I never thought I would be the sorority girl “type”. Before college, all I really knew about sororities was the image movies portrayed of them —tons of parties, dumb blondes, hazing. I wasn’t really interested in Greek life.
Then, my sophomore year of college all the girls in my dorm signed up for recruitment. I still didn’t expect much but I wrote my name down as a pledge. When recruitment came, I was absolutely overwhelmed by how intense the process was. TBH, the clapping and chanting really freaked me out. But I met some really cool girls, learned more about philanthropies, and found a house that I fit in.
I am a proud member of Alpha Chi Omega. I fell for AXΩ when I heard about their projects to raise awareness for domestic violence. Never thinking that someday I’d be VP of philanthropy.
Throughout the next three years, I definitely had my ups and downs within the sorority. Sometimes I was in love with my sisterhood and other times… I was wondering why the hell I joined. Like anything, there are pros and cons to sorority life. In the end, I’m glad there will always be thousands of real strong women who have my back.
Is sorority life right for you?
Con: You’re not all going to get along
Sororities are made up of typically hundreds of women. Alpha Chi Omega had 200+ sisters in my chapter when I was still in school (and that was considered small). That’s A LOT of women in the same room during chapter meetings. Odds are, out of over 200 hundred people, you’re not going to get along with all of them! Yes, you’re all in the same sorority but that doesn’t mean you all have similar hobbies or interests. Some of you will click, some won’t.
Pro: You’ll meet some of your best friends
The girls you do click with in your sorority will likely become your best friends. There are so many events to attend that you’ll end up being together all the time and will bond. Plus you’re not just friends… you’re sisters…
Con: It can get expensive
I absolutely hate when people say sororities are for “buying friends”. However, sororities DO cost money. You know all those events you will be attending or holding? Your money will go towards decorating, food, tee shirts, your crest, and most important, your philanthropy! To me: It’s totally worth it.
Pro: It can open you up to TONS of opportunities
Because of Alpha Chi Omega, I’ve gotten to travel the country, network with other successful women, and make memories that’ll last a lifetime. You’ll meet so many new people and learn tons of new things from being in a sorority. This is sure to open the door to even greater opportunities in the future!
Con: Points! Rules! Requirements!
Like everything in life… sororities have rules. In disregard to what movies may portray, parties and alcohol are not allowed in chapter houses. It’s also typical of a sorority to have a GPA standard, as well as other expectations. Sisters are expected to attend a certain amount of events and require a number of completed hours of service. After a while, all the requirements can get exhausting! If you join a sorority, you’re going to be busy.
Pros: It’ll get you out of your comfort zone
I never thought in a billion years that I would be in a sorority but here I am. Multiple times, I’ve had to challenge myself and do things that I may have been scared to do at first. Being in Alpha Chi helped me grow and step out of my comfort zone. I’ll always remember Philanthropy night, I volunteered to give a meaningful speech to hundreds of pnms. It was definitely nerve-wracking but I’m so proud of myself. Your sisters will always support you.
Pros: You get to stand for a cause you’re passionate about
Isn’t that what it’s all about? Alpha Chi Omega’s philanthropy is domestic violence awareness, which is extremely important to me. Through sorority events, you’ll be able to raise money for your philanthropy and make a difference. It also gives you an opportunity to talk about your cause whenever possible. I finally felt like I had a voice in domestic violence awareness and place where I felt understood.