And now presenting...

msswankypants asked: Hi! I'm a senior in high school and I just might be rushing next year and I was wondering of you could give me a sort of overview of what to expect and what it's like to be in a sorority, like the pros and cons. Thanks!

Ok. I’m sorry this is so late but it’s like really hard for me to answer. So, I’m just going to start with the cons. 

Cons 

• Sororities are very time consuming, especially when you are pledging. I have new member meetings every week and not to mention the ‘get to know you’ functions we have with other fraternities pledge class, date parties, pomping for homecoming, philanthropy events and …. whatever else your school will do. 
• I’ll be upfront right here…. Sororities are expensive. I’m not even talking about the ‘clothing’ or whatever because you do not have to dress ‘preppy’ or ‘fratty’ in order to join a sorority. But there are plenty of dues (whether you live in house or not) and well as TONS of shirts, jackets, blah blah blah. 

So the con list is relatively short…. but they are important. 
Pros

• Sisterhood. There is not much I can go into this except… I’ve known these girls for about 3 months and I know I have made friends already that will last a lifetime. In times of excitement or happiness, they are there to celebrate with me. In times of regret, they are always there to cheer me up. 
• The bond with not only your sisters but girls in other houses. I have a group of about 5 GREAT friends here. One is my sister (a Chi-O), then there is a G-Phi, Phi Mu, and a KD. We always hang out together and it’s just this bond about being in the greek system… you just get each other. 
• There is ALWAYS something to do. I feel like if I wasn’t in my sorority, I would be sitting in my room all day. I mean, I know that isn’t how it works… but it feels that way and it’s great. 
• My sisters encourage me to get involved. My sorority has been top in grades for the past 15 out of 18 semesters, have a pledge class goal of a 3.55 GPA, and we have so many opportunities to be involved it’s ridiculous so it looks great on your resume that you were in a ‘social sorority’ and also really involved. 

This isn’t saying that every sorority is like this. I mean there will always be girls that you don’t ‘click’ with in your sorority. There will always be some type of drama (even petty… because girls will be girls). But I feel that this whole sorority thing will only be whatever you make it. If you want to be involved it provides a great opportunity and support system to be involved. If you want to party and have a great time… remember your grades are why you are at school but that provides a great opportunity. 

Let me address the subject while I’m at it: 

Sorority girl sterotype

Take a moment, picture your typical sorority girl.
I’ll help you out.
A girl dressed head to toe in preppy clothing, talking with a constant mix between a southern charm and a valley girl accent, one who looks classy/beautiful during school, but then goes CRAZYY at night and is constantly drunk and constantly ‘shacking’ and hooking up with fraternity boys. Like I said, your experience will be what you make it.

My experience… has been pretty much opposite of that.

Ok, ok… I like dressing ‘fratty’ but I have a lot of sisters that don’t at all. But my sorority is OPPOSITE from that stereotype.
In the Greek system at Oklahoma State there are some girls in a few select sororities that do live up to that stereotype. However that’s not the way it is in all sororities and there are definitely different types of girls in every single house. If you decide to go through recruitment, you will find the house that is perfect for you with girls that will love you and let you express yourself and be who you want to be. If you want to go out, you can go out. If you want to focus on your studies, focus on your studies. Believe me, there are houses for girls everywhere. 

If you are worried about hazing, don’t be. The greek system at Oklahoma State is COMPLETELY ANTI-HAZING. I know everyone says that… but it’s true. That’s coming from girls who have been initated (my friends) and girls who haven’t been (me and my sisters).   

I honestly would suggest going through recruitment because my best friends here I have met through recruitment. It’s a great networking opportunity and if you decide that a sorority isn’t for you… then it’s not for you. But, joining a sorority was probably the best decision I have made. I’m not trying to sound like a ‘elitest’ or anything like that but I feel like the most successful people (at least at Oklahoma State) are in the Greek system just because of the networking opportunities it provides. Student government president is in a fraternity, I know that 5 of the past 7 homecoming queens have been Chi Omegas ( and the other girls have been in greek houses), there are always leadership opportunities and I read somewhere that greeks control 80% of all leadership positions on campus.