One big difference between sororities and fraternities is that while most sororities just do fall recruitment and pledgeship, fraternities tend to do recruitment and pledgeship in the fall and spring. With that, guys get the tough decision of deciding which semester is better for them -- and there are some big differences between the two. Check out some of the key diff's below!
1. Transition into school
Fall: With the fall comes a new school year, and considering that the overwhelming majority of guys that go through pledgeship are freshman, that means going through it while adjusting to the enormous culture change that college can bring. Especially at a more rigorous school like UT, trying to balance pledgeship and your first time in college at once can be rough. Then again, having a group to immediately associate with on campus has its perks as well, and can give one a sense of belonging.
Spring (when your spring semester is your second semester): You made it. You survived your first semester in college and likely now have a better idea of what college takes and how much free time it actually leaves you. That's a big help in trying to decide if you can handle pledgeship as well.
2. Pledge class size
Fall: Fraternities typically have the biggest pledge classes in the fall, usually ranging between about 20 and 60 guys. While that'll mean more people to help get group activities done and more guys to bond with, it also likely means less of a connection between pledge brothers, with there being so many.
Spring: Spring pledge classes tend to be significantly smaller, averaging about one to 10 guys. With a smaller group, you can get to know your pledge brothers better, though there is less talent to go around to help with group activities and a smaller pledge class means less connections you are making.
3. Football games
Fall: When you decided to go to UT, you knew one of the best things about the school was the tailgating and football games. For pledges, that likely means having the opportunity to dress up and match all of your pledge brothers in the typical burnt orange Longhorn button-up, khakis and boots. Getting to sit in a big sea of burnt orange and cheer on your favorite team surrounded by your pledge brothers is a pretty cool experience that's tough to top.
Spring: While you won't get to enjoy football with your pledge class, you'll bypass any matching outfit requirements your fraternity has for pledges during games. Don't underestimate that.
4. Social aspect
Fall: While fraternities tend to have fall and spring pledges, the same isn't true for most sororities. That means fall pledges get a big opportunity that spring pledges don't, the chance to mix with sorority pledges. In the fall, there tend to be between one and three mixers on any given week, and you get to mingle with sorority girls that you already share a bond with, because of your shared pledge status within your organizations.
Spring: Don't get me wrong, I know there are still mixers in the spring, but definitely not to the same degree as fall.
5. Sense of belonging
Fall: Pledge classes go through so much together. They spend countless nights working on party builds and cramming for exams. With that comes a strong bond and sense of belonging. And with larger fall pledge classes, you've built that bond with more people. Wherever you are on campus, you're bond to run into at least one guy you know.
Spring: When you're a spring pledge, you have to watch all the fall pledges that are your age basking in their new active status and benefiting from the bonds that they have made. You're just a semester behind on experiencing that. Keep your chin up though, because you'll be there soon.
