Hollywood always displays Greek life on a large campus. They show "Greek Row" and all of the gorgeous houses with manicured lawns as far as the eye can see. But is it as good as Hollywood makes it out to be? Is Greek life actually better on a large university? I'm here to show all of you the day in the life of a Greek at a small university.
You develop deeper relationships with those in your fraternity/sorority. Hollywood shows how everyone has great relationships and show a smaller chapter of the Greek organization. Hate to break it to you, Hollywood, but larger university Greek chapters tend to have numbers in the hundreds!! Being a part of a large chapter like that makes it hard to get to know everyone in your organization. At Carroll University, we can only have about 40 members per Greek organization which makes it easier to get to know those in your chapter. I can honestly say I know every girl in my chapter and have a relationship with each one. We host sisterhoods all the time and most of the time every member comes and we have a great time getting to know one another.
Yes, we as humans tend to develop stronger relationships with a smaller circle of people. You will have some deeper relationships with other sisters/brothers in your organization than others. This might be the case due to human nature, but in my chapter we all have each other's backs. I know I can call any of my sisters for help and they will be there for me and vice versa. At larger chapters, it's almost impossible to know everyone's name much less know them as a person. Cliques are more prevalent in larger chapters since those who are like-minded gravitate towards one another.
Greek families actually mean something. When I first joined Alpha Xi Delta, I could not wait to get a big. The thought of having a sorority mom was so exciting to me! At larger chapters, your big is really into your life during school and once school is done then so is the big/little relationship. My big graduated from Carroll back in 2015 and our relationship is still as strong as ever. My big asked our whole Greek family (my great grandbig, grandbig, my aunt, and myself) to be in her wedding coming up in October! I am so honored to be able to stand up while she and her husband-to-be tie the knot. It just shows how a smaller chapter allows you to hae those close relationships even after college is over. My big still looks after me like a sorority mom is supposed to do.
You are able to know almost everyone in Greek life. At Carroll, we only have three sororities (including the one I'm a part of) and two fraternities. Since our Greek community isn't allowed to have Greek houses, we are able to see each other all over campus. I have so many relationships with those in the other sororities and the fraternities that it makes going to all Greek events and other all campus events that much more fun! At large schools you only know a handful of those in other Greek organizations, which can make cliques and divisions between the organizations that much stronger. At Carroll, our Greek community is so supportive of one another. We attend each other's philanthropy and on campus events and we sometimes team up with one another on some events. Having this collaborative atmosphere within the Greek community makes attending other Greek's events so much fun! I love hanging out with other Greeks whether that is studying in the coffee shop or getting lunch in the Main Dining Room, you always find someone to hangout with.
I would argue that Greek life at a smaller campus is 100 times better than on a larger campus. Granted, I am biased in my article because I attend a small college. Going to a small college has its perks, and that includes Greek life. If you are thinking about joining Greek life and you are attending or will be attending a small university/college go for it (just go Greek regardless of the size of the campus)! The depth of the relationships that you will develop is what Greek life is all about and you truly get that experience at a smaller college.
