Greek life is a huge aspect of the college where I plan on going. I don’t know much about Greek life, but from what I’ve heard, you have to be a part of it in order to make friends. Although this can’t be fully true, I’m still entertaining the prospect of rushing for a sorority.
How hard is it? Does hazing exist within sororities as well as fraternities? What decides whether or not I get in? I’m not the prettiest or most popular girl ever; in fact, I’m pretty awkward. Will that prevent me from getting in? I just want to be able to make friends, and I think joining a sorority would be a good experience… but you tell me. Is it worth it?
The answer I usually give to incoming freshmen is wait until sophomore or second semester freshman year to rush. That way you can ascertain if Greek life is something you’re interested in. Remember that it’s essentially a restrictive four year commitment and although you can go alum or simply quit, it’s easier to not join at all if you find out it’s not for you.
@whenhen makes a good point about knowing what you’re getting into, but at schools with competitive recruitments your best chance to get a bid is almost always as a freshman. Hopefully your school will have deferred recruitment so you have some time during the fall semester to see what Greek life (not to mention college life in general) is all about. You may find that a couple of clubs or service organizations will keep you so involved that you feel you don’t need to be in a sorority to make friends.
You don’t have to be the prettiest girl to get a bid, but being well-groomed and put together is important. You can prepare for the small talk by doing your homework: practicing answers to the questions you know you’ll be asked, learning about the sororities’ various philanthropies, and taking a genuine interest in the girls who are rushing you. Sororitysugar and sororitygirl101 are websites that might demystify some of the process. Your hometown may have a Panhellenic group that works with girls who are interested in Greek life, and you & your family may know Greek women from church, camp, school, work, etc that could write recs for you.
Thanks for all of your input, but I actually recently decided against going to the college which I was previously interested in! I will be attending a small, liberal arts college with absolutely NO Greek life. This was actually a big part in my decision. When visiting my previously #1 college a few weeks ago, even at 3pm there were frat boys wearing next to nothing dancing around their front lawns taking selfies and drinking with blondes. Needless to say, that is the epitome of everything I do not look for in a college. My advice? Don’t join Greek Life!
I am mainly opposed to Greek life because of all the negative things that are associated with it and partying in general. Hazing, sexual harassment, and rape are all some of the negative aspects that people tend to sweep under the rug.
I don’t think those issues are swept under the rug… They’re probably a lot more isolated than the media will have you believe – but “Sigma Omega hosts charity ball for juvenile diabetes” doesn’t mesh well with sensationalist journalism.
Greek life can have a very meaningful impact on the lives of those who participate; the philanthropic and networking opportunities last a lifetime and it’s a great way to build strong friendships. Sexual assault happens on college campuses everywhere - its an evil that needs to be dealt with and Greek life isn’t immune - but it’d be incorrect to suggest it is a distinctly Greek phenomena or that it runs rampant within all sororities and fraternities.
Exactly, rape does not occur exclusively in sororities and fraternities. Once again, you have failed to correctly read my comment. I clearly said that “because I would prefer not to be raped, I’m not going to a college that promotes partying.” I did not say that only members of sororities or fraternities get raped. Anyone is susceptible. It is a fact though, that alcohol consumption increases one’s risk of being involved in risky behaviors, namely sexual harassment or rape. In colleges that foster a partying atmosphere such as those with Greek life, alcohol consumption is much greater than at other colleges with a more academic climate.
Real question for discussion: is having a ‘party atmosphere’ or ‘academic atmosphere’ at any one college mutually exclusive? The way OP phrases it, it sounds like you can’t party and be part of an academic environment.
And - not to speculate too much - seems to be similar to the dichotomy between being “academic and conservative” and being “dateable” she draws in her other thread. You can have it both ways.
@Vctory - I was going to mention that but my smug sense of self got in the way; OP is attending Juniata which is a small LAC but I wouldn’t necessarily consider it the epitome of rigorous academics - and certainly not by virtue of its absence of Greek life.
Dartmouth has very, very pronounced Greek life and is one of the best schools in the world - as are Cornell and Penn who have a pretty substantial Greek presence; the public Ivies are all distinctly Greek (as are most other public flagships which are, by and large, all very good schools.)
More generally, many schools are work hard/play hard(er) sorts - this can be said for almost every top school in the country (except UChicago lol.)
I think there is something inherent within the college experience that lends itself to a the presence of a party atmosphere - a bunch of young people living together are going to want to have fun. (Even the engineering majors.)
Just so you guys know, Juniata is probably the least recognizable colleges on my list of acceptances. I chose it for a number of reasons, mainly because I already have a semester of classes done (from taking them in high school), and I have a full-ride scholarship. I almost commit to Gettysburg College actually, but the Greek life really turned me away from it.
@undeuxtroiscat I think that was what I was getting at in that thread about neurosurgeons and marriage. There are plenty of women who are devoted to their studies and aren’t “party girls” or whatever term was used but they still have boyfriends. The whole notion of changing who you are to render yourself more dateable seems really warped and destined for disaster.
Exactly. There are “academic and conservative” girls that are plenty dateable, and also “party girls” that are plenty “academic and conservative”. Making false dichotomies, and really just blatantly stereotyping people as seen on this specific thread re: Greek life isn’t a productive way of thinking and closes out many viable opportunities imo
I hope it works out for you, it’s upsetting that you have such negative feelings about Greek life especially since you have no experience with it. But just to address other things in your posts:
Many times greek life does more for the school community than other organizations. At my school, although only 15% of the student body, greek life students are community leaders.
Also, greek life does not necessarily equal party atmosphere.