We have zero experience with schools that have Greek life. I went to a small college in New England and my 2 oldest kids picked colleges with no Greek system.
My DD is a high school sophomore and interested in both Syracuse and Umass Amherst at this stage of the game. Both have Greek life, but more so at Syracuse. I think it’s something like 27% of girls are in sororities at Syracuse, but only 12% at Umass. Is that a noticeable difference in social scene?
She is not interested in joining a sorority at this point, but I guess that could change depending on where she lands. She likes that these schools have great school spirit, a fun sports culture, lots of options for majors/minors with some flexibility to change if she wants and relatively small class size at large schools. The cold weather is fine with her!
Are sororities in the northeast like what we see of sororities at big universities in the south where joining seems like a superficial popularity contest focussed on appearance and outfits? Is there more to it? Is picking/being selected all encompassing at these schools? What if a kid makes friends during the first year and then some join a sorority and some don’t? Do friend groups then completely change? Explain it to me like I’ve just landed here from another planet.
Thank you!
SU is a smaller school than most of the publics in the South and won’t have the massive houses, or at least didn’t.
As a Sophomore, you have lots of time to visit schools, stop kids on campus, talk to them, and then some. Plus, ask to speak to student ambassadors.
If 27% are in a sorority, then 73% aren’t. You can look at it that way.
So all encompassing, no way.
My friend’s daughter is going through rush at Syracuse now. She is definitely not the sorority type and never had any intention of rushing, and may not see it through but is still in the process for now. But after her first semester she feels like there isn’t enough social activity around campus if you’re not part of Greek life. I’m sure others feel like there’s so many other options…just reporting this freshman’s experience. She also said venturing off campus at night doesn’t feel that safe so really looking for on campus social options.
At some southern schools especially, Greek affiliation is very important. I don’t know if that’s as true at Syracuse, but I’ll bet it’s less important. But…the rush process itself is basically the same everywhere and it can definitely feel like a superficial popularity contest just because of the way it works. Every sorority is required to cut people after every round. The most popular sororities are required to cut the most people (because they have a higher yield). These girls barely get a few minutes to chat before the sorority makes cuts, so it’s by its nature kind of superficial. But the total number of spots available across all sororities is based on how many people stick with the process to the last day (i.e. sign the MRABA after pref, in sorority speak). Very few people actually get dropped completely. Most schools report hat 95%+ of students who see rush through get a bid…even at schools with super competitive rush. What is more likely to happen is that girls only get offers from houses they view as “inferior” and they decide to drop out themselves. Overall the process kind of sucks IMO but people who don’t really want to may do anyway it to expand their social options.
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I can’t speak to those 2 schools specifically, but I went to a college in the northeast that is very Greek (way more than percentages listed), and the sororities had very little in common with what i see on Instagram in the south.
There is a popularity aspect in sense that they have a say in who is a member (duh) but there were no recommendations from past members, no moms involved, money wasn’t a factor (except you had to pay dues, but I think there was some fin aid involved somehow), no fancy schmancy outfits (though people dressed up some for rush and there were formals to deal with), also rush was second year (not before first year) and it was more a place to hang out than a make-or-break thing. Yes, they were self-selecting and some were “cooler” than others, but it really wasn’t that big of a deal IMO. I actually just toured this school with my own kid, and the tour guide was in a house (a female) and she talked about how she was initially hesitant to come to the school because of the Greek life and was adamant she wouldn’t join, and then did as it was NOTHING like she imagined. Also, there are coed houses, etc and houses for all sorts of folks.
Note, I wasn’t in a house and didn’t particularly love them.. However, I would not be worried about 12% rate in the least (likely will barely even know they exist) 25% is more noticeable, but still not that big of a deal IMO.
I think talking to a bunch of people and visiting will differentiate this too…and by senior year may have a totally different opinion:)
I had 2 daughter in sororities, 1 in the northeast (UDel) another in the south (Clemson). They appeared very similar. Each girl should get a bid at the end if they don’t suicide rush (only choosing 1 sorority instead of 2 at the end). It’s funny, my UD girl ended up living off campus with 5 of her honors friends and most ended up in different sororities which is pretty awesome for meeting new people. I think what many girls don’t realize is that they’re only meeting a small amount of the girls during rushing, and the ones they will become closest with are those in their pledge class and their “families.”