Everybody’s first year of college is full of question marks. “What should my major be?” “How many classes should I take?” “Will I like my roommate?” Of course, all these questions will be answered in time. As a sophomore, I still haven’t answered most of them.
But there is one question mark I can safely say I’ve turned into a period; and it’s the same question that hundreds of girls agonize over for months: “Should I join a sorority?” As with all labels, being in a sorority comes with a reputation. So, perhaps a more appropriate question is “Do I want to be a sorority girl?”
While some sorority girls may tell you otherwise, your answer to this question won’t make or break your college experience. Your life doesn’t depend on what sorority you join, or don’t join. My answer? No. This time last year, I absolutely did not want to be a typical sorority girl. I had an irrational fear that if I joined a sorority, my hair would turn blonde overnight and I’d start strutting around campus with a small Chihuahua in my purse, vacantly smiling at everyone around me as I introduced myself, “Hi. I’m Elle Woods, and this is Bruiser Woods. We’re both Gemini vegetarians.” It made me sick to my stomach.
Having said that, I should probably mention that I am, in fact, in a sorority. Once second semester started, and all my friends decided to rush sororities, I was talked into going through formal sorority recruitment. And for those freshmen that feel the same way I felt last year, I want you to know that my hair is still brown, and I have yet to find a small ugly dog hiding in my backpack. To put it straightforward, I’m still me.
Now, I’m not going to say that joining a sorority is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and that anybody and everybody should do as I did. I understand that sorority life isn’t for everybody. But I definitely recommend that anybody who is on the fence about rushing should give it a shot. After all, college is all about trying new things, right?
Luckily at Maryland, we have a whole semester to decide what we want to do before formal recruitment starts in the spring. As intimidating as those words sound, formal recruitment is, in my opinion, the smartest way for girls to rush. It’s a bit of a complicated process, but nowhere near as risky as rushing in the fall. And here’s why (stay with me, it’s about to get technical): there is such a thing as informal fall recruitment.
During the fall, certain sororities host open houses and offer bids to a certain number of girls. The only sororities that do this are the ones that didn’t fill quota the spring before. In other words, sororities that have less than 103 girls are allowed to accept a new pledge class in the fall. This semester there are only six out of fourteen sororities accepting pledge classes: Alpha Delta Pi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Zeta Tau Alpha, Alpha Phi, Delta Phi Epsilon, and Sigma Delta Tau.
For freshmen that haven’t had enough time to learn the ropes of Greek life, rushing in the fall is a bold move. You don’t get to see all the houses, or meet the girls in each house. And since pledge classes are usually a lot smaller in the fall, you aren’t guaranteed a bid to a sorority. If you’re a freshman on the fence about rushing, it might be smarter to wait till spring formal recruitment. That way, you’ll get to see every house, meet more girls, and have a better chance of joining a sorority that you’ll love. Of course, if you’ve already written it in stone that you must join a sorority and can’t wait another minute to wear those letters, then go for it in the fall. If things don’t go your way, you can always rush again in the spring.
The smartest way to go about fall recruitment is to stop by the Meet The Greeks event on McKeldin Mall Sept. 8 and introduce yourself to the girls. Each sorority will have a table with members you can have an informal meet and greet with. From there you’ll learn about the open houses and other events each sorority is hosting. After that, all that’s left to do is put yourself out there. Build new friendships. Make jokes. Have fun with it. Most importantly, be yourself (I know, corny – but oh so important).
It’s a common misunderstanding that in order to join a sorority you have to glue a smile to your face, strap on some six-inch heels, and clear your brain of anything that isn’t related to fashion or frat boys. From what I’ve seen, girls who take that route only end up disappointed. Instead, just be you. Whether you decide to rush in the fall or in the spring (or maybe even not at all), at a school as big and diverse as Maryland you’re guaranteed to find friends who will love you exactly the way you are. And for those of you who have the same sorority nightmares as I did, I promise your hair color won’t change overnight – and neither will you.