Sorority Girl

So They’ve Joined a Sorority

Congratulations if your daughter has found a place to call home. Being in a sorority opens the door to so many wonderful experiences. My daughter made some of her closest friends in her sorority at FSU. Every sorority is a little different as it relates to living in the house, eating meals at the house, academic, philanthropic, and social requirements. Your daughters will be expected to attend chapter meetings, eat their meals at the house (if they provide meals, which would also be included in the fees), and participate in their sorority’s events.

Sororities are paired up with fraternities for socials. Some sororities require you to dress up for dinner; others do not care if you come straight from the gym. Some may require you to live in the house with your pledge class at some point; others it is optional. My older daughter lived in her sorority house her junior and senior year, loving the fact that there were always other women around to hang out with, talk with, watch tv shows with, and just the entire experience. The advantage was the cost to live in the house. She had a parking spot so no parking fees and the rent was very reasonable. Some of her sisters though chose not to live in the house, preferring to be there for meals, meetings, and socials.

Be prepared for a wardrobe change as they can often be seen wearing frat tanks (some girls sell their collection for as little as $5 a shirt), sorority shirts, sweatshirts, jewelry and more, proudly wearing their sorority’s letters or name (some new members are not allowed to wear the letters until after initiation). Some girls, thinking ahead, may buy doubles of their shirts (they usually have a shirt for each significant event) in order to wear one and save one to make a quilt out of the t-shirts after graduation. The quilts really come out adorable. My daughter developed a fast liking for Lilly Pulitzer clothes for a short while.

Over the years, I have purchased sorority gifts for them, mainly at orientation. Between Big/Little, Orientation, and Bid Day, they have accumulated jewelry, water bottles, stationery, wall signs and so much more. And while I know eventually (after they graduate college and move into an apartment to start adulting, their decorating tastes switch), seeing them enjoying this bond with so many young women and the impact the sorority makes during their college years is well worth having all of the sorority items they collect.

Should you decide to get them a congratulatory gift, we have some suggestions here from:

Greek Gear, Greek Creations, All that JasBaubleBar, Desert Cactus Greek, Brit, and Bee, Alexandra and Company, Go Greek Chic, Cotton Sisters, Sorority Shop, Signature Tumblers, and Gild the Lily. Even Bed, Bath & Beyond carries Greek merchandise including tumblers, pillows, poufs, and more!

As for those that were on the meal plan through FSU, because most sororities’ membership includes most of their meals, what happens to the meal plan you purchased during orientation or when they first moved in? Students who join a Greek organization with a meal plan included in the organization’s dues have an extended time to downgrade their meal plan. Students who qualify must present their bid card within five days of receipt to the Seminole Dining Office, located at 104 N. Woodward Ave. (inside the FSUCard Center) to be eligible for a meal plan downgrade.

Your daughter can bring her bid card to our office and we can help her change her meal plan to a smaller one that would be a reduced price and fewer meals, there is no fee to make a change. They are located at 104 N Woodward Ave., the office behind the Bookstore and right next to the FSUCard center. The girls will be eating most of their lunches and many dinners at the house; it’s a great way to bond.  If you are too late to make the change, perhaps you can get your meal plan dollars turned into Flex Bucks which can be used at all the dining places around campus. I have heard of this happening in the past. It could be worth a try though.

Being in a sorority is not just about the social aspect, although that is a big part of joining. Many of the sororities require their members to participate in the philanthropy aspect teaching them about helping those less fortunate. They are expected to keep up their grades as each sorority loves to be able to brag about having the highest GPA amongst all sororities. They can be found holding positions on Homecoming, Student Government, Garnet and Gold Key, HerCampus, and Dance Marathon to mention a few. This opens the door for new members to have the opportunity to get involved on campus. And most sororities also have Mother Daughter and Father-Daughter Weekends which typically rotate every year. Those are my favorite. Most colleges are extremely strict today when it comes to drinking and hazing. I am not going to cherry coat this; it does happen. Your daughter should never feel pressured to do something that makes her feel uncomfortable. You can read about FSU’s position and policies.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.