It’s More Than Parties, Sorority Life.
Choosing to participate in recruitment and having the opportunity to join a sorority at the University of Georgia was one of the best decisions I have made since becoming a Dawg. My sorority gave me an instant community and 350 friends right off the bat, and that really helped UGA feel even more like home to me. Going through the recruitment process, you learn that each sorority has different values, rules, activities, events, and standards, and these differences are what make it easy for everyone to find which one truly feels the most like “home”.
Recruitment registration for Fall of 2020 opens on April 1st and will last through July 20th. Get more information about recruitment and to register. All 19 sororities under UGA Panhellenic participate in Fall Recruitment at UGA, whereas only certain ones participate in Spring Recruitment.
If your daughter wants to get the most out of their rush experience and have all options available, they will probably want to rush in the Fall. Whereas each sorority at UGA does things slightly different, all of them meet for chapter once a week, have date nights typically once a month, participate in socials throughout the semester, and have at least two philanthropy events throughout the year.
The chapter is a formal meeting where only members of the sorority are allowed and it holds information, specific rituals, and announcements about the sorority. Date nights are themed events where girls ask a boy and usually go listen to music, dance, and have a fabulous evening. Socials are parties where the sorority goes to a fraternity house for a pre-game (a party prior to going downtown) and then make their way downtown with the boys later in the evening. Philanthropy events are a time where each sorority raises awareness for a worthy cause and works to raise money for that cause.
Once your daughter joins a sorority and is initiated, their sorority letters can pretty much be found on you at all times. Big/little events will result in tons of T-shirts, water bottles, laptop cases, bags, and other items for them to sport around campus and show off their letters.
Each date night will also have a shirt created to match the theme and remember it, so they will also more than likely end up with tons of these too. If they aren’t sporting their letters, chances are they are supporting their favorite fraternities instead. Fraternities also do date nightshirts and typically if they get asked on one, they will more than likely get a shirt from your date. (Thus the reason why students belongings tend to double at the end of the year from when you dropped them off). It is common for parents or grandparents to want to get their daughter a congratulatory gift for joining a sorority, so there is a local place in Athens called University Spirit that will deliver that gift straight to her dorm or apartment.
There are also tons of online websites that will create gift boxes and you can ship them straight to her including Desert Cactus Greek, Brit and Bee, Alexandra and Company, Go Greek Chic, Cotton Sisters, Sorority Shop, Greek Gear, Greek Creations, All that Jas, BaubleBar, Signature Tumblers, and Gild the Lily. Even Bed, Bath & Beyond carries Greek merchandise including tumblers, pillows, poufs and more!
Being in a sorority is a social experience that helps your daughter get involved on campus, cultivate relationships, and learn valuable skills. All sororities at UGA encourage members to get involved elsewhere on campus and have alumni ready and excited to help with mentorship, teaching, and aiding girls however they might need it. Academics are held in high regard in all the sororities at UGA, it is required to keep a certain GPA to remain in good standing with your sorority, and date nights, socials, and events will be taken away if that GPA is not met. UGA Greek Life also has a strict no hazing and anti-alcohol policy that is sure to ease the mind of anyone.
At UGA, severe punishments do happen if there is even a suspicion that something bad has happened. Greek Life at UGA is one of the most encouraging communities there is and they are all banded together in making UGA, Athens, and their organizations better. They do this through philanthropic events. UGA Greek Life alone is the most successful organization at UGA when it comes to fundraising and they help over 30 different philanthropic organizations locally and nationally.
Going Greek is a decision your daughter will not regret. It will truly give them the best friends, and make their experience at UGA so amazing.
Madeleine Morris, UGA Intern
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Interesting take on UGA’s sorority life. I remember rushing fall 2011 and while plenty of the other rushees were very nice, I was taken aside two separate times and told I should consider alternate organizations because I didn’t have the right look for Panhellenic, i.e. I wasn’t thin enough. Not to mention how I got punched out by a Kappa downtown at a bar because she thought I was someone else. Not to mention that hazing runs rampant at UGA, regardless of the hazing policy, because the hazing events (underage drinking, fat shaming, etc) are “tradition.” While I’m glad I met my close friends at UGA (through the Honor’s college), I will be extremely disappointed should any child of mine attend there. There are better schools out there that prepare students for the real world, outside of the Athens bubble.
100% agreed! The Greeks themselves use the money the parents give to buy their underage kids tabs at local bars.