pnms- 'why should i be in a sorority?'
 

we should ask ourselves this question.

with rush coming, chances are we wont be able to think straight. i was thinking today of stuff that i want the actives to know about me. (yes i am already rehersing conversations) then i started to think about why i should be in a sorority. i think it is important that we know who we are and what we want. i know i want to go into rush with a strong head on my shoulders and an open mind. lets talk about why we should be in a sorority and maybe the members on greek chat can help us in seeing if that is what sororities want in their new members.

why i should be in a sorority:

i take pride in my daily work. whether it is school or my job, i give it my all. sororities provide incredible opportunities for leadership, community service, and personal development. i want to be involved. i have the dedication, will power, and the heart to accomplish things. i look forward to running for executive positions that will allow me to present ideas and changes.
i know i am great representive. when i know that people see me as connected to a particular group, i know i have the responsibility to represent that group with intelligence and dignity. i want to grow as a person. personally, i like the idea of having close contact with other girls from various walks of life. a sorority is a great and beautiful addition to a girl's life.
i just know that i can be as beneficial to a sorority as it can be to me.

Good idea Smiley21!
 

My major priorities in life are as follows:
Live for God.
Serve others.
Develop friendships with those who are like me, and those who are not like me.
Give of myself freely and sacrificially.
Love others as myself.
Do everything as unto God; in other words, do my best in my work, education, relationships and other involvements.
Live so I will have no regrets.
Growing daily in wisdom and helping others to do the same.

Joining a sorority is the one thing I have wanted to do that I have not done. I am loyal, loving, fun, intelligent, determined, intuitive, innovative and dedicated. I too believe that I can benefit any organizatio that I am a part of, but I look forward to seeing how a sorority can help me grow as a person.

Girl, what an AWESOME topic to bring up! Of course this is a shortened version. Your best and most meaningful answers will be when you are asked candidly.....

Why I want to be in a sorority:
3 areas come to my mind:
Involvement: Any activity that is presented my way, I will be there with an attitude of 110% and ready to help in anything I can do. I frequently do volunteer work for the pure notion of enjoyment. I would love to be able to represent a well respected sorority and stay true to it's name.

Leadership: I am not afraid of a challenge and I believe I have the confidence, intellengence, and enthausim to stay true to the creed of the chosen sorority. If chosen to be apart of a sorority, interestes in holding offices/positions that benefit my sorority are being highly considered.

Unity: Knowing that I am part of a group that is unified by commitment to their love of an organization makes me happy. I look foward to possibly becoming part of a GLO.....

Kara

Woah! You girls are on top of things! I wish you were rushing at my school!

A good, related question would be, "What are you looking for in a sorority?"

Also be thinking of intelligent questions to ask the actives who are rushing you. Keeping them related to the party would be a good idea. For example, at the first party, "Welcome/Go Greek!" you might ask, "What would you say makes XYZ stand out on campus?" or "What sorts of things do you do with your sisters?" At the philanthropy round, you could ask, "How does your chapter's local philanthropy tie in with the national philanthropy of XYZ?" At pref, a good one is, "What made you decide that XYZ was your home?"

Damn, these girls would scare people at Pville! My chapter was in shock that I knew our colors and philanthropy when I was rushing!

wow, you ladies are so dedicated! I think it's wonderful that you really appreciate what it means to be a greek women and that you are preparing yourselves so well. I hope that the chapters at your respective schools get to know and love you like we do. I know that almost any of us would love to have new members as dedicated as you are in our chapters!!! try not to stress out too much while waiting for rush, and keep up the great attitudes:)

You ladies are awesome with the encouragement, but you're not helping me focus on things other than rush! At this rate, I think I may scare the people here...

Seriously, thanks ladies for taking time to listen and encourage us. It means alot!
HUGS!

Yall are so adorable! :) You are making me so excited to find out how rush goes for you, and I don't even know you!

thanks guys. i just hope the dedication in my heart shows in my actions.

I'm sure it will, smiley21. I'm really rooting for you!

