Whoops, I read that too fast. :o 18 credit hours is still a lot, but I'm an engineer and a big wuss at that. :D

adpiucf, I wish some of my sisters were as understanding about academics. They tell us that we shouldn't miss events because of schoolwork because we should be able to balance our time accordingly, but you know what, sometimes, you just can't.

Best of luck Jamie. At the very least, go through Recruitment and talk to each sorority about the time commitment. You'll be able to get a better idea from them than us.

As someone who interviews people as part of my job, this is one of THE biggest truisms of the greek experience! When I see any sorority or fraternity affilation, I know that person knows how to budget their time properly.

As for what adiucf said, well, I wouldn't change a word! :)

IMHO, I think a sorority would rather have you depledge when you realize it's affecting your grades than have you initiate and then just wreck the chapter GPA and DA anyway.

I just wanted to tell you that it can be done. When I pledged I worked 20 hrs a week 5 days a week with a class schedule that had me in class from 10 am to 1:30 pm which gave me enough time to eat lunch and then leave for work at 2 and work from 2 to 6 every day!!!!!! It took some time management, but it was well worth it. I have rearranged my schedule so that it is not so hectic this semester (BUT I MUST WORK), but I wouldn't give up all the fun and love I got out of pledging. Also, most of our events were on weekend nights, and didn't last that long. Even initiation was at the crack of dawn on a saturday to accomadate friday night/saturday workers. It can be stressful, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world. good luck!:D

Like everyone else, I defiantely think you should go through recruitment and ask the chapters how things work with different schedules.

Time constraints were also a concern of mine when I was going through recruitment, and I asked about it, and now I am really glad I did! When I asked about it, they told me how their chapter works -- like for example, on Monday nights we had our chapter meeting, and after regular chapter meeting we had our Alpha meeting. This was done so that the Alphas (new members) wouldn't have to take 2 nights off of work for meetings (for those that worked), and also so we wouldn't have to schedule study time around meetings twice a week.

Don't be afraid to ask questions :) The sisters will all be more than glad to answer them for you!

Thanks everyone! It's reassuring to hear that I won't be expected to be at the house for like 20 hours a week. I want Greek Life to add to my life... not consume it!

33girl, you got it. I'll be living on campus, just taking one class at Smith College.

As for the option of depledging, I'm asking these questions so I can avoid doing that. More than worrying about upsetting fellow pledges or sisters, I'm concerned that by accepting a bid and not going through with pledging, I could be taking up a spot that another PNM would have died for.

I'll still most likely go through recruitment. Pledging will depend on how things pan out when I get back to school. Rush week starts the 16th, we'll be two weeks into class already!

I appreciate the great feedback to my post. To all of you Greeks out there, I say this-- you know when chapter meeting is, and you know you need to prioritize around chapter. There ARE six other days (earlier in the day you have chapter) to study and get your schoolwork done (so you don't have to go to EVERY social!). Sometimes, however, a study group can only meet when you have chapter, or something important comes up, or an emergency meeting with a faculty member, etc. Your sorority should be understanding of this if you give them due notice. No one is trying to be an ogre by taking your life outside of the sorority away and the scholarship chair your chapter appoints should be aggressive enough to point this out so each member can succeed in school. Your bylaws locally are updated yearly--- make sure you have input! You are a dues-paying member, after all, and you have the right to petition for a certain number of meetings you may miss per semester due to dire school situations.

Per time committment... when I was a PM, I was taking one class over the maximum, working two jobs and I was VP of another campus org-- great time to join! I always joke that my time-management skills really developed in undergrad. I am sympathetic to all of you who have busy lives and still find time to make great grades and be a valued member of your GLO.

Only a few more days until recruitment....