Q: What are some pros and cons of going Greek?
A: Of course sorority sugar is all about the positives of greek life, but I will list a few of the challenges too! xoxo ;)
✬ 40 sorority sugar PROS of joining a sorority: ✬
Immediate group of girlfriends on campus.
Security away from home and someone to watch your back.
Camaraderie with like-minded sisters.
Emotional support during good times and bad.
Taking an oath to keep your standards high.
Academic accountability and maintaining a decent GPA.
Practicing responsibility and being a dependable sister.
Contributing to sorority programs, meetings and events.
Participating in volunteer opportunities to help the less fortunate.
Being held accountable for behavioral choices.
Numerous leadership opportunities available every year.
Enjoying a sisterhood social calendar, retreats, parties and more.
Enjoying social time and teamwork with fraternities on campus.
Joining in all-greek fundraisers and competitive greek games.
Taking advantage of many creative outlets like crafting, painting, decorating, dancing, singing and more.
Learning people skills, how to make conversation, how to “sell” the sorority and recruit PNMs.
Managing projects and motivating members.
Building closer relationships with sisters through the big/little program.
Experiencing the secret rituals of a chapter which have been practiced for hundreds of years.
Honoring a creed which emphasizes the highest form of behavior.
Being loyal and true to meaningful life principles.
Learning to have patience and respect for others.
Fundraising and learning about effective money raising techniques.
Learning about publicity, marketing, social media and advertising.
Sharing and caring about others beyond your own self interests.
Always having friends to go places and do things with.
Being accepted for who you are inside and out.
Making sacrifices when times get tough to maintain membership.
Meeting your future bridesmaids.
Enjoying a gateway to other leadership opportunities on campus outside of the greek community.
Participating in the Panhellenic Council and other committees connected to sorority membership.
Connecting with alumnae who can be helpful on a personal and professional level.
Networking with members across the country.
Lifetime membership and a chance for friendship no matter where you live.
Meeting role models to learn from and look up to.
Sorority education, sessions, conventions and other enrichment programs from national headquarters.
Proudly wearing greek letters, a sorority badge, and displaying greek love through decorations, accessories, jewelry, etc.
Superior housing on many campuses. Living in the sorority house is spectacular compared to the dorms and college apartments.
The food is much better at the sorority house and sharing meals with sisters is extra bonding time.
Just plain FUN during college and as an alumnae.
✬ 5 CONS of joining a sorority (for some people): ✬
Dues: Like any large club, dues must be paid for operating the organization. There are many membership benefits from paying dues, but for some potential new members (PNMs) the monthly fees can be too much of a burden. If so, I suggest working part time and during the summers to help pay for greek costs. Also choosing a college with lower sorority dues will also help. There are solutions to meeting the dues requirements.
Rules: Some PNMs find the rules and regulations in greek life too demanding. Despite what you see in the movies, sororities have very high standards of behavior. This can cramp the style of girls who want to party hard, let their grades plummet and not attend any chapter functions. If you are a total free spirit, then sorority requirements may be too restrictive for you. But if a PNM wants to grow, learn to be accountable, and mature as a person, then a sisterhood can help with transitioning into adult life.
Parties: Parents often think that going greek automatically leads to excessive drinking and drugs. While there are lots of social opportunities available to sorority members, it is possible to have a blast without drinking yourself to death. Freshmen must quickly learn how to balance their new freedoms with studying and doing sorority activites. I contend that being in a sorority helps a girl balance her “life choices” in a positive way. If she gets carried away with partying every night, she won’t be able to maintain her GPA, and the sorority’s mandatory requirements will kick in. Unlike non-greeks, a sorority member has a chapter to remind her what’s most important. Students who don’t go greek party just as much or more than greeks. But they don’t have national organizations holding them accountable for keeping their academics strong and behaving decently.
Fear of Hazing: In modern times hazing is very rare in the 26 NPC sororities. Hazing of any kind as never been a big problem in sororities, as it has been in some fraternities. Sad to say fraternity members sometime haze their pledges with excessive drinking, which leads to very unfortunate results several times a year. No new member should feel pressured to drink too much or do anything dangerous. Sororities have strict anti-hazing policies and bend over backwards to avoid even a hint of scandal. A PNM should not fear hazing when pledging an upstanding national chapter. Sisters are all about spoiling their little sisters, giving them gifts and treating them like gold. I wish some fraternities would take a less aggressive approach and not damage the reputation of all greeks with their bad behavior.
Time Commitment: For PNMs who are on a competitive sports team, have demanding double majors, or are involved in performing and/or traveling ~ going greek can be a huge challenge. There are mandatory meetings and events within any sorority. There is a minimum time commitment which must be accepted by all members. Add to that, extra recruitment hours, retreats, education sessions, initiation, etc… and some PNMs are looking at serious scheduling conflicts. Some team members choose to bond with their fellow athletes as their friend group instead. The same goes for girls who choose to join pre-professional organizations for students within that specific field. I recommend speaking honestly with the sororities in advance or during rush, to explore their policies for students with extra obligations. Many chapters will work with special circumstances and make accommodations. To avoid agony, make sure being a drama major and being in a greek organization will work before you pledge.
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✬ For more advice on going greek, please visit the sorority sugar Recruitment FAQ Page!