As I write this, we are in the midst of pre-recruitment parties which, for those of you who may not know, are events that Greek organizations put on before recruitment (or rush for fraternities as my boyfriend would be correcting me if he was reading this as I am typing it) week begins. Just being there with my sorority, watching all of the freshmen, new transfer students, and other independents, I just get so excited to see where everyone will end up, regardless of which sorority or fraternity they choose, if they even choose one.

Obviously, I secretly hope that they will join my sorority because I wouldn’t have joined it if I didn’t think it was the best, but I also know deep down that everyone is different, and just because my sorority was the best for me, doesn’t mean that it will be the best for them, too. That’s the first thing I want you to remember when thinking about joining a Greek organization: just because it may seem like the members would die if they didn’t have you in their organization, it doesn’t mean they won’t be happy for you when you choose a different one. In fact, more likely than not they will be just as happy to know that not only you found where you belong, but also that they still get to be in the same Greek community with you. In fact, I have a T-shirt from my school’s Greek counsel that says “no matter the letters, Greeks do it better”. It just goes to show you that no matter where you decide to go, or what Greek organization you choose, we are all still a part of a bigger picture together on campus.

I know that the title of this infers that you should go Greek even if you don’t join my sorority, but please, apply this to your best friend’s, your older brother’s or really anyone else you may know’s Greek organization. Just think about the differences you have with this person, regardless of how inseparable you may or may not be, and understand that just because you feel at home with this person, doesn’t necessarily mean you will with their sorority or fraternity too. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a chance that their Greek organization was 150% meant for you too, just remember that when you choose the organization that you want to call home, make sure that you choose it because you want it to be your home, not just because it is someone else’s. I’ve heard people saying it way too often, “ugh, I wish I hadn’t joined XYZ organization. I only did it for the 2 friends I had in there, and now I don’t get along with anyone else”. Really. I heard someone say this just last week. Please, don’t feel pressured to join an organization because of the people you know. Go with your heart and join for you, because that is the best way to know where you belong.

Another issue I hear more often than I would like is Greeks who ended up with their second pick and being upset about it. Now, I don’t know how the process works at every school, but at my school for sororities on bid day, you have the option to put up to 3 sororities in the order in which you would like to join them. I can’t stress it enough: if you only like one or two sororities, only write down those sororities, or the equivalent of that at your school. Sure, it might feel awful if you only write down one sorority and you don’t get in after a week of your life invested in the recruitment process. Just remember: there is always the option to get an open bid from them soon, plus you might be even more upset to find that after only 1 hour of being a new member of that organization, you can’t stand them (yes, this happened last year at my school). Would you rather “waste” a couple hours every other day meeting new people and eating free food, or join a sorority that you won’t fit into and feel miserable until you finally rack up the strength to deactivate? Sure, maybe you do write down your second pick because you can possibly see yourself being in their organization and you come to find that you love that one way more than you ever could your first pick, but you should only write down a second or third pick if you can see that happening. And apply this to open bids, too. If you absolutely love one particular organization, but don’t get an open bid from them or got an open bid from another organization that you aren’t as crazy about—hold off. It is most definitely worth the wait, especially if you can still go through recruitment.

The last piece of advice I want to give you about the recruitment process is: go to as many recruitment parties as you can, even the ones that aren’t put on by my sorority. Of course, please make sure you come to my sorority’s parties too, but go to the other ones as well. Come have a good time, get some free food, and meet as many of us as you can because even if they aren’t going to be your future sister, they will be in the same Greek community as you.

So get out there, go through recruitment and have a good time. Stop stressing about what Suzie will think if you don’t join her sorority, or what people will say if you don’t choose one at all. This is your four years at university, make them the best for you.