If you have ever been asked about how your college experience is going, you've most likely been asked whether or not you plan on being involved with a sorority or fraternity. For me, this question has become inevitable when discussing my freshman year.

Last semester, one of my good friends had convinced a few girls and me to rush. Although there are many benefits to joining Greek life, I decided not to go through with it because it was never something I was really interested in. Seeing all the fun people seemed to have, I thought I might regret my decision. It turned out that this was not the case.

Here are six reasons that assured me that it was OK to not be a part of Greek life:

1. I had more time to focus on other things.
There were many times my friend was forced to stay out until 4 a.m. due to pledging activities. In the time she was wrapped up in sorority events, I was able to go to the gym, attend club meetings, work and study to maintain a high GPA — all crucial elements in racking up priority points at Marist. Pledging demands a lot of time, making it difficult to juggle it all.

2. There was the opportunity to make friends beyond a select group.

It is great to connect with those who have similar interests as you. However, most of your time would be spent with your brothers or sisters, diminishing your ability to meet non-Greeks. If I had joined, I would not have formed the close relationships I have with the amazing people I met my freshman year.

3. I saved money!

Most Greek organizations require that you spend money on monthly dues, gifts for your "families," activities and donations which can add up to a couple hundred dollars a month. As a college student, I barely maintained an income of $40 a month.

4. Freedom from the pressure of trying to fit in and impress others.

When I was looking into rushing, it seemed each sorority had a different stigma attached to it and that attracted different people. Fraternities and sororities handpick who they invite to pledge, and they tend to select a certain type of person. If you fit the criteria, you are granted a bid which is necessary to be able to pledge. This creates a pressure to fit into a certain group, causing some people to stray from themselves in hopes of impressing members and having a chance of being accepted.

5. The parties aren't always exclusive. Don't worry. Just because you are not a brother or sister doesn't mean you have to miss out on the notorious frat parties and wine mixers.6. Not everyone is doing it.
At Marist, I found that more people than not are not involved in Greek life.

There were moments I thought that I might feel left out because I didn't "at least try it." However, after months of watching my friend jump through hoops to make sure she did everything the sisters demanded, I realized that I wasn't the kind of person who would have enjoyed being a part of Greek life. While she loved every part of it, it's not for everyone, and that's completely OK. But it's important to remember that not all the stereotypes are true and, if it is something you have truly always seen yourself doing, it's definitely worth trying.