Choosing the Right Sorority

Choosing a sorority is a difficult decision for most college students. The size of the chapter on campus, national reputation, and other sisters in the sorority are all things that must be considered. You want to find a sorority that offers ample opportunity for leadership and camaraderie, but also is not so large that you get lost in the shuffle. Here are a few things to think about when evaluating a sorority this coming school year.

Choosing the right sorority: Chapters may differ between campuses

Remember that even the same sorority can be quite different at a different school. When asking for opinions or recommendations, try to ask people who attend the same campus. Whether you will enjoy a particular sorority often depends more on the people running the local chapter than it does on the sorority's national reputation.

Choosing the right sorority: Large sororities

Think about whether you would prefer to pledge a large sorority or a smaller one. Each type of sorority has its own advantages and disadvantages. Larger sororities may give you more opportunity to meet new people, but it may also be more difficult to make deep connections when there are so many people. There are also fewer opportunities to take a leadership role in a large sorority chapter because of the amount of competition for each position. Of course, this can also be an advantage because less will be demanded of each individual in a large sorority.

Choosing the right sorority: Small sororities

A small sorority often has more of a community-type feel to it, making it easier to connect with all of the members. Of course, this also means that there will be fewer sisters to spread the work and expense around. Each pledge will have more financial responsibility and may be expected to take more of a leadership role than she would in a large sorority. Having fewer members may also hurt a sorority's reputation on campus or limit its influence among the other fraternities and sororities on campus.

Choosing the right sorority: Other factors to consider

There are several other factors besides chapter size to consider when choosing a sorority. The most important thing to think about is whether you can trust your sorority sisters. You will be spending a lot of time with the other members of the sorority, along with leaving your personal belongings in areas where they may have access. Avoid sororities known for illegal hazing of new pledges. If at any time you feel peer pressure to do things against your own moral code, this may not be the right sorority chapter for you.