How do you balence Greek life and school?

[ThetokenCanuck]

Hey,

I just thought we could share some tips. I am social chair this year for my sorority as well this year i am in charge of organizing our tenth year anniversary and i am the greek social exec secretary.I have a lot on my plate and i am having trouble balencing greek life and school..my school is falling behind...

How do you guys keep the balence? Any tips, suggestions, stories??

Thanks,


Xi Delta Theta-We always wear our letters standing proud and tall a sister you can count on because a xi delt says it all.

[ksig600]

TokenCanuck,

I think the first place to start is to know your priorities. You are a student at your university, first and foremost. Remember to always put your studies first, and you shouldn't fail in the academics department.
I also would advise getting a day planner, its like a bible to me. Before I had one, I was missing deadlines right and left. Every tool that you have at your disposal to help you to organize yourself is a big help.
Finally, if you are constantly stressed and at the edge, there is nothing wrong with just taking some things off your plate. No one will look down on you if you step-down from a few leadership roles, especially if it will help you keep your sanity.

[crystalline]

I use my planner to schedule time. Then, I make sure to follow the planner.

[fire1977]

Also when using your planner, take the date your projects for Xi Delta Theta and plan each step backwards, set deadlines for yourself that way you aren't scrambling at the end, like I used to do!! Another suggestion use a different color of pen for sorority stuff, and don't forget to reward yourself every once in a while!!

I know someone suggested a day planner, the planners that work best for me have a weekly breakdown and a monthly breakdown.

You could always ask santa for a palm pilot, the one I have costs about 80 bucks(prob cheaper now), but it has an alarm; the best tool for those on the go! (Although the regular planner works just as well!!)

Another thing, you can set up office hours for yourself so that during those specific times people can come see you and if no one shows you can work on your projects! Good luck, I hope this helped!

[swede]

I know a lot of people will not agree with me.
But screw academics. I do not mean fail out of classes. But if you are president or another important position in your house, consider taking only 6 or 9 credits. It will let you excel in the classes you do have, along with excelling in your chapter.


I think that people who accept roles of leadership in their Greek organization need to realize what that responsibility means, and NEVER miss an event. Provide a EXCELLANT role model. Sacrifice themselves to making sure your chapter leads in every opportunity possible.

Leaders are there to lead the chapter. They must have their academics squared away. If that means they are super smart and can handle a regular load and their position, then good for them. Otherwise, take fewer classes so they can do their fraternity stuff.

[crystalline]

Originally posted by swede
I know a lot of people will not agree with me.

That's true. I don't agree with you.

For some reason I don't believe that graduate schools are going to care if I excelled in sorority nearly as much as if I excelled in my classes. I'm willing to bet my parents feel the same way.

[annice22]

This year I am balancing alot better than I was last school year. Last year my social life was getting more attention. I think I become more goal oriented and that's been keeping me balanced. But I do still go out and have fun but I think being balanced has helped me find the time to go out more. I also have been using my planner (I have one every year but I think I've really been using it for the best). I also have this schedule sheet that I can place my whole schedule on it with all my classes, meetings, and work hours (those are fixed time which I can not change) and put it either on my wall or closet door. But I still need to be more organized.

The only things that are currently out of balance are my room and my checkbook.

Love
Annice
FSS

[33girl]

I agree with swede to a point...

if you know ahead of time you are going to have a time-intensive semester as rush chair or something, try and take the min # of credits and catch up on those gen ed classes you need. It will be a lot less stress for you and for your brothers/sisters.

BTW I HIGHLY advocate summer school. Smaller classes, you get to know the prof more, and you don't have extracurricular stresses. Not to mention you get to know people you might not have previously. If there is a class you're dreading and you can take it then, go for it.

[LeslieAGD]

Visual tools always help me. Make a calendar for the month including all your tests, quizzes, important papers, etc., your GLO events, and work or anything else you have going on. If you can physically see how busy your week is, you generally won't over-tax yourself.

Also, I wouldn't suggest taking minimum credit hours...instead balance your schedule so you have some easier and some harder classes.

[kddani]

One thing about taking less credits-

I'm not sure about your house, but most NPCs have a minimum number of credits you have to have to be an active collegian. In most cases, I believe it's around 12. That's generally what you need to be considered a full time student, and that's generally what's required.

