<p>Hey guys I’m a new member who wanted to introduce himself…I’m from Atlanta but will be attending Bama in a few weeks. I’m double majoring in finance and math on a 4 year master’s plan.</p>
<p>My question is that I’ve been in a relationship with my girlfriend for over two years, and we’re both going to Alabama. She’s rushing a sorority but as I’m paying my own way I’m not pledging to a frat. How difficult will it be and what advice do you guys have?</p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>Welcome!!!</p>
<p>Hmmm…I don’t know what to say. Some sorority girls are fine with having a boyfriend who’s not in a frat. Some girls are not. The sorority is not going to say either way. It’s up to the girl. However, it can be hard for a pledge. It’s easier once you’re an older active.</p>
<p>You need to talk to your GF and keep communications lines open. Her sorority will have “swaps” with various frat houses. How will you feel about that? Obviously, you won’t be able to attend those and she will have to as a pledge. </p>
<p>Her sorority may also have a close relationship with a particular frat (a situation where many of the girls date boys from THAT frat). Will your GF feel pressure (even unintentional pressure) about that? </p>
<p>How will you feel about her going to frat parties in general? </p>
<p>Are you the jealous type? ;)</p>
<p>Roll Tide!!! </p>
<p>I agree with m2ck that your relationship with your gf might feel strained at times since she will be going to activities where GDI’s aren’t permitted/encouraged to attend. Many people face a similar situation when they enter college and while some couples stay together, some don’t. There is a possibility that you two could break up for an unrelated reason. Looking on the bight side, there will be more interaction between Greeks and Independents as you introduce each other to the different people you’ve met at college. </p>
<p>Good luck with your relationship and with your college career. If you’re interested, we are having at least one meetup for UA CC’ers this month and you’ll probably see some of us around campus. Are you in the honors college?</p>
<p>Yeah…the main thing is hopefully she’ll get into a sorority that won’t have as much pressure on her towards having a boyfriend that’s not in a frat. The “swaps” that I’ve heard about from the frat point of view (granted it was the frat known for the most hardcore parties) that they sounded like general drunken extravaganzas where one thing leads to another.</p>
<p>I am the jealous type but then again so is she, and we’ve both agreed that we are going to just have to deal with that part of life. </p>
<p>I am in UHP and University Scholars as well. I’m staying in Riverside with 3 guys from my highschool who also are all in Honors.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Like SEA_Tide mentions, many boyfriends &girlfriends break up in college for a variety of reasons that aren’t related to being Greek or not being Greek. </p>
<p>You and your girlfriend will just have to take it one day at a time and see how things go. :)</p>
<p>Wis, you’ll be fine, but you’ll have to understand that her first semester as a sorority new member will be VERY busy. There will be plenty of required meetings for her, and possibly an overnight retreat or two. It will ease up a good bit after that first semester.</p>
<p>About swaps: social events are not usually required. They’re only drunken brawls if that’s how you’re going to act. My DD had a boyfriend, but I always encouraged her to go to the swaps, at least for an hour or two, just to meet people. </p>
<p>About fraternities: you are, no doubt, very impressed by the huge fraternity houses. But there are 20+ fraternities, and not all of them have huge houses. Many do not have huge dues requirements. Fraternity rush is much MUCH less structured than sorority recruitment and is way more random. It’s not unusual for upperclassmen to pledge, and at a different time of the year. Don’t rule out a fraternity until you’ve been there for a while and make some friends around campus.</p>