Five Struggles You Relate To If You're In Greek Life
Start writing a post
Student Life

Five Struggles You Relate To If You're In Greek Life

Because it's real, and a big deal!

337
Five Struggles You Relate To If You're In Greek Life
Wikimedia Commons

Pretty much every college campus in America has some form of Greek life whether it be a national or local organization, and Hollywood has given their portrayals of what they think that lifestyle is like. However I can tell you from personal experience it is nothing like in the movies, and there aren't always super glamorous moments happening everywhere. If I'm being honest, there's a lot of crap Greeks have to go through that nobody talks about.

1. We lose friends for joining Greek life

Everybody assumes that Greeks are super popular and have a lot of friends and admirers, but nobody ever discusses the friends you lose for joining an org. They may think you're trying to buy friends or that they aren't good enough for you anymore and get mad at you, offering an ultimatum, me or them. Or they may join a different org and you two never talk again There may also be the friend that feels like you're selling out and trying to be someone you're not, when in reality you're just trying to explore yourself within another group.

2. Constantly having to fight the school administration

Whether it's trying to have a bake sale or fighting being disbanded, there's always some sort of battle happening. Want to have a Greek Week event? File a formal description, a validation of use, itemized list of purchases, and copies of your social security number, birth certificate, and fingerprints. Oh, and don't forget your immortal soul, too! Another org on campus does something stupid, and everybody gets interrogated to make sure everybody is 'behaving' because each org is totally the same.

3. People say derogatory things about Greek life

...And it really hurts! Probably the thing that bothered me the most in my sorority was when people would say we buy our friends. First of all, we collect dues once a semester and that money goes to buying new merchandise and supporting events that school funding won't really cover. Also, the events covered by dues are only Greek Week, which is for recruitment and to fund bake sales for charity. Yeah, big surprise, we actually do charity and the money actually gets to the organization. That is, after the university takes their cut for money they contributed.

4. People don't want to join due to fear

Don't get me wrong, hazing is a very serious issue and should NEVER be tolerated, but people assume that all Greeks haze their pledges and that's just not true. In my org, we didn't have to do one of the activities during our process if we felt uncomfortable or that it would put us at some sort of risk. Then we would collaborate with the pledge to find an activity worth the same value as the activity she could do instead. Usually we'd let her choose from a couple of options. Another misconception is that we're super cliquey and we don't like outsiders. Riddle me this, do you think people would join an org if the people didn't try to be nice to outsiders? Also, I always sat with my friends who were in other Greek orgs during lunch and always welcomed my non-Greek friends to join.

5. We have GPA requirements to keep up

On top of all our Greek activities and meetings we still have to find time for homework. If we fell below a certain GPA, we would have to go on academic probation to improve our grades, and if more than half the org was on probation, the sorority would go under review and they'd monitor us to see if our grades improved. If you were on academic probation from the org, you weren't allowed to participate in activities and meetings.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

53403
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

34325
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956867
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

181622
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments