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After finishing the lengthy and overwhelming process of applying and finally getting into your dream university comes the fun part of college life! It’s about choosing your classes, finding your accommodation, and deciding whether or not you will join your first fraternity and sorority to enrich your campus life through lifelong friendships.
If you’re not familiar with Greek letter, Greek life and Greek organizations, you may wonder how a sorority or fraternity founded on friendships or a secret society in many colleges works, and how they alleviate problems within campus and communities.
The LOWDOWN:
From late-night bonding to secret rituals, lifelong friendships, and of course, the privilege of living in an incredible sorority chapter house, the feeling of belonging in a diverse group or sisterhood not all college students are lucky to experience is beyond invaluable. Greek life memberships, which are expected to adhere to ethical standards, have doubled over the last decade in women’s colleges and Ivy League universities, and it’s now wonder why!
You may have heard of some of the popular fraternities like Alpha Sigma, Sigma Chi, Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Epsilon and Tau Kappa Epsilon! The honor society counterparts to sororities, many of them are members of the North American Interfraternity Conference.
Just like sororities, Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Chi, Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Tau are societies that are proudly Greek letter!
The Most Popular Sororities That Students Pledge To
Chi Omega
With more than 345,000 initiated members across its diverse group of 181 collegiate chapters and 240 alumnae chapters, Chi Omega is the biggest sorority in the National Panhellenic Conference. The premier support organization for advancing a sorority experience, the National Pan Hellenic Council is the umbrella organization of 26 women’s sororities.
Similar to a social fraternity, Chi Omega was founded in 1895 at the University of Arkansas, and since then, the sorority has initiated more than 355,000 members. It actively recruits non members and rakes in 28,000 new members from the student body added every year.
Chi Omega is considered an “intergenerational women’s organization” and is committed to its founding purposes: personal integrity, friendship, service to others, intellectual pursuits and academic achievement, campus life and community involvement, and career and personal development.
Some of the most notable alumni include Lucy Liu (actress; Charlie’s Angels, Kill Bill), Angela Kinsey (actress; the office), Harper Lee (author of To Kill a Mockingbird), and Susan J. Helms (NASA astronaut, the first woman to live on the International Space Station).
Delta Sigma Theta
A Service Sorority Founded in 1913
Delta Sigma Theta was started in 1913 at Howard University. This Greek letter sorority was organized by 22 collegiate women motivated by their yearning to foster academic excellence and extend help to young women who need it. The Delta Sigma Theta member historically marked their place in March 1913 after joining the Women’s Suffrage March in Washington, DC.
Much like a social fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta is composed of college girls dedicated to prolific developments and advancing the welfare of the Black community. This sorority is notable for giving support and assistance not only to new members but also to the needy in society via its programs.
In 1930, Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated and became a private non-profit organization to assist and support underserved society members. Since its founding, the sorority has had more than 200,000 African-American members.
Some notable persons who are Delta Sigma Theta members are American sculptor Tina Allen, Osceola Macarthy Adams, the first Black actress to ever appear on Broadway, Sadie T.M. Alexander, Ph.D. the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in economics in the US, Frankie M. Freeman, the first appointed woman to the US Commission on Civil Rights, and many more.
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta, established in 1870, was the first Greek letter sorority founded at Indiana Asbury College (now DePauw University), which had a predominantly male student population until 1867. Initially, college females were not warmly welcomed. But eventually, the women persevered and stood their ground, thereby earning the respect of the male students later.
However, women were still excluded from societies and clubs until Bettie Locke came into the picture. Encouraged by her dad, Bettie bravely sought to make an organization that offered support and friends for women. Along with three other women, they launched the first Kappa Alpha Theta meeting on January 27, 1870. Since then, the sorority has grown beyond the school’s boundaries. At that point, they had chapters that spread as far as Canada.
