The Truth About Sororities

For day two of Greek Week I’m sharing the truth about sororities. These were the top 20 questions I received from you via Instagram. I’m covering everything from cost, to hazing, to diversity. For those of you who are new, I am an Alpha Phi, Fashion Merchandising major at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.

While yes, I am answering all of these questions below, my twin sister Madison and I answered them via this YouTube video too! She is a Delta Zeta at Marshall University in West Virginia and I felt it would be beneficial to hear the differences in our Greek Life experiences + her perspective on these questions.

1) How do you register for recruitment?

I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post that sorority recruitment at Kent State will be virtual this fall. Make sure you’re following @ksu_panhel on Instagram as they will be announcing sometime next week that Fall Recruitment Registration is now open.

If you don’t go to Kent, follow your school’s Panhellenic Council Instagram and keep your eye out for updates from them. Most schools open their registration around this time. However, most registrations stay open throughout the first few weeks of the school year.

2) Did you know much about the recruitment process prior to going through?

Honestly, no. I only knew one girl from Kent prior to going there and she was not a member of Greek life. I also didn’t have any older friends that had gone through the process and neither of my parents were in a sorority/fraternity. I watched a few videos on YouTube the summer prior but I was pretty blindsided when it came to the whole process which is why I’m doing my best to share my experience with you so you don’t feel the same way!

3) What made you want to go through recruitment?

Throughout highschool, I was heavily involved in many different areas— sports, newspaper, drama, and honor’s societies. I knew I wanted to get involved on my college campus and so many people suggested Greek life as a way to meet new people, give back to the community, and make awesome connections for post-grad life.

Plus, all three of my roommates were going through which really helped finalize my decision of going through recruitment.

4) What were you looking for in a  sorority?

Honestly, I was just looking for a place that felt “right”. When visiting each sorority I made sure to take note of who asked me meaningful questions, those who I clicked with almost instantaneously, and where I felt I could be the most myself.

5) How did you know your sorority was the one?

Similar to finding the college that’s right for you, you will have one of those “aha” moments where it will just feel right. I don’t know how else to describe it but there was one specific moment during Preference round that I just knew in my heart Alpha Phi was the one for me.

6) What do sororities really want new members to talk about? 

There is going to be a lot of small talk, especially the first few days of recruitment. Be prepared to talk a lot about why you chose your school, what made you go through recruitment, and what you were involved in during highschool.

Like an interview, don’t be afraid to talk about your strong suits! I talked so much about my blog and how it has shaped me as a person over the years. Not only did this show my determination and dedication but it also showed what I’m passionate about. If you have something like my blog that is a huge part of your identity, make sure you mention it.

7) Is being in a sorority expensive?

I pay for my sorority dues entirely on my own and I would say yes. I am technically not allowed to list the exact amount I pay but I can say that my dues are less than $2,000 a year. There are a few things I want to mention on the topic of cost: noninclusive vs inclusive sororities. I am in an inclusive sorority which means that the cost to attend formals, date parties, etc are included in my dues. This means that if I decide not to attend the function, I still technically paid to be there.

My sister is a Delta Zeta at Marshall University and she is in a non-inclusive sorority which means when she attends a formal she has to pay to do so. There are pros and cons to both— yes, it’s a bummer if I can’t make it to an event that I already paid for but I would also cringe forking over $40 every few weeks for something.

I also want to mention that cost differs from school to school and even within each university. No two sororities cost the same amount at Kent so some are more money than others. However, they will not reveal the cost until after you have accepted a bid. There are different payment plans allowing you to pay annually, semesterly, monthly, etc.

8) Is it diverse?

I would say, yes there is definitely diversity among social class and background but as far as color, not so much. However, I come from the most diverse county in Maryland so when I went to Kent I immediately noticed how not diverse the school seemed. Whereas my roommates said that this was the most diversity they had ever seen before. It just depends on where you are. Although, no sorority/fraternity solely accepts people based on their color.

9) Is there hazing?

Absolutely not; Kent has a zero-tolerance hazing policy!

10) How often do you have chapter meetings?

At Kent, we have chapter every Sunday night and it typically lasts anywhere from thirty-minutes to an hour.

11) Is it time consuming? 

