Has anyone’s daughter here joined a sorority at Yale? I never thought that I would recommend that my freshman daughter join one, but wondering if they are good for feeling a sense of belonging. Do most girls who rush get into them, or is this something else that is hard to get into?
My daughter started rushing last year because most of her roommates and friends attending schools down south were. It is not as big of a thing on campus as it is at other schools. Its a very short process but from what I have heard it is also a very selective process. Many of her friends did not get into the ones that they wanted or was dropped early in the process. My daughter dropped out after the first bid cut because she didn’t have time for the rest of the rush process and couldn’t make the other events. She was already very busy with other activities and also active in her A Capella group which seems to be more of the sisterhood that she had wanted anyhow. It is not for everyone, I do not really see or hear much about what they do or don’t do once you are in. I think that it may be more for those that really do not belong to something else or for those that already have a lot of friends in them. Its not like there are obvious sorority houses or people walking everywhere with letters on their shirts. But that is just my observation.
Good news. There is finally a historically black sorority active on campus again after an 8 year hiatus - Alpha Kappa Alpha - the first Black sorority, started in 1908 at Howard University. It is a city chapter - Xi Omicron. Tell any of your daughters that are interested that they may have a rush in the spring so they should look for the notice. And - it is very inclusive and will take all young women who meet the criteria.
That’s great to hear about Alpha Kappa Alpha, and there was also another sorority added at Yale in the last year or two due to increased interest. From what I can see the sororities at Yale are relatively casual, compared to schools where the whole social life revolves around the Greek scene.
There was an interesting NY Times article a few months back on sororities in the Ivies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/10/fashion/sorority-ivy-league-feminists.html
Not a sorority, but St. Anthony Hall is a place to feel welcome, and enjoy feeling included.
Thanks! I had never heard of that and just looked it up. I will definitely recommend checking out the lectures.