Greek life when living off campus

[KSUViolet06]

Living off campus doesn't affect your relationship with the sorority as long as you are involved in and aware of everything that's going on. If you make an effort to come to things as much as the girls who live on campus, your experience won't be any different. If you skip things and play the "I didn't feel like coming to campus" card or "it was late and I didn't feel like driving/wasting gas card", you'll miss out on alot and won't feel as connected to the chapter.

[AOE2AlphaPhi]

My little lived with her boyfriend about 10 minutes from campus. She was very active in the chapter in terms of philanthropy and coming to chapter, but didn't make going out or socializing with the sisters outside of her A Phi family a priority. She deactivated a few weeks ago because she didn't feel like she had made that close a bond with the girls and it was too much money for what was basically a community service club for her. Obviously I'm devastated, especially because I feel like it would have been an extremely valuable experience for her if she had made more of an effort to hang out in the house/go out with us.

This story isn't supposed to scare you away, but I would be prepared to make your sorority a priority outside of just required/official events so that it's worth it for you. This means that during your new member period it's especially important to make friends in your pledge class who will tell you what's going on and who you'll want to hang out with. Don't get so focused on just the official stuff that you forget about having fun with your sisters!

[flirt5721]

To be honest with you I think I spent more time at the sorority house when I was living off campus then when I was actually living in the house.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by AOE2AlphaPhi

My little lived with her boyfriend about 10 minutes from campus. She was very active in the chapter in terms of philanthropy and coming to chapter, but didn't make going out or socializing with the sisters outside of her A Phi family a priority. She deactivated a few weeks ago because she didn't feel like she had made that close a bond with the girls and it was too much money for what was basically a community service club for her. Obviously I'm devastated, especially because I feel like it would have been an extremely valuable experience for her if she had made more of an effort to hang out in the house/go out with us.

This story illustrates an important point. Alot of girls terminate their memberships because they "didn't feel close to everyone b/c they weren't on campus" but made no effort to get close to people.

Making it to campus for sorority events is important, but I think girls should also make time for hanging out with the sisters who live on campus as well. This doesn't mean you need to be on campus everrytime you have a free minute, but go to the house and eat lunch or dinner here, tinvite some on campus sisters to go out to lunch or dinner off campus, or have girls over to your apt./house sometimes to watch movies. It's really easy to attend events, but that's just half of the expereince.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by AOE2AlphaPhi

... be prepared to make your sorority a priority outside of just required/official events so that it's worth it for you. This means that during your new member period it's especially important to make friends in your pledge class who will tell you what's going on and who you'll want to hang out with. Don't get so focused on just the official stuff that you forget about having fun with your sisters!

Excellent, excellent advice.

[lsucajun8]

thanks fro all the advice. It is really helping me sort through all the decisions I'm trying to make.

I also thought I should ask...what are some things that you guys do to juggle school, work, sorority time, and also friends outside of the sorority. I realize that it is probably a pretty big time management thing, but I was just wondering.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by lsucajun8

thanks fro all the advice. It is really helping me sort through all the decisions I'm trying to make.

I also thought I should ask...what are some things that you guys do to juggle school, work, sorority time, and also friends outside of the sorority. I realize that it is probably a pretty big time management thing, but I was just wondering.

watch the tv show Greek.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

watch the tv show Greek.

Ok, don't watch this show. While very entertaining, it's not an accurate portrayal of what sorority life is like. I mean come on, it's TV.

Anyway, it's all about prioritizing. School is always first. If you have test on Monday, and there's an optional sisterhood on Sunday night, it's okay to skip it and study.

I also suggest staying involved in at least one other organization outside of the sorority, it will make you more well-rounded and you'll have something to do on your own. We all LOVE our sororities, but they aren't our whole lives and it's good to have other interests.

It also helps to make plans to do things with your other friends regularly. Go to lunch, dinner, or shopping because believe it or not, there will be times when (as much as you love it) you're a little burned out with sorority stuff and just want to go hang out with other people.

I strongly suggest keeping a planner! I don't know how I could've survived undergrad without it!

[Elephant Walk]

No, I meant about the prioritizing thing. Because Rusty has to deal with it in the show.

[ree-Xi]

If your mother is overprotective, be forewarned that during pledging, you may or may not get home very late. Some parents require college-aged children living with them to follow some sort of curfew or notification system. Figure that out before it becomes a reality (whether you are Greek or not, figure it out anyway).

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

If your mother is overprotective, be forewarned that during pledging, you may or may not get home very late. Some parents require college-aged children living with them to follow some sort of curfew or notification system. Figure that out before it becomes a reality (whether you are Greek or not, figure it out anyway).

Very true. For example, during the new member period, you may have a sleepover at the house. Or there are instances where there's a date party (which usually goes VERY late). Be sure your parents are okay with that (which in my opinion you are an adult and they should be but you never know). From a sorority member perspective, it is annoying when we give a girl a bid, but she depledges because her parents have an issue with it.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by lsucajun8

thanks. I think I remember, i may be wrong, someone in a sorority telling me that most have at least a one year requirement, but not until later. Also, does anyone else have problems with over protective mothers do skate around when doing sorority stuff? My mom is getting a little better, but I still do not think that she realizes how different that it is going to be for me in college.

Mom and Dads are more protective especially if they were never Greeks! Most do not really know. They only know what they may read.

It is not all true of course as Greeks do a tremendous good for others with their charity events and so many things after college.


One of the greatest things would be living with your possible new Sisters. It is an experience like no other.

But, just to join and be a part of it will be remembered forever for you!

My folks never went to college and when I did what I did, they said nothing to deter me from it. They became very good friends of the members and loved them too.

[KyleMcGuire1983]

I live an hour away from my campus and I'm in my third term as Vice President, if you have enough heart you can do anything.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Just a question in general-

Does anyone ask people questions anymore, aside from on the internet? I really don't intend to be mean, but come on. Call up the greek life office if you need to know ASAP. Or ask during recruitment. We represent a LOT of colleges/universities. Everyone is going to have a different policy. Why not call yours and find out instead of seeking advice on the interweb?

[lsucajun8]

i haven't checked this in awhile but thanks for all the info. it has really helped