Deciding to join a sorority has been a great decision in my life, but with every great decision comes with its drawbacks. I have come up with the main 'pros and cons' that I believe came with joining a Greek organization during my Freshman year.
1. Pro: Make New Friends
College transition is absolutely no joke. You are thrown into this new environment, feeling vulnerable and scared. Sorority is all about meeting new people and expanding your friendship boundaries.
Being in a sorority can open new doors to people that you might not have met otherwise. There are usually multiple different activities through the year to help meet new people and make new friends.
2. Con: Bye Bye to Free Time
It is no joke that sorority life takes a lot of time dedication. There are required weekly chapter meetings, study hours, formal dinners, and service hours. BUT let's not forget the required events that everyone is expected to attend such as philanthropic events and social events.
Between all these requirements, there is barely any time left during the week. Missing these events often results in a fine- and most people would rather dedicate their time than their wallet.
3. Pro: Social Events
Yes, social events do take up time, but they are also a blast! Social events usually have a fun and creative theme that each person dresses up for. Social functions either include bringing a date, or being joined by a fraternity. These are a great opportunity to meet new people, while also having a great time.
4. Con: Prepare Your Bank Account
It is no secret that Greek life costs an arm and a leg to be
The extra fees, that are not already included in the thousands of dollars worth of dues often include t-shirts, living fees, recruitment fees, and fines for missing required events.
5. Pro: Textbook Hookups
From personal experience, I argue that one of the biggest benefits of a sorority is the amazing study room. Study rooms usually contain old textbooks and notes that girls have donated. For this semester, I was required to obtain four textbooks for my classes. My sorority blessed me by having every single textbook I needed and saved me hundreds of dollars.
6. Con: Being Told What to Wear
Each week, chapters come together for their weekly meeting. One of the most frustrating parts of these meetings is that you are told how to dress. There are three categories of chapter dress: casual, informal, and formal. Casual dress is usually Nike shorts and a t-shirt, informal dress is a step up from casual including jeans and a cute t-shirt, and formal dress is where you have to wear skirts or dresses, no pants.
The main thing is I do not understand why I have to dress a certain way to be told what to do each week.
7. Pro: Food Galore
I have no idea what I would do without my sorority food. Let's be real- the cafeteria and the union food gets old within the first few weeks of school. My sorority has chefs that work hard each week to provide the girls with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The menu each week changes so you rarely ever eat the same meal within the same two weeks. The food is a delicious home away from home cooked meal, and most likely the culprit of my Freshman 15.
8. Con: Judgement and Stereotypes
We have all heard the stereotypes affiliated with sororities: white, blonde, ignorant, rich, stuck-up, fake, party animals. Not only are sorority girls judged by typical stereotypes, but also by which house they are apart of. Girls can be judged by being in a "better tier house" or being in a "lower tier house".
As much as I would like to think that this judgment does not exist, it does all over the row. By joining a sorority, its reputation becomes a part of you.
9. Pro: Rules, Rules, Rules
Many people will argue that the rules that come with Greek life are a major con, but I view the rules as a positive thing. My viewpoint mainly applies to girls who rush their Freshman year, like myself. The transition into college is very difficult to handle with all this freedom thrown at you.
By joining an organization that restricts what you are allowed to do/post on social media, you can manage your newly gained freedom, and not go completely insane.
10. Con: Notifications
Say goodbye to your phone ever being silent again. Between multiple Facebook groups, Group-me messages, e-mails, and sisters texting you, your notifications never stop. Often times, I have to mute these social media and texting groups because of how often my phone rings/buzzes.
Do not get me wrong, I love being connected with my sisters, but one can only take so many e-mails and messages a day.
