When you start to compare college and high school, you begin to realize that the differences are drastic and infinite. New college students find themselves suddenly juggling new stresses, new time management skills, and new friends. If you join a sorority, however, the reduced size scale of your "circle" can make you reminisce on the wonderful (or not so wonderful) days of high school. 

Last weekend, the day after formal, I spent my morning (which started a little later than usual) as any sorority girl would following a big event: guzzling down ice water and scrolling through my Instagram feed. Among the overused hashtags of #anchored and the oh-so-original #formal, one in particular caught my eye: #Prom2k15.

This got me thinking… Is a sorority formal just a glorified, grown-up version of prom? Let's take a look at the logistics: 

Dresses

Prom: If prom was in April, you probably had your dress before Christmas. You spend hours at Dillard's and shopping online, slaving away to find the perfect ensemble for ~*tHe MoSt ImPoRtAnT nIgHt Of tHe YeAr*~. 

Formal: By this time in your life, you've figured out how this whole "wear once" thing is going to work, and you're done with wasting money that you could be spending on more important things (such as drinks textbooks). You're probably either borrowing, renting, or repeating - which is perfectly fine as a college student; we admire resourcefulness here. We also appreciate the last minute, which is why some of my friends didn't have their dresses until the day before formal.

Dates

Prom: If your date didn't ask you three months in advance with a "prom-posal," which I think have gone way too far in recent years, then you were probably upset. If you had a close-knit, co-ed group of friends in high school, you probably just did the ole switch-a-roo and traded dates with your best friend. This consistently proved to be a recipe for a great time, since there was no pressure and no awkward tension. 

Formal: Whether you drunkenly asked a random at a bar, you're getting set up with a friend's boyfriend's cousin's roommate, or you're still not past the high-school-date-trade phase, date functions are always interesting. 

Pictures

Prom: Your mom, dad, and little sister all cleared their schedules for this night. Your mom took 875 pictures of you and your date, you and your friends, or maybe even you by yourself (Oh my gosh, Mom, take that solo shot of me off Facebook!!!) on her fancy Nikon camera. 

Formal: Waking up the next day, you realize that you took a grand total of 6 pictures - 3 of them are blurry and the other three, with the right editing app, are tolerable enough to post to social media sites.

Before/After

Prom: You've had these plans for months. You and your entire group of friends are going to eat at a restaurant before the dance at this time and will meet for a raging ~*AfTeR pArTy*~ at this time. You might even call your mom to come pick you up.

Formal: The day of formal, you've been so busy scrambling around trying to paint your nails, pluck your eyebrows, turn in your online homework, and construct the perfect eager-but-not-too-eager text to your date that you seem to have forgotten to eat. You run by Cane's before formal, in your dress and heels. Completely normal. After formal, you somehow manage to snag a ride home, and once again find yourself at Cane's.

Now that's a "geaux Tigers."