Awww you girls! You're too cute! *tear* It reminds me of when I was going through rush! (Yeah, I too was that girl who had all of the sorority facts memorized. I think I weired out and shocked the Pi Phi who preffed me 'cause I was telling her details about Pi Phi! LOL) I know all of your excitement and preparations will pay off, and no matter what I know you all will have a great time with it. Any sorority should be tickled pink to call you one of its members. :D

A lot of my reasons are probably the same as every other PNM's but I'll put 'em down anyway:

The idea of being a part of a sisterhood means a lot to me. I have always been the type to get close to my friends, and I think that's so important. Sometimes friends are the only family someone has.

Involvement in school/campus activities is part of the reason I attend college. Being a sister gives you the opportunity to be a part of your campus in a bunch of different ways, from homecoming to greek week. It makes school more fun.

This is a great way to be involved in a philanthropy. I've done charity events in the past and doing that kind of work is just good for the soul, and this way you can do it with your friends.

The leadership/career opportunities a sorority offers can't be beat. Everywhere you go, you have connections and experience that can help you in so many ways.

And meeting all of you guys on GC has made me see that what I hoped to find in a sorority really exists.

I just hope that my desire to be involved comes across when it really matters, during rush.

Why I should be in a sorority...
 

I don't even know where to begin...when I clicked on the topic, its weird, but the phrase "why I should be in a sorority" seems kind of odd to me, saying, OF COURSE I'LL GET A BID B/C I AM THE BEST AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW IT. haha, NOT!! Regardless, however, AND being a PNM and all (not to impune the thread starter of course)...I think I'd be more comfortable with, why I WOULD want to be in one or why I think a chapter WOULD benefit in me being a sister....

and THAT I can talk about, so here it goes: :D


Reasons for wanting to rush and join a sorority in the first place:

Growing up I have always had best friends and good friends to talk about things with, whatever it may be, but really, when it came down to the REALLY important stuff, I turned to my two older brothers. Despite not being girls, they were family, people I could always rely on, trust and know that they would be there for me, no matter what I chose to do in life. But however, they were boys and I was a girl, the family baby as it were, and sometimes I wish I had a sister to talk about the "feminine" things, probably because I can relate to them more. I guess just be I've always been pretty outgoing and not really one of those people to hold that much in. Probably why I'm majoring in Psychology haha. But anyway...My mom was in a sorority and I just remember her telling me all about things she used to do, I saw pictures from old photo albums and I asked her why she joined her sorority when I was probably about 7. She has two older brothers as well and had basically the same intentions I did and turned out to be an amazing asset to her sorority, being Social chair and everything. Since then, I knew I wanted to join and be apart of something so special. I wanted sisters I could count on and that I could care about and support as well; and thats why I want to be apart of a sorority. Talking to some of you already on GC have made me just want to be apart of greek life so much more. Although none of us have met, I already feel so supported and I love that feeling. Its truly fantastic.


Being involved and having had experience with 5 completely different organizations have really opened my eyes to all different kinds of people, I love the diversity and get bored with just one type of someone. Thats what I think a sorority would bring, diversity but coming together for all the right reasons, kind of like a basketball game (not really but sorta) All these different people in one place all there for the sole reason of watching an exciting basketball game. Everyone has different reasons for being there, but the point is there are there, cheering each other on, etc. I kind of look at being in a sorority the same way. I just home I get my ticket hehe! If i actually had to categorize myself, I would be pretty high on the "rank" list. Its funny to hear me say that because I'm not cocky or self absorbed at all, but when listing all I have done and all of my goals, aspirations and hopes for myself, I'm a pretty well-rounded individual and I'm pretty confident with who I am as well: I'm smart, outgoing, funny, positive and optimistic, a great listener, pretty darn cute (;)) and I have a personality to match. I tend to make friends really really easily and get close with them pretty fast. I have one of those personalities that I guess is addiciting (or at least most people tell me that hehe) I have goals and I am motivated and enjoy life and just being myself. I hope when rushing, sisters will see that also :) Thanks again to all those GC'ers that support us PNMs. You have all been so terrific and can't wait till recruitment begins!
:)

Y'all are great! Seriously, remember these replies-- everyday of Recruitment this fall, you will go into 6-7 houses and be asked the same three questions everday at every party by 3-6 ladies per house:

1) What's your major?
2) Where are you from?
3) What year are you?

