The sorority experience is as varied as the campuses on which there are chapters. One thing that does not change from campus to campus is the impact of a chapter's reputation on the overall sorority experience of the members.
When going through sorority membership recruitment and choosing a sorority it is important that a potential new member find the balance between choosing the chapter that is the best fit for her as an individual while also taking into account that a group's reputation will become her reputation as well. In making this decision, consider the following factors.
Sorority Chapter Strengths Affect Reputation
It is rare that a sorority chapter is strong in every aspect – academics, campus involvement, sisterhood, and social. They do exist and those are the few chapters that are awarded top recognition by their own national organizations each year. But most sororities tend to excel in a few areas and become known for those aspects.
These areas can change over time as sorority chapters are constantly evolving based on the strengths of the current members. But it is important to recognize that it is unlikely every sorority on campus will be strong in every area. It will be necessary for a potential new member to decide what is most important and seek a chapter that seems to match those priorities.
Reputations Vary from Person to Person
Like beauty, reputation is in the eye of the beholder. What is appealing to one woman is not necessarily attractive to another. One woman going through recruitment may desire strong academics and sisterhood above all else. Therefore the chapter that is strong socially and highly involved on campus may not seem to have the same strong reputation to her as the potential new member who is very concerned about the social opportunities offered by each group.
The same holds true for how men on campus (and specifically fraternity men) view the different sororities. Some fraternities will only associate with the chapters with the best looking women. Other fraternities are more interested in finding a group of fun women with whom to have social events. Reputation will be viewed differently based on the priorities of the person making the judgment.
Sorority Reputations on Campus Change
It is important to remember that sorority reputations change over time. The chapter that might have been wildly popular and considered the top group just a few years ago may no longer be viewed that way. Chapters considered weaker can and do improve even to the point of becoming a top group. Strong chapters make bad choices and can end up closing. It is important to consider each sorority for what it is today and heavily discount the stories of those who might have been on campus long ago. Groups evolve and reputations do as well.
While going through sorority recruitment can seem overwhelming at times, preparing ahead of time and being careful to avoid common mistakes made by potential new members will help a great deal. Weigh each chapter's reputation as appropriate, and then make a decision based on what seems like the best overall fit. There are many benefits to sorority membership and it is well worth the time to make the most of the potential opportunities.
Sallie Schaaf Borrink - Sallie Borrink is a professional writer with extensive experience with business clients, the consumer market, and online destinations.
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