Your situation is identical to mine (although a few years back!). My best friend/roommate got pregnant and decided to move home at the end of the semester, so I moved into my sorority house. I worked during our nm meetings, my big was MIA (and transfered after my first semester), and I was very shy. I moved in knowing almost no one. It wasn't easy at first, but I hung out with the people that seemed the most friendly towards me, and as time went on I established my close knit friends. I just pushed myself to get involved. I attended everything, took positions, volunteered to help with things, and over time I felt more comfortable.

I'm losing a single, too! It's quite sad to lose my private space, but I'm getting jazzed to move into the house, based upon all of your responses!



I'm really glad to hear that! Your, and everyone else's, response has totally made me feel better! I'm definitely going to heed everyone's advice. :)

I moved into our chapter house second semester Freshman year and lived in until I graduated.

I very much loved living in the chapter house (obviously) but it does take some effort and getting used to sharing a small living space with that many girls.

The great: there was always someone around - to talk to, to study with, to go get coffee, to watch TV, to go out with, etc.... It definitely helped me get close with more women in my chapter, especially older members. I have the best memories from when I lived in the chapter house, even though that time wasn't necessarily always perfect.

the good: location, cost and conveniences. Personally, these were secondary to my overall living experience, but they definitely helped. We had a daily housekeeper for the common areas (including bathrooms!), a great cook, we were the closest house to campus (and campustown) and it was definitely cheaper than living in the dorms or in an apartment.

the bad: with any communal living arrangement, not everyone got along. Sometimes things would go missing (most commonly food), or people would borrow without asking. Members would get into arguments that would affect the entire chapter. You may not always get along with your roommate (even if they were your BFF before). You may find out, um, interesting habits of sisters (like I was the one who colored her hair over the 3rd floor laundry sink) but those are all learning experiences.

I'm guessing there are other girls who are just as nervous about it as you. I wasn't very close to women in my pledge class either, and that didn't necessarily change much after we all moved in. Sometimes, that's just how things are.

You mentioned that you thought the house might be one big clique- and to a certain extent it is. When you live in the house, you live and breathe the sorority all the time. But when you move, you will become part of the "clique". You will probably know things way before members that don't live in the house. And living in is a great way to get to know other members especially if you are shy.

I didn't have the best roomate situation when I lived in, but I met other women in the house that I have stayed in contact with to this day. The house at least has other places to escape to if your roomate is driving you nuts.

I have heard from almost all my friends that living in the house was the best decision they ever made, hands down.

You get so much closer to all the girls and you're at all the events that are in the house, well, because you live there.

I have not lived in the house because I have a great living situation--I have my own room and I live with my sisters, but I would like to know what it'd be like!

THE GOOD: Always someone around to talk to, eat with, hang, study, and cheer on your favorite team. Convenience, Great Food, Beautiful House. Lots of House Boys to counsel you like a big brother (and built-in dates for formals).

THE BAD: Can get noisy, even during "quiet hours". You sometimes have to wait on a shower. Room mates who snore (gets you ready for marriage) :D

THE UGLY: Election time when you are close friends with both who are running for president :(, the smell of stale beer in the stairwell on Sunday mornings, someone pounding (ok, playing) the piano when you are trying to sleep -- my room was directly over the piano.