Employers or grad school are much more impressed when you have a full courseload AND are a leader.

[ChiOqt]

I have to balance two jobs, 17 credits, my sorority, and my volunteering all the time. Just make sure you always have time to yourself!!!!! You have to be able to just step back and take a break. Be able to say no! And also, have a calender or planner with you all the time. I always have to make sure there's time to get things done!

[sororitygirl2]

I agree with Swede. Don't take on more than you can handle. If you accept responsibilities, you need to fulfill them and live up to your role. Now, I don't think that means that you should fail out of school, but if your chapter puts the faith in you to give you a position, you shouldn't let them down.

[UofIL AXO]

I think balancing greek life and school can be especially tricky if you're holding and executive position for your house as well. I have learned that the key is to DELEGATE. Ask for help! Breaking up the tasks and having others volunteer to help can do wonders for your stress levels. Also, try to study away from the house if possible so you can separate your interests. I found it hard to get work done when people are knocking on my door needing info, or a signature or whatever. Also, it's not a crime to skip a social event if you need to stay in. I think alot of people priotize the social events and the academics falter. There will be plenty of time to socialize, trust me!!!

[annice22]

So far this semester I am feeling a little unbalanced. I have so much homework due over this week-end. I feel so stressed. I'm also feeling stress because I have make sure I complete at least 4 major assignments by tommorrow (Mon). I've been working on homework since Fri. My sorority has rush tommorrow and tues, I have to work, study, do homework, and still make sure I eat and get a enough sleep which I don't feel like I'm getting enough of.

I'm just going to have to take some time out for me because I haven't found time for my weekly manicure,pedicure, and facial.

I think even this post sounds stressed .

But I'm going to get ready and start on my assignments.

Annice

[CarolinaDG]

Originally posted by swede
I know a lot of people will not agree with me.
But screw academics. I do not mean fail out of classes. But if you are president or another important position in your house, consider taking only 6 or 9 credits. It will let you excel in the classes you do have, along with excelling in your chapter.


I think that people who accept roles of leadership in their Greek organization need to realize what that responsibility means, and NEVER miss an event. Provide a EXCELLANT role model. Sacrifice themselves to making sure your chapter leads in every opportunity possible.

Leaders are there to lead the chapter. They must have their academics squared away. If that means they are super smart and can handle a regular load and their position, then good for them. Otherwise, take fewer classes so they can do their fraternity stuff.

Yeah, I don't agree with that, either. I'm taking 18 hours, which is 9 classes b/c I'm taking 5 3-hour classes, 3 1-hour classes, and a zero hour class. I also am VP: Panhellenic, which means I sit on sorority council, do all the PR for my sorority, do all alum relations for my sorority, am in charge of intramurals, and I have to be at every greek life event possible. On top of it all, the chapter here is expanding, and putting in a LOT of extra sorority hours directed by EO. Which means when I should be studying, I'm making a banner, passing out flyers, or redoing the bulliten board. But rarely ever do I have to pick between a school function and sorority, and if I do, usually it's an easy choice.

The thing that our chapter does is we have office hours. Every VP holds four office hours a week. If you need anything from us, you get it during those office hours. If you approach us any other time, we have the right to say, "I'll get to it later, right now I'm studying" or anything like that.

Oh, and have I mentioned that I live on the hall? Translation: no time for myself. But I've found this great invention for studying... it's called the library! This semester is probably going to be my toughest as far as time-wise. But so far, I've had three quizzes (and I'm talking hard quizzes) and I've gotten A's on all of them.

The thing is, noone's going to be mad at you if you have a class conflict with something sorority. But, and I know this sounds bad, they will probably get mad at you if you say that you have to study during an event. When that comes up, you have two choices. Go to the event as a study break (study before, study after) or tell them to kiss your butt and school comes first. Yeah, they'll probably be mad at you for that one, but there will come a time when they feel the same way.

Oh, one last thing... GREEK CHAT IS ADDICTIVE. I think this is a wonderful tool, but make sure that you're on it when you have time to do sorority-related stuff, not when you should be studying (like me, right now )