sorority) because it will give you a glimpse into the Greek scene.</p>
<p>Aside from Pan-hellenic, the other sororities are really quite diverse. Most of them don't have houses, and they usually have some sort of theme: ethnicity, major, etc. These are usually a lot lesser well known, and often don't have quite as many activities. I don't know a lot of about specific sororities, but from what I've heard, the two asian ones go by the saying "chi's to bed, Theta's to wed"</p>
<p>^ that is in reference to Chi Alpha Delta and Theta Kappa Phi (the two asian sororities). Don't know if that's true or not haha. </p>
<p>as for sororities, i hear a lot about gamma phi beta... they seem pretty involved and seem to be a popular sorority to join. i believe they also have the highest average GPA among all the house sororities.</p>
<p>from mikemac's post, i get the feeling it's not so much about the sorority YOU choose, but which sorority chooses YOU. right?</p>
<p>Oh, and a lot of sororities have spring rush, a few have winter rush too. So fall's not your only chance to get involved.</p>
<p>
[quote]
from mikemac's post, i get the feeling it's not so much about the sorority YOU choose, but which sorority chooses YOU. right?
[/quote]
I'd say its a 2-way street, but one way is a highway and the other a counry lane :) </p>
<p>There is a lot of selection going on by the houses, and they are the ones choosing who they invite back. Based on a quick conversation the 1st nite, for example, they can cut you right then and there with no appeal. On the other hand, you get a choice of accepting the invitation or not, and some people do get more invitations than others.</p>
<p>BTW there is a discussion board devoted to greek stuff that's worth reading thru if you're interested in the greek system. See "weird rush stories" , a thread that's been building for 4 years at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/7p7r4%5B/url%5D">http://tinyurl.com/7p7r4</a> for an informal guide of what NOT to do! And for more general rush info go a level up from that directory.</p>
<p>Yes, Mikemac said it correctly. ;) They say it's a "mutual selection" process, but I think the sororities have more "power" although they often reference to "the computer". (I am not saying a computer does not sort the results, I just think its odd how "the computer" is talked about like some mystic machine of destiny)</p>
<p>Just a tiny point (not to nickpick) but Pan-Hellenic= historically African American sororities. Panhellenic= historically white sororities (the 11 sororities on Hilgard).</p>
<p>Gamma Phi Beta does have the highest GPA on the row. However, you'll find good students and bad students at each one-- along with different majors. </p>
<p>Another "tip"-- it seems that those in the Greek System have temporarily quit their sororities' facebook group to prevent "researching", tricky tricky. =P So, don't be surprised if you cannot find the people you meet during Rush on thefacebook.</p>
<p>agent michi, are there a few sororities that EVERY girl seems to want to rush for and vice versa? what is the best way to describe rush...cut-throat and traumatic LoL or interesting? is it even worth it?!!</p>
<p>Well, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta are known to be the two "top houses". Even those who don't want to join those two might be flattered to be invited as a nod to the ego.</p>
<p>Rush is not very cut throat. Yes, some will take it very seriously and talk badly about other people in their rush group. </p>
<p>However, it's a bit sad for the girls who only get invited back to 2 houses on the second day when other girls get invited back to 6-8. So, in that respect, it might be depressing. </p>
<p>But, even if you don't want to join a sorortiy, I would advise going through Rush because it is one of those things unlike any other-- very, very interesting. And, I would love to hear what you think of it. I was very shocked by it because it was so... weird, haha.</p>
<p>Just finished rush!</p>
<p>What a coincidence, I'm writing my article on Rush now. What do you think? (I told you it's an expeirence like no other) Did you accept a bid?</p>
<p>hehe my experience is a long story. I'll definitely have to email you. I actually enjoyed the rush experience itself. I had a great rush group, met a lot of nice girls, and I actually thought it was fun LoL. Only bad thing is I have super blistered feet and I flaked out of all the plans I had made wiht my roomies (who chose not to rush) for this week so I felt guilty about that, but oh well they've been understanding. </p>
<p>The one regret that I have is that I wish I had asked more difficult/non generic questions, especially at the houses I immediately knew I had no interest in: like "So what exactly are you looking for--looks wise, personality wise..." * "Are you this nice all the time or is it just during rush?" * "How many people in the house do you actually get along with?" << this one I actually asked at some. </p>
<p>The two sororities I liked best and wrote down on preference night were ones that are kinda well known and have reps like haha "slutty" and "druggie" but I based my decision on which I thought overall had the most honest and genuine girls because it's too hard for them to be fake. The ones where I could go even during rush and immediately talk to them without everything sounded scripted or rehearsed. One of mine definitely had the "yeah we like to party, yeah we're who we are, not gonna lie-take it or leave it" type attitude. I appreciated the straightforwardness of everyone--and the other, the one I accepted the bid for, I just felt a real connection with from the beginning and immediately felt at home there. Also, one of my favorite counselors (quite possibly one of the most blatantly sweet people ever) at my summer orientation I found out was a member of this sorority, and I figured, if this is the kind of person that can be happy there, then it must be a cool place. </p>
<p>So yeah I accepted a bid, and I really do love the sorority, but I'm pretty sure that I'm actually going to de-pledge---right away. Only because everything happened so fast this week! It's only FIRST quarter of my FIRST year and I need to stop treating everyday as if the world is going to end tomorrow and just take things slow and one day at a time. I feel obligated ot just spread myself thin and get involved int oo much which is unhealthy.</p>
<p>I want some more time to explore college on my own and experience more things before comitting to something I'm not 100% passionate about. So maybe later? maybe never? maybe try for the same one? </p>
<p>I'm glad I did fall rush though. It was definitely worth it. :)</p>