You have heard the nice, the unhealthy and the ugly. It’s time to discover the thought and kind your individual opinion. Whether or not you’re in highschool considering considering the thought for the longer term or are coming into faculty this 12 months, it’s useful to listen to the constructive and unfavorable facets so that you just’re in a position to make an informed resolution on whether or not or not going Greek is best for you. Be aware: I’m particularly specializing in the social Greek organizations, although there are a lot of nice educational Greek homes on the market, too!
As somebody coming into faculty, I used to be desperate to set myself other than the highschool crowd I loathed. I noticed ladies as imply and catty (aside from a treasured few) and being girlfriends was extra about gossip and cliques than friendship and help as a result of that’s the way it was at my highschool. When my sister advised I be part of a sorority to make new girlfriends, my preliminary response was one thing alongside the strains of:
Are you nuts? Faculty is meant to be my time to get away from all that pettiness! Since I went to an area faculty all-girls highschool, I discovered myself caught hanging out with the numerous ladies from my highschool that attended the identical faculty. I started to understand it’s quite a bit more durable to make pals of the identical intercourse than you’d suppose, apart from the few you make within the dorms.
I imply, what do you say?
Hello, you look cool and I swear I’m not a freak – will you be my good friend? At that time, I began to think about the thought of going Greek. It was a method to, on the very least, meet loads of new ladies in the course of the rush course of. I assured myself I might all the time decline to affix if I felt it wasn’t for me, so why not simply discover my choices? As I embarked upon the push course of, I quickly realized that not all ladies had been alike. I started to make pals and be taught that there have been loads of ladies on the market identical to me, who needed to have constructive friendships. I discovered I had quite a bit in frequent with ladies from all completely different homes and that the stereotype of homes not getting alongside wasn’t the fact.
I ended up becoming a member of a home that I nonetheless like to this present day. I nonetheless keep up a correspondence with pals from my home, in addition to with people who joined different homes. The rivalries are extra of a joke than something, at the least in my expertise. Whereas I positively consider my expertise was constructive on the entire, I’m conscious that there have been each constructive and unfavorable attributes to going Greek. In the long run, nevertheless, I’m grateful that I took the prospect and, trying again, I would not have it every other manner.
What are the professionals and cons of going Greek?
• You’ll Increase Your Social Circle
If you happen to’re shy, like I used to be, it’s a straightforward option to make pals and divide out of your highschool group. You’ll make pals – much more so than simply your explicit home. You’ll meet individuals in the course of the rush course of and at “Greek” actions, each in sororities and fraternities. If you happen to’re attending or planning to attend a bigger faculty, it makes campus appear quite a bit smaller since you’re included within the Greek neighborhood. Feeling like a small fish within the ocean might be fairly daunting, so making campus really feel smaller might be fairly comforting at instances.
• Management Alternatives
Greek homes have alternatives for budding leaders to observe their expertise, by positions involving philanthropy, recruitment and social gatherings. It’s a good way to realize management expertise and have enjoyable whereas doing it.
I’ve all the time had an curiosity in occasion planning, for instance, and my pals nurtured my curiosity by permitting me to assist plan recruitment and philanthropy occasions. They had been nice experiences that helped me develop my expertise and pursuits. It’s additionally a good way to mentor others and achieve mentors as you mature in faculty, by large/little applications. The applications give underclassmen somebody older to assist mentor them and information them by the push course of and, when that scholar turns into an upperclassman, does the identical for a scholar in a unique pledge class. I had a beautiful “large sister” who was all the time accessible for recommendation and steering. I seemed as much as her then and I nonetheless look as much as her now. In flip, I used to be in a position to have a “little sister” that I offered related recommendation and steering to.
• Housing Choices
If you happen to’re attending a school the place Greek life is a outstanding a part of campus tradition, you’re more likely to have the choice of dwelling in mansion-like sorority and fraternity homes. Not a nasty choice, when you don’t thoughts dwelling with fifty different individuals identical to you. It’s not as unhealthy because it sounds – it’s really fairly enjoyable.
• Tutorial Requirements
Many homes have requirements that members should meet academically to stay in the home or the scholar will probably be positioned on probation. It’s a great way to make sure your grades keep the place they need to – although not all Greek homes have these necessities.
• You’ll Make Connections
Associates, sure. However, going Greek can even assist with networking, too. Many instances, together with a fraternity or sorority affiliation will help an interviewer establish with you over the numerous Greek traditions, even when they’re not out of your explicit home. (It might probably even have the alternative response.) I’ve personally solely had constructive reactions, however I’m certain there are skeptics on the market, too. There are additionally alumni golf equipment for people who transfer to new cities, so you might have instant-connections with others. I’ve had a number of pals transfer to cities the place they did not know anybody and having the social community from our sorority made all of the distinction on this planet.
• It’s Costly
It’s no secret that going Greek additionally takes loads of inexperienced. You must pay dues, typically even further to attend occasions and there’s loads of added in prices that are not talked about like, say, all of the swag you’ll need to don together with your letters. Do your analysis earlier than you determine you can not afford to hurry. For instance, dwelling in my sorority home (full with a chef and maid) was really corresponding to dwelling within the dorms.
• It Takes Up Time
Contemplate your schedule, then think about one other schedule on high of it. Whereas conferences and a few occasions, like philanthropy and recruitment, may be necessary, others are optionally available. Although, likelihood is, you’ll need to attend the enjoyable, frequent social occasions.
• The Stigma
As with most social organizations, a stigma can come together with membership. There’s the stigma of the Greek system as an entire after which there may also be stigmas or stereotypes of explicit homes on campus. Talking from expertise, I can say with certainty that the majority of those stereotypes are false, with an exception or two in thoughts.
• The Guidelines
Whereas not all homes are the identical, many have loads of guidelines and necessities, like particular research hours or attendance insurance policies. If you happen to’re extra of a free spirit, this is probably not your factor.
• Exclusivity
Whereas some may even see this as a professional, it may positively be a con. Being part of a corporation that does not welcome everybody who desires to affix positively can put unfavorable karma into the world. It’s particularly a con when you’re the one not being welcomed.
• Hazing Potential
Hazing is against the law and now not tolerated on most faculty campuses. Most of the time, Greek organizations are extraordinarily cautious of following hazing guidelines. You have in all probability heard the identical horror tales and I discovered that, at the least in my explicit home, had been all mere rumors. There are, nevertheless, all the time these exceptions to the principles. In the end, the purpose of going Greek is to make pals and, within the phrases of upperclassmen in my home, “Why would we haze you? We need to be your pals and pals aren’t imply to 1 one other.” If you happen to ever end up in a state of affairs that makes you even barely uncomfortable, one thing is not proper. You should not be part of any group that will require members to place you at risk or really feel uncomfortable. If that occurs, name it a day, as a result of these individuals aren’t your actual pals.
