working
 

Hi everyone! So I want to rush next year and if I were to join a sorority I would have to be responsible for paying my dues, not my parents. I know I can do it b/c I'll be working all summer and next semester but I was wondering if I wouldnt get the full experience if I would have to work all the time just to pay for it. I guess my question is is it worth it for me to join if I'd have to be working a lot?

Working and being in a sorority is a great learning experience for time management and prioritizing that you'll need later in life. You won't get to go to every mixer and social event, but if you can be flexible, you'll still get a great experience.

If you have great time management skills it will work for you. I work two jobs and was a member of other organizations (with officers positions) and still managed to get the full experience of a sorority.

It would really depend on how you handle things. As for me the more busy I am the better.

A very large percentage of my chapter sisters worked, and I know many women from other chapters at my school worked.

I'm currently an advisor at a different school, and I'd say that almost all of the women in the chapter work. The ones who don't are in certain majors where the major itself makes it more difficult to work (ex - the education majors who have student teaching to worry about, the nursing majors who have clinicals, etc.)

if you have good time management skills id say go for it! just make sure you have time to study in addition to working and pledging!! its a great experience to be involved in greek life!!! i definetely couldnt have handled working and taking classes and all the stuff with the sorority but thats just me. i know plenty of my sisters worked throughout college and didnt really miss out on any of our functions or anything else that college had to offer. good luck and im sure well see a recruitment thread on here in the fall if you decide to rush!!

I work about 4 days a week, attend classes (and summer classes) and hold a position in AOII.I pretty much go to everything too. I pay my own dues, tuition, and rent. I dont think its hard at all.. you just have to remember to get the days off you need off in time.

Probably about half my chapter works to support themselves in some way..others pay with financial aid.

So its possible! i say go for it!

there were a few girls in my chapter who worked, back in the day. many of the girls in the chapter i advise have jobs, whether on campus, or off.

I know a girl who worked full time, went to school, and was our vice president of standards. She attended nearly everything, too.

It's possible.

That's the key, plan your personal calendar in advance so you know what days to request at work. Your sorority should give you a chapter calendar well in advance with all required meetings and activities. Chapter meetings will almost always be the same night and time, recruitment events will be at the same general time each year even if the dates vary a bit, and so on. Also, most sororities have some type of guideline requiring a minimum amount of notice (2-4 weeks, probably) and specific procedure before changing the chapter calendar to add a manditory event. If such a change occurs, there should be a formal process to follow if such a change is made and you cannot attend on the new date.

If you don't keep some sort of personal calendar now (Blackberry or PDA, personal organizer, or even a physical calendar) get into the habit now. It will make your life so much easier in college to have everything listed!

Thanks for all the help! I have very good time management skills so i think its something I'm defiently gonna do! im so excited!

I worked to put myself through school, which included tuition, housing, and sorority dues. I also received financial aid. My parents were not able to support me through college. It is do-able, but it requires good time management skills and prioritization. The priorities for me were: School, Work, Sorority. I was in school to get an education, which would not be possible without having a job to pay for it. The sorority was my social outlet and a reward for working hard in school and on the job. I lived in the house and held sorority leadership positions. It wasn't always easy to balance, but I held a good GPA and had a few part-tme jobs until I found one that helped me meet my financial and personal goals the best. I found waitressing to be the best paying and most flexible on my schedule.

While work is important, know that there will be sorority functions that are mandatory like retreats, a signature philanthropy event, initiation, recruitment and weekly meetings that you will have to schedule around work. You can do this by letting your work know these dates well in advance.

Also know that you may not be able to attend every single sorority social event or fraternity party because of your schedule. Work is like any other extracurricular, but your being on-time and a good worker hinges on your ability to keep money coming in so you can afford to do things like pay sorority dues, go on Spring Break, trips to the mall, etc.