You need to come up with something that sets you apart and makes the sorority latch onto you--- your marketing hook-- remembering the reasons you want to join and the reasons you'd be an asset to the sorority will help you stand out from the crowd!

I can't wait to see where you all end up! :)

Neither can I. ;)

I wrote this last year and still feel the same. So rather than try t say something fresh, here's my take on the question.

I have very specific reasons why I'm glad my daughter is in a GLO and why I want my son to join as well.
1. The bonds of brotherhood/sisterhood are forever. It is a powerful network that can help you your entire life.
2. Being a Greek gets you involved with philanthropy in a way that is fun and rewarding. Hopefully, you will carry this with you and continue giving back to your community.
3. College is more than books and being Greek helps you develop social skills and promotes involvement. It adds structure, discipline and goals.
4. It's a great support system.
5. It gives you an opportunity to break away from the old home town syndrom and expand your thinking and horizons.
5. I would think there are two different "college life" scenarios. You can go to class then sit around your apartment/dorm OR you can be a part of something wonderful, exciting and huge. At the heart of all major campus events are Greeks. I want my kids to be a part of eveything (well ALMOST) college defines.

After this post, and following comments, I would like to state that I did not intend to imply being a GDI would turn you into a wall flower. It's just that being in a GLO presents so many opportunities and opens doors. For a young person, especially a freshman, it makes finding and developing these opportnities easier.

*BUMP*

This thread is too good to be on page 3!

Why I want (or at least am considering) to be in a sorority
 

I'm transferring to a school near my high school, and really want to ensure that I don't fall into the high school routine. I want to meet and hang out with people from (GASP!) a high school OTHER THAN my alma matter!

I love meeting people. There is no better way than through a GLO to meet and really get to know people from all over, with different interests, personalities and goals, and still have a common denomonator with all of them.

My only common denomonators from home are high school ones. I was (am - last year!:( ) very active in 4-H and while I did meet people from other schools through that, everyone is spread out all over to different colleges.

I miss community service. In 4-H we participated in at least 4-5 philanthropic events every winter, when I went to college, I felt so selfish! I really began to feel like a leech after not doing anything more altrustic than loaning my jeep to a friend.

I want friends who aren't going to revert back to being spoiled, selfish, and snotty after a month or two of knowing them. That sounds a little cocky, but women can be very catty, and they will stab you in the back. I really want some friends that I can rely on.

Most friends can handle one topic really well, but crumble when you try to expand to something else. I would love to meet people who are still stable discussing more than one topic. Greeks have always appeared so well rounded!

Whenever college life is portrayed (in almost everything) greeks are there. Who wouldn't want to be involved with something so well recognized?

Not to mention, being a part of an organization as widespread, well-known, and well organized is almost always a good thing!

In addition to all this, I always wanted sisters growing up. When I was younger (think=8ish) I heard a reference to a sorority sister. I figured that was pretty much my only chance to have a sister i/o sister in law.

So from silly reasons to some serious ones, and even a pet peeve I would love to be a part of greek life!

ern that's like me...I didn't want to take the house tour because I could have probably given it! haha! :D

PPL&Mine,
Jess

UCLAgirl-I REALLY like your post! I am 100% with you when it comes to confidence. It is a quality that makes you stand out and people will take notice. All people get nervous-even the MOST confident-but you can still remain yourself and use that nervous energy to your advantage. The more interaction a person has the more "practice" at learning to handle an awkward situation...and recruitment can be awkward.

Plus to echo another point you made-by being yourself, you have less stress than you would trying to maintain an image.

Very, very good points.

Creating an image and polishing your image are two different things. One is on the outside and the other comes from within.

Confidence is the ability to walk into any give arena and feel a level of comfort, NOT trying to make people think you are hot stuff
or better than them...

