I recently submitted my housing application and ranked as following: Birnkrant, Pardee, Marks Tower, Marks Hall, and Trojan Hall. I didn’t have the best experience in high school with friends (Not that I wasn’t social, just wasn’t surrounded by good people), and really hope that changes in college. With that, I hear the social scene in Greek life is great, but is it necessary to make friends? I’m not crazy social to be in New North but I want to be able to make friends easily. Do you think I should join a sorority? What are the additional costs, anyways? If USC is granting me $60k/year, how much of a difference would I have to pay if I were to join a sorority? Is joining a sorority also the only way to meet guys? Because I want to have a well rounded social life.
My older daughter had zero interest in Greek life at USC and maintained a long-distance relationship all her time at USC. She is now a senior. But realistically, it seemed to keep her way too anti-social. She made only a handful of friends while there. My younger daughter, a freshman, also had zero interest in Greek life until she met a handful of girls who all belong to the same sorority, and they seemed to match her personality well. She sort of deems it as the anti-sorority sorority as it is not clique-ish or petty by any means. She at least found them to be refreshing and not at all what she was expecting. They even offered her a bid into the sorority without rushing. She recently joined and will even start living in that sorority house starting next term in the fall. What we have found is that Greek life can be rather expensive unless you also live within the house. At least that is the case with this specific sorority. In their case, living within the house and even paying the sorority fees is less overall combined than just the traditional costs of room/board within USC Housing. As any girl can go to any fraternity party, Greek life is not essential for girls at USC by any means. You can clearly meet guys without being in a sorority if you choose to… even without frat parties. But Greek life does afford you the opportunity to make many new friends and have a # of events and social functions to participate in…
You certainly don’t have to go Greek to meet guys at USC, that’s for sure. Only 22% are Greek at USC, so 4 out of 5 guys are NOT in a frat there. It is really a personal choice and sororities differ greatly in their personality. So don’t decide now, just explore that possibility when you get there. You have time and checking into them can be fun and a good opportunity to meet people. Just have an open mind - there is no right or wrong answer, just a personal choice.
I found this little overview, there is obviously a lot online about the system at USC.
I’d say go ahead and rush, and if you like it, stick with it. It’s not for everyone, but you never know unless you try. Depending on the sorority, dues can be $3000-$6000/semester, that is, for the Panhellenic sororities. The multicultural and professional ones have much lower dues ($200-$500).
I’m not in Greek life and was never really interested, and am doing just fine in terms of friends, however, I did meet most of my friends through organizations I’m in and jobs I’ve had (marching band and RAing). So I’d say if Greek life doesn’t work out, try joining organizations you’re interested and meet people through that.
I’ve heard that starting with the incoming freshman class, there will be no freshman rush until spring. Thus, you have the entire fall semester to check out the school and decide if Greek life is something you may be interested in, without having the pressure to actually rush at that time.
As a father of a recent USC sorority-joining grad, I’d say yes. Initially I was opposed to the idea of my trustee scholar
daughter having her studies negatively impacted by the Greek life, but I didn’t get a vote. As it turned out, being in a sorority in some ways enhanced her academic success! She had an instant social life, could focus on studies without feeling like an outcast, and used the house as a place to get support and sustenance. The result was four very enjoyable as well as productive years, along with wild success in her academic pursuits. She was a Theta if that helps.
I don’t know about USC, but at most schools the gpa of the houses is higher than the gpa of women in general and of the school’s overall gpa. This is true for most sports teams too (higher than the school’s average).
My daughter who is in a sorority and on a sports team is, therefore, a genius.