When most people think of Greek Life, they think of enormous state schools, luxurious mansions and wild parties. However, this is not the only type of Greek Life that is present; many small schools not only have Greek Life, but a thriving Greek Life! Sure, at Loyola New Orleans we don't have the sheer numbers of women that state schools do, but that typically means that we are closer. That's just one of the many reasons that I love being Greek at a small school.
1. We actually know our sisters
When you're a part of a chapter of over 100 members, it can be a challenge to get to know even the names of every woman in your chapter. However, when you're a member of a chapter that's under 100 people it is much easier to know not only the names of your sisters, but also so much more. This makes chapters much closer.
While some may look down on the idea of smaller chapters, I wouldn't have it any other way. Learning over 100 names and faces sounds like way too much work.
2. Recruitment is shorter
Standing around in ridiculous heels and not being allowed to talk is not something that anyone enjoys and I honestly have no idea how girls at the big state schools who have week long (or worse, over a week long) recruitment do it. Not only that, but they have to talk to so many chapters that it seems near impossible to keep it straight.
Sometimes less is less and this is definitely true for recruitment.
3. You know people outside of your chapter, too
Because we don't have to spend all our time learning the names of over 100 members of a sorority, we have time to go out and find other people outside of our chapter. Plenty of girls are friends with women in other sororities as well as people who are not affiliated with any kind of Greek Life. This allows us to meet a huge variety of people who we may not have otherwise.
4. We attract a different group of girls than you'd imagine.
There are plenty of girls who are exactly the "sorority type" at small schools, but there are probably more girls who fall into the category of girls you would never guess would be in a sorority. They may not look like a sorority would be their style, but this diversity makes the chapter more fun.
5. You get closer to more of the girls
With fewer girls to get to know, we have the opportunity to be closer to our sisters. This is especially important during the new member period when girls are first entering sorority life. This makes it a lot easier to make friends with girls who aren't in your pledge class. It also means more girls know their Bigs well and have an established relationship with them before Big-Little Reveal.
6. Our dues are lower
No house, no problem. Sororities aren't cheap by any means, but without having to pay for a house it isn't nearly as bad. It makes it possible for more girls to have the opportunity to join and makes it easier to be a member of a sorority. It also gives us more freedom to spend our money on other things.
7. We still have plenty of fun
While we may not be going to fraternity houses every weekend for parties or throwing events in our own houses, that doesn't mean that we don't have any fun. We still have socials and parties aplenty. We even have a formal so it's not like we spend all our time in the library with a book.
8. We don't need a house to live with our sisters
A lot of sororities at small schools don't have houses especially at religiously affiliated schools that aren't big fans of Greek Life as it is. This does mean we live in the dorms or off campus, but that just allows us to get to know more people who aren't Greek and plenty of us still live with our sisters.
Living with your sisters is so much more fun when you choose it instead of when you're forced to. Besides, no one loves every single person in their chapter and wants to be with them at all times. It's better when you can pick and choose your roommates.
Who needs a house? It would only make our dues more expensive.
9. It's nothing like the movies
Movies like "Sorority Wars" and "The House Bunny" are fun to watch, but they're nothing like the reality. At least, they aren't the reality at smaller schools. We aren't all catty, out for ourselves, and obsessed with our images. Not only that, but we definitely aren't as girly as the movies make us out to be. It's much less drama and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Sororities are an absolutely amazing experience just like going to a smaller university. Putting the two together only makes it better even though most people at larger schools don't realize that small schools even have Greek Life sometimes.