The sorority maintains its movement to fight for inclusion in a setting that is often riffed with hostility to women. Kappa Alpha Theta still practices the same founding principle, striving to give new members and seasoned sisters an inclusive space and provide them with lifelong opportunities crucial for their personal and intellectual development.
Some of the notable alumni of Kappa Alpha Theta include American singer Mary Miller Arnold, Elizabeth Preston Anderson, who served forty years as chapter president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in North Dakota, former American politician, and widow of Congressman John Ashbrook of Ohio Emily Jean Spencer Ashbrook, and many more.
Alpha Kappa Alpha
In 1908, nine college students had a plan to create a sorority that promoted friendship and unity among college women. Shortly after, Alpha Kappa Alpha, which originated at Howard University, was born. From its humble beginnings, it would later become one of the most impactful sororities worldwide, accumulating almost 300,000 since its founding.
Alpha Kappa Alpha, like a social fraternity, is proud of lifelong relationships and sisterhood as its major pillar—the one component that emphasizes socialization to all new members so everybody can build genuine connectedness and bond. The old and new members want their sisterhood to be rooted in affinity, love, trust, and respect. They are also keen on their efforts to give back to the community through services that leave long-lasting and positive changes.
They also partner with other national sororities, various organizations, and local communities in solving problems and providing programs that help empower society. Some famous members include award-winning American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, American poet, civil rights activist, and memoirist Maya Angelou, American radio and TV personality Catherine Hughes, Queen of Jazz Ella Fitzgerald, and many more.
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Chi Omega started in October 1885 at Indiana-based DePauw University, a time when women barely enrolled in college. With the encouragement of the school’s dean of the School of Music, Professor James Hamilton Howe, seven brave college women put up their own women’s society. Today, Alpha Chi Omega is recognized as the 10th sorority in the US and the first to ever come out of a music school.
Old and new members of the Greek letters sorority Alpha Chi Omega host activities and programs that result in a lasting impact on the community.
Some of the most notable members of Alpha Chi Omega include American actress and TV director Laura Innes, American diplomat and former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Dawson Creek’s star Meredith Monroe, American TV writer and producer Agnes Eckhardt Nixon, and more.
Alpha Delta Pi
Established in 1851 in Wesleyan Female College, this sorority is dubbed the very first secret women’s society globally. Under the helms of Eugenia Tucket Fitzgerald, Alpha Delta Pi aimed to make a pace that boosts women’s improvement and personal development.
Together with five of Fitzgerald’s closest friends, they established a woman’s society that is now one of the most prestigious and popular organizations across the globe. Alpha Delta Pi has161 active chapters on different college campuses in the US and Canada.
In the spirit of social responsibility and to promote unity, Alpha Delta Pi is known for its efforts to donate to charitable institutions. At present, it has donated roughly $16 million to the foundation. Also, the sorority sponsors 150 academic scholarships amounting to $200,000.
Like a social fraternity, The Alpha Delta Pi Foundation extends help to its members in crisis. Training and scholarships are also offered for their alumnae and collegiate sisters, with funding that fights against sexual assault and hazing. One of the notable programs of Alpha Delta Pi is the Grand Convention and Volunteer Academy.
The most accomplished Alpha Delta Pi members include American zoologist and author Gertrude Davenport, District Judge Geraldine Browder Tennant, broker and trader Melanie Radlick Sabelhaus, and more.
Phi Mu
Phi Mu came to be in 1852 at Wesleyan College in Georgia and is the second oldest sorority globally. At first, Phi Mu was nothing more than society and literary club supporting female students for academic and personal development.
Phi Mu lives by the values of honor, love, and truth. Members emphasize their commitment to serve, thereby marking the organization’s many philanthropic endeavors. They forge partnerships with the Children’s Miracle Network, giving help to those in need in and out of college campuses. Phi Mu holds the distinction as the brains behind the first National Philanthropy Day.
Today, Phi Mu has 137 active collegiate chapters and has grown to 180,000 members since its founding. They also boast