Hi, could someone elaborate on what being in a sorority at UChicago is like? I seem to only be able to find discussions of fraternities, or Greek life in general, but I would like a greater understanding of sororities/girls’ experiences. I love every aspect of UChicago (the CORE, the ECs, the campus, the city), but I am very anxious about the social scene because I am very extroverted and am worried there will not be a social outlet for me…
I don’t think there is any college that doesn’t have a social outlet for virtually everyone.
@CU123 I would tend to agree, but seeing as how UChicago is known for the phrase “where fun goes to die,” that definitely doesn’t settle well with extroverted admitted students like myself.
DD is there and with a total of roughly 7000 (18-22 yr olds) undergrads you won’t have a problem finding a social outlet.
Tired student- my student was a male but he had many friends who were active in sororities. My impression is that it is a slice of life at UChicgo but active and strong. Hang in there and someone who knows more than I do will post shortly!
@tiredstudent1 My first year D is a fellow extrovert and loves UChicago. She’s found plenty of social outlets and has made close friendships in her House, with students she met in class and through Greek life. She estimates about 15-20% of the student body is affiliated w/a frat or sorority. There are 4 sororities that are active on campus though unlike many frats none have their own houses: Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII), Delta Gamma (DG), Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta), and Pi Beta Phi (Pi Phi). They are all very active in the social scene and perform community service in and around UChicago.
Sororities along with fraternities have a fall rush and actively try to recruit new members beginning informally during O-Week and continuing into the 2nd week of classes. There was a bid process where she ranked her top choices and ended up with her first choice but would have been happy with her 2nd choice. She liked both sororities and basically let the chips fall. Her sorority sponsors weekly mixers (typically with one of the fraternities) and fundraising events throughout the year for various charities. What’s nice is that the sororities seem to be well respected on campus and are not exclusionary compared to Greek life on other campuses. Next year, she will be living with 3 friends one of whom is a member of a different sorority and one who didn’t rush at all. Also, she’s received some great advice from upperclassmen in her sorority on classes, professors and internships. Greek life is not for everyone and certainly there are detractors on campus, but for my D it has become one (but certainly not the only) center of life outside of class.
Here’s an article in the student newspaper on Greek life: https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2017/9/15/uchicago-greek-life/
And info on the sorority recruitment process from the UChicago Panhellenic Council for this past fall:
http://uchicagopanhel.■■■■■■■■■■/recruitment.html
Honestly Khurana had the right idea at Harvard to “phase out” social organizations like fraternities, sororities, and finals clubs. Unfortunately his policy that emulated Amherst, Williams, and Bowdoin, didn’t pan out into a “phasing out,” but the strict penalties for students joining those organizations that did come into effect is a step in the right direction. As others have said you can definitely find a social outlet when your on an urban campus with 7000 other kids. There is really no reason to attach being an extrovert to needing to join greek life. Greek life tends to be big at small rural colleges because there are 2000 kids instead of 7000 and because the campus tends to be extremely isolated and not 30 minutes from the center of a major city. If you can’t separate the social experience you want in college from greek life, then I would say just go to Dartmouth.
@tired_student don’t you have a sibling there already? What does he/she say? Don’t forget about the house system - that’s kind of a built-in social group right there.