A little motto I grew up with-If I don't think much of myself, why should anyone else? A lot of truth there.

From UCLAgirl's post- The best way to prepare, in my opinion though, is to make sure that you are really confident and proud to be you. Have a good attitude about yourself and be comfortable with who you are.

Sometimes I feel like I am about to burst. I am overjoyed and anxious to see what the future has for me. I truly feel deep in my heart that (not just a particular sorority) this lifestyle is for me. I seriously feel it as my calling. It may sound silly. It is just a gut feeling that I have. I will be a great asset, a diligent worker, a spirited member, and a respectful young lady that will carry my possible sorority with dignity.
I have never done anything like this before. I am not doing this for anyone but me. This opportunity is my gift to myself. I am almost 100% out of a terrible academic hole. Now school is going great and I feel awesome. As a sophmore, I see myself at an advantage, because I have already gone threw the turmoils of freshman year. I have grown so much. I know myself better. I feel that I can be more of a benefit as a member, because of my experiences. I go at things with a more adult attitude. I was just never ready for responsibilities such as this when I was 18. At 19, I was a freakin idiot. Its not entirely my fault, but we wont go there.....But I take that idiotic period and use it at my advantage. I am a fighter. It is amazing how much you enjoy your school when you are serious about your work. I have more respect and dignity for myself now. That is why I think that I would make a great asset to a sorority.;)

Can't wait to hear where y'all end up at! :D Good luck in going through recruitment or rush or whatever it is these days!

I thought that this whole idea was a great one, and remember to figure out what you want in a sorority---makes it just a tad easier when you walk through those doors sometimes!

Now, that's a good term, adpiucf-- a marketing hook! I know all the PNMs here are wondering and would like some suggestions from y'all: how can we bring in our marketing hook when all people keep asking us is what our major, hometown and year are. Any suggestions, ladies?

Luckily, my major is something that leads well into an explanation that shows a little more of me. I am a double major in Elementary Ed and Communication Disorders. I decided to do that because I had interpreted for the Deaf and loved it, and I love teaching. After I spend some time in the classroom, I plan on becoming a speech therapist in the schools and still interpret for the Deaf. I have tons of actvities that have revolved around these things, so if nothing else, they'll remember the girl with all the majors that talks to Deaf people.

That's my major too!
 

MTSUGURL - Communication Disorders is my major too...and I got interested in it from working with the deaf as well! My involvement stemmed from loaning one of my horses to a theraputic riding program and volunteering there. Also, that major is why I transferred schools and why as a sophomore I still have 5-6 years in school ahead of me. LOL, must be a good major! ;)

I've actually been thinking about this alot lately, trying to put into words what I know inside.

I guess the reason that it's really really hard for me to say why I feel the way I feel because I am worried that my dedication and love for all my sisters in my local sorority back at USC will weird my rusher out.

But the honest truth is that they all taught me what it means to be a sister, what it means to be there for you through thick and thin. When everything else in my life was going wrong, my sisters were there for me. When I started college, I wanted to be in a sorority to meet people and make career connections. Now, I want to be in a sorority because of all that I know, from experience, that having sisters can be.

(Ok this is way beside the point but...)

Meliahna & MTSUGURL,

I'm a speech pathology major as well! I also have an interest in the deaf community. My hope is that by the time I graduate in 2004 I'll be somewhat fluent in ASL. :)

I don't know about the schools where you are rushing, but at Butler the SPL major is pretty rare. It'll not only show that you are compassionate and dedicated to choose such a career, but it'll also give you something to talk about! I've found that a lot of people I've met have been touched in some way or another by a SLP! :)

Ok, I'll stop hijacking!
Good luck everyone! :)

Continuing the hijack
 

I'm fluent in ASL - I used to interpret! I love my major, even if I don't love all the extra school I need...


Why I should be in a sorority - Who was it that said every chapter needs a girl old enough to rent a car? ;)

Re: Continuing the hijack
 

then i'd be perfect for a sorority!:p :p

Smiley -- where are you rushing?

Cele,

I believe she is rushing at Univ of North Florida.

~ Annie :)

Yes indeedy.

Cele, if you have any other raging recruitment questions I have a HUGE list of PNMs and their schools here. Feel free to browse! :D

yes i am

Thank you all -- sometimes I get too lazy to click and search anymore! :D

just thought that this thread should be bumped for the new potentials:)

My turn!
 

I was in a local sorority that closed down. I love my sisters and the fact that being in that sorority taught me leadership, dedication, and to put my priorities in order. I still admire and love the Greek system at Kent State and believe that I could grow more as a person from being in a sorority. I believe that being in a national sorority where I could go across the nation and find the same support as I would at my own school would help me grow even more as a person.

When I first came across the title of this thread I was nervous about posting. I guess I was afraid the things I would say would sound too "cliché" or superficial. I read the posts other girls wrote though, and instead of being cynical or suspicious of the reasons they gave, I was actually touched at the things they said. I think the girls who have posted on this topic really sum up why someone would want to join a sorority. Actually, almost every post I have read answers that question. Who wouldn't want to join an organization filled with bright and intelligent women who are dedicated to helping others through their various philanthropies, making their campus better, and show such awesome bonds of sisterhood?
I cannot speak for every campus, but I have seen the way the girls in sororities interact with each other and honestly, it is 90 percent positive. I have friends in almost all of the organizations and they have something positive to say about all of the groups. They have all given me honest advice about rush, and even about rushing groups other than theirs. I constantly hear comments like, "Oh those girls are soooo cute," or, "I really liked them, in fact I would have joined their org. if I hadn't gotten into the one I am in now," or "We did such and such event together and they were so awesome to work with!!"
Seeing that these girls can interact with one another in positive ways without all of the stereotyping and cattiness just makes me want to go through rush even more.
From the time I was a little girl I just knew I would go through rush, but I had heard the stereotypes before going to college and was worried that I would join or have to deal with the "mean/slutty/etc" girls... but those worries were quickly displaced when I got here!
Joining a sorority is more than joining a "club" or having people to hang out with on weekends. You are joining and organization whose ideals you share, meeting wonderful people (and not just in your own sorority but throughout a whole Greek system), working for various causes, and enriching your life in so many ways I cannot even being to imagine... and the best part is that it is something you will belong to for the rest of your life.
So, that was the longest post of my life:D but I meant every word of it!

my reason...
 

When I came to college I was one of those people who thought Greek life was pointless, dumb...insert whatever Greek life stereotype people had. I remember seeing sisters trying to get PNMs to sign up for rush and noticed that they were only talking to the blondes that walked past them. I couldn't rush because I was a first semester freshman. The only things I knew about the sororities on campus was what people told me (ABC hazes, DEF is a bunch of sluts, XYZ doesn't haze they're nice...yadda yadda yadda). I remember talking to one of my best friends from home about why we were never going to rush. We both (at the time) thought it wasn't for us.

My roommate plegded a sorority and she was so happy with her sisters and how they were all so close. One even showed up late at night to take her to the hospital. Seeing how her sister was there for her when she really needed help gave me a whole new respect for Greeks and the bonds they share.

Greeks on my campus have the highest GPAs, and are more involved on campus than some of their "haters." They also have food drives and cancer walks as well. I wanted to be in a sorority because my grades are important to me, as well as contributing to life on campus as a whole.

I went through formal in the spring, but it didn't work out. I think it was for the best because I don't think I fully understood the responsibility that being a Greek has. I'm not bitter about it, and I still say hi to the sisters and other rushees I met. I'm rushing again informally in the fall and I'm hoping that I asked back to a chapter that I fit into. Oh yeah, the friend that I mentioned before--she pledged a local sorority at her school. Her rush went better than mine because Greek life there is so small that everybody who rushed basically got in. But she's happy where she is.

So yeah...I want to be in a sorority because I want to be a part of something that's bigger than myself. I want friends who share the same goals of academic excellence and contribution to our campus and community. That's simple and corny, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

*Danielle*