<p>My d. has been accepted and has some concerns about the relationship between students who belong to a F. or S. and those who are I. Do all the students blend socially or is there an obvious divide? If in a sorority, are the different sororities still close with the others socially? She is uncertain about the whole Greek life. I tried to tell her of my own positive experience between those who belonged and those that did not when I attended school decades ago, but she is not interested in ancient history. I believe that her concerns are based on comments made by those not truly in the know and was wondering if anyone could appease her concerns.</p>
<p>Hi Dgm,</p>
<p>I honestly don’t think there is a divide between girls in different sororities and independents. I can’t speak about the long term since I’m only a freshman, and we’ve only been involved with Greek life since the beginning of this semester, but the majority of my good friends rushed a different sorority than I did, and our friendships haven’t changed. I also have a few very good friends on campus who went through the rush process but for various reasons didn’t end up in a sorority and our relationships are exactly the same as well. And my roommate didn’t rush at all.</p>
<p>One of the reasons Greek life isn’t very exclusive is because we don’t have housing for it. Having everyone live together, independent or not, encourages friendships across the board. For example, a friend in my sorority is rooming with three girls in another sorority next year.</p>
<p>And outside of Greek life, there are many girls who feel it’s not for them, for various reasons. If you daughter doesn’t like the idea, there are many like-minded girls here who feel the same way.</p>
<p>There isn’t a real divide at all between Greek and non-Greek on campus. There are superficial divides, like…on Fridays, sorority girls where sorority t-shirts and Sundays, the sororities have chapter meetings. And sororities/frats have their own socials, charity fundraising, etc. That’s about. I’m non-Greek, didn’t rush, had no interest in it, and I have friends who are Greek and non-Greek. It’s really not a big deal at all, and nobody cares which way you go. Rushing and pledging give you another social circle. They don’t eliminate your ability to take part in social circles that you’ve established before going Greek or those you’ll become a part of afterward. </p>
<p>Tell your daughter not to be concerned. Richmond rushes in the spring, too, so when/if she matriculates, it won’t be an issue right off the bat.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I think my daughter will be happy to her the replies to her concerns. She is unsure if she would want to join a sorority or not, but I don’t think she will be as nervous about it knowing it doesn’t play such a major role in a student’s social circles that it would either make her or break her socially at Richmond. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Dg, I had similar concerns about my freshman d and the “greek scene” as well, and I’ve posted on it before so I apologize beforehand to those who have read this before. Let’s face it: Greek life can be stifling on a small campus for those who chose not to partake in it all. Just by being independent in such a situation a student can be classified anyway.
Long story short: I have been delighted to find that the Greek scene at UR is not stifling. Yeah, there’s probably too many Greeks but she hasn’t felt as if she has been negatively affected by choosing not to participate in Greek life. Her roommate pledged, she didn’t and it’s all still cool.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>