As we are getting ready to move back into our dorms or move in for the first time, Rush week is buzzing through many girls heads. Whether you're in a sorority getting ready to host rush week, a returning student looking to finally rush or a new freshman eager to experience the sorority life, be prepared for a campus full of Greek letters.
I remember touring the Activities Fair during Welcome Week with my roommate my freshman year. We were both so excited to see everything Bradley had to offer. I had no real interest in rushing. My roommate on the other hand, was really excited and I was excited for her. She had her eyes set on Pi Beta Phi, the sorority her mom had been in while in college. The problem was, she didn't want to rush alone and I had no intention on rushing. I knew it wasn't my thing but somehow she talked me in to signing all of the paperwork to spend three days rushing. At the end of all of that, I ended up not joining a sorority and here's why.
1. There were so many rules.
There were half a million rules to Rush Week, I can only imagine how many more there were while being in a sorority. Each day started bright and early by being in the Student Center Ballroom at 7:30 a.m. We had to be dressed up each day. We were not allowed to bring anything into the sorority houses (no phones, no purses, nothing). There were rules on how we sat, how we spoke and what we did. It drove me insane.
2. It was everything I thought a sorority was.
Like I said before, for Rush Week we had to be dressed up. Well, members have to be dressed up for all of the "chapter" meetings and really any event they held. The houses were full of girls in their sun dresses and high heels, talking about how successful they are, what they want to do with their life and all other basic questions you get asked when rushing. In reality, I knew no one really cared, and to be honest, I stood out from many of these girls. I was a dark haired, average sized, freckled freshman in a sea of tall, thin, tan, blondes. Most of these girls were nursing majors or communication majors. I'm a music business major who lives in the world of small coffee shops and indie rock bands. Each house felt the same. Everyone seemed exactly the same and everything in the house felt like some sort of fake show.
3. The time commitment.
You can say you triple majored with a double minor in whatever and still had time for your sorority. Well, that is great for you. However, the girls I know in sororities were completely overwhelmed with all of the stuff they had to do for their sorority all the time. As a double major in music education and music business, I already don't have time to eat in my day, let alone bake 200 batches of cookies and make "sister" gifts. I attend class from 8 a.m. until around 7 p.m. and then have meetings for other clubs until 10 p.m. I can't forget the homework for 21 credit hours of class and the three hours of practicing everyday.
4. The cost.
Sororities are so expensive. It is on average $1,200 a semester to be in a sorority. That does not include fines for missing or being late to an event, event outfits, Greek apparel and presents for your sisters or "big/little." Bradley is already ridiculously expensive, tack on extra money for my excess hours and private lessons. I could be using that money for books or to even study abroad.
5. Too many girls with a cheery disposition.
Sorority girls are supposed to be happy and peppy and I just cannot deal with that 24/7. Living in a house with 20 other girls also does not sound very appealing. If one person is on their period, there is a chance that six other girls and yourself are too. That is way to much estrogen and emotions in one house. As someone who grew up with brothers, fights with them were easy. You fought and got over it. Girls drag things out and will hold a grudge over you until you graduate.
6. Greeks think they are so much better than everyone else.
This doesn't go for all those involved in Greek life, however, there is a majority of them who think that they are above all of the non-Greeks. I mean, we even have a name: GDI, which means God Damn Independent. This is not meant to be the greatest name given to a non-Greek. I am not going to trash on someone just because they are or are not in Greek life.
7. Constantly being judged.
Let's face it. Sororities are either going to be judged by non-sorority girls, fraternities or other sororities. It isn't just the stigma around being a sorority girl, although that probably doesn't help. You're constantly getting judged about what you do, what you wear, did you guys win Greek Week or whatever else follows.
I have nothing against sororities. They just aren't my thing. I did Rush Week and ended up not going through with it. And after seeing how my friends went through their first year going Greek, I'm happy I didn't. I will say I am glad that I rushed and saw everything for myself. I realized that it just wasn't my thing and that's OK. It isn't for everyone.