Sorority life is what you make it. I spend on average 1-3 hours a week doing something sorority related. Some weeks I just have chapter whereas other weeks I have community service, a philanthropy event, and am supporting another sorority/fraternity at their fundraiser. It just depends.

You can totally get involved with one of the Greek Life intermural sports or any of the philanthropy competitions like Xi Man, King of Hearts, Greek Sing, etc however I never felt like I had the time to join one of these due to the blog and my other roles on campus. My sister did and she spent about two hours a day working on a dance routine to compete in a “competition” with her sisters. There are plenty of opportunities to get more involved which will inevitably lead to a greater time commitment but that’s entirely up to you.

12) Something you wish you knew before u went through?

I had this silly idea in my head that I would love 100% of the girls I talked to. This could not be further from the truth. Like the real world, there are definitely going to be people you don’t click with and that’s totally okay.

13) How do you find your people throughout the recruitment process? 

I know so many girls who end up becoming bffs with the girls in their SRC group. Honestly, I can’t remember anyone from my group except my roommate Lauren, lol. I wish I had been a bit better about making conversation with the other girls; talk to everyone!

You will be sitting in groups, riding on the bus, and standing in line for hours during the recruitment process. It never hurts to introduce yourself and talk about your experience so far.

14) Should I be nervous about not getting a bid?

Nope! There are obviously girls who don’t receive a bid but it’s important to trust the process. As I’ve mentioned before, recruitment is a mutual selection process so if you get dropped from your top sorority, take it as a sign that there’s a better one out there for you where you will feel more at home!

15) Is it worth going through as a junior?

I would say if you are looking to network, meet new friends, and get involved on campus go for it! I know some schools only allow you to go through as a freshman or sophomore so definitely double check if you are entering your junior year.

16) How far in advance do you know the themes? 

At Kent we had a PNM (potential new member) meeting a few weeks before the first round of recruitment. At this meeting, they talked through what each round would be like, what to wear, and what to expect out of the whole process.

However, some schools have already sent out their outfit guidelines. Some schools are stricter with what to wear and provide a generic t-shirt for you to style. Follow your school’s Panhellenic Council Instagram to get details on that kind of stuff! I honestly can’t speak for that since Kent did not have a very strict dress code and as I said, they told us the guidelines just a few weeks prior to recruitment!

17) What is your favorite sorority memory?

Second semester my sorority held a Valentine’s Day themed date party. I brought one of my school + home besties, Corinne who is a Delta Gamma at Kent and we had such a fun time together. It was super lowkey, with only about 1/3 of my sorority there and the music was so good!

18) Can you be bold in your faith while being in a sorority?

Yes, definitely! I think that more times than not you will find even more sisters to share your beliefs with. However, if you are not faithful Greek Life definitely will not force any beliefs onto you. (At least in my sorority!)

19) Did certain sororities fit certain stereotypes?

I would say so. However, sororities don’t pick girls based off of them being “tall, skinny, and blonde” like the movies perceive them to. Chapters also differ so much from school to school; for instance, Delta Zeta at my school is nowhere near the same at Madison’s school.

20) What to wear?

Ah, yes the question you’ve all been waiting for! Lucky for you, that’s what the rest of Greek Week is going to be dedicated to. On Wednesday I will be sharing ten outfit ideas for Open House round, Thursday ten for Sisterhood round, and Friday ten for Preference round.

I also tried to scatter a few different outfit ideas throughout this post that would help give you some inspiration on how to style a sorority tee. At Kent State, we are not given a generic tee-shirt to style for the first few days however I know many schools do. Use these looks as inspiration and simply swap my Alpha Phi tee out for the one they provide.

It’s important to wear something you feel comfortable and confident in. Your outfit really is your first impression so choose something that will make a statement and can possibly strike up a conversation. I recommend bold earrings, a fun belt, and comfortable shoes. Also, try thinking out of the box! Play with textures like leather, suede, etc. Check back tomorrow for more outfit ideas!

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Well, I think I’ve covered everything! Let me know if you have any additional questions that I did not cover in today’s post and I will be sure to answer them. I hope you found this post helpful. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s post!

With love, McKenz

Latest Post: Your Complete Guide To Sorority Recruitment
Related Post: What To Wear: Sorority Recruitment
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