It's that time of year! Within the coming months, students just like you all over the country will be working to narrow down their options and pick a college. There are a lot of factors to consider when making this decision, such as the campus, dorms, location, tuition costs and class sizes. Something else to consider when picking out your school? Sorority life.
If you're looking to jump right into your new environment and get involved, sororities are a great way to get connected on campus.
Greek-letter organizations can offer their members plenty of ways to participate on campus; from student government to intramurals to homecoming, there's always something to do. Joining a sorority can also give you the confidence to join other campus organizations that you've always wanted to try. Who knows, maybe a sister wants to check it out too?
Every fraternity/sorority community is different, so it's important to think about what kind of enviroment works best for you. Some universities have more than 20 sororities, while others might have only two or three. Although it seems like a big difference, there are benefits to both sizes. For instance, on a campus with fewer organizations it may be easier to get to know members of groups other than your own, and a campus with a larger fraternity/sorority community might offer more programming. The best way to find out what the sorority community is like is to ask Panhellenic women while visiting the campus. But remember: No matter how many organizations a campus has, they are all there to work together to form a unified Panhellenic community.
Joing a sorority can also help you achieve academically. After all, isn't that what college is all about? On average, sorority women have higher GPAs than their unaffiliated classmates. Sorority members can keep each other motivated so that everyone succeeds both in and out of the classroom.
So when you're making those tough decisions about where to spend the next four+ years of your life, don't forget to throw fraternity/sorority life into the mix. (Added bonus: By learning about a campus's fraternity/sorority community, you'll be ready for recruitment before you even move in!)