what do you wish?

[stagebear]

looking back on your experiences in greek life and your fraternity/sorority, what do you wish you would have know as a freshman?

[AOIIalum]

If I'd realized the following as a freshman, I would have had a much better collegiate experience (not saying that it wasn't good, it was, but it would have been so much better.)

1. Chose a major that I *wanted and liked*, not one that I was *expected* to have. If I had done this one thing, I think I would have eliminated a lot of my academic problems.

2. Been smart enough and responsible enough to get to every class every day (goes with #1.) I truly believe this, because I lived it. My grades were horrid when I didn't. When I returned to school years later, I did this and it worked. I earned a 4.0 every one of those semesters, and I have no doubt that my attendance and involvement pulled a B into an A in at least 2 of those classes.

3. Develop a relationship with your instructors. Yeah, in a 300 person "Introduction to ..." lecture it can be next to impossible. But, if I had done this at an earlier point in my academic career it would have been a good thing.

4. If you work and go to school and are in a sorority/fraternity, be honest with your employer about your school responsibilities. If they are not willing to work with your reasonable requests, then find another job that works with your schedule. Let your boss know that your class schedule may change from semester to semester, because we all know it can and does. When you're a 17 or 18 year old, it can be really hard to stand up for yourself at work. Don't stay at a job because of loyalty or a salary if it doesn't fit with how your own life has changed. I missed out on a lot of things (classes, lab sessions, almost my entire pledge period!!) because I didn't realize I could find a better job. Thank heavens I did. It makes a world of difference.

5. Make an appointment with your local banker, family accountant, trusted adult financial guru and work out a real and realistic budget for yourself. Parents don't always have the right answers when it comes to a college student's budgetary needs and wants. Neither do freshmen themselves. An impartial third-party goes a long way in helping a college student earn and maintain financial independence.

6. STAY FAR, FAR, FAR AWAY FROM CREDIT CARDS. PERIOD. If you can't do that, know that you can and should contact your CC company and request a lower credit limit than they give you. Many, if not most, will lower your limit. If you have one and they keep raising your limit because of your "good payment history" or whatever, ask them to lower it right back. Eliminate the temptation. If you have a real need for a CC, make sure your limit is something you can honestly live with.

None of this on the surface may appear to be related to a freshman greek. But it does. A freshman with decent grades because he/she likes their classes and goes to class won't be restricted from chapter activities and offices because of lower grades. A freshman who has a job that fits well in their life will be able to focus on work at work and have sufficient time for school, chapter, and personal responsibilities. A freshman with a solid financial education hopefully won't have issues with credit card bills or being able to meet their chapter and other personal financial responsibilities.

Christin

[MoxieGrrl]

What seems like the biggest deal in the world will work itself out.

Don't be afraid to ask alum, National KD, or anyone else for help!

You can be the nicest, hardest working chapter in the country, but you will still be judged by if you made quota or not. Don't let that take away from you or your sisterhood.

Your sisters are your biggest fans, confidants, allies......always respect & cherish that.

[aephi alum]

I wish I had had some experience living "on my own" before going to college. By this I mean something like spending a few weeks at summer camp... before I got to college I'd never been away from my parents for longer than a week at a time. (Can you say overprotective? )

I agree with AOIIalum, go to every class, and take good notes. It makes a world of difference.

As for credit cards, well, for some things you need a CC, and it's safer to carry a CC than wads of cash. Just be sure to pay them in full every month. American Express actually requires you to do this. And set yourself a budget - and stick to it.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by AOIIalum
6. STAY FAR, FAR, FAR AWAY FROM CREDIT CARDS. PERIOD. If you can't do that, know that you can and should contact your CC company and request a lower credit limit than they give you. Many, if not most, will lower your limit. If you have one and they keep raising your limit because of your "good payment history" or whatever, ask them to lower it right back. Eliminate the temptation. If you have a real need for a CC, make sure your limit is something you can honestly live with.

Amen to this. I learned this the hard way and got my self into a bit of trouble. As a college student you don't need to purchasing large items that require a cfedit card. If whatever you're paying for requires a credit card, ask yourself do you really need this. People will take cash. And in this day and age, you don't need to carry around cash. I use my debit card for almost everything.

[aephi alum]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
Amen to this. I learned this the hard way and got my self into a bit of trouble. As a college student you don't need to purchasing large items that require a cfedit card. If whatever you're paying for requires a credit card, ask yourself do you really need this. People will take cash. And in this day and age, you don't need to carry around cash. I use my debit card for almost everything.

Actually - sometimes you do. You will need a credit card to buy plane tickets to visit family or go on spring break or other vacations - these days especially, paying cash for airline tickets is a big red flag. You also need a credit card to rent a car, or to buy a computer.

(In theory, you could use a debit card for these things, but you do need some form of plastic - and with a debit card, you can overdraw your account and not even know it until it's too late, especially if you have overdraft protection.)

It's also a good idea (IF you can control your spending) to get a CC as soon as you turn 18, to establish a good credit rating. If you're in college, you don't have to submit to income verification, just prove that you are a college student. This will help enormously down the road when you want to finance a car or take out a mortgage.

[stagebear]

i guess i should clarify. i'm giving a speech to all of the new greeks. its on what i wished i knew back then as a new member.

[aephi alum]

Originally posted by stagebear
i guess i should clarify. i'm giving a speech to all of the new greeks. its on what i wished i knew back then as a new member.

Ah... suddenly this makes more sense

Well - this is something I did know, but it bears repeating - a reminder that your GLO membership is for life, not just for college, and that you now have anywhere from a few dozen to several thousand brothers/sisters out there, not just members of your chapter but alums and (if applicable) people from other chapters, throughout the world. Too often, people don't look beyond their immediate chapter sisters/brothers or beyond their college years.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by aephi alum


Well - this is something I did know, but it bears repeating - a reminder that your GLO membership is for life, not just for college, and that you now have anywhere from a few dozen to several thousand brothers/sisters out there, not just members of your chapter but alums and (if applicable) people from other chapters, throughout the world. Too often, people don't look beyond their immediate chapter sisters/brothers or beyond their college years.

Couldn't have said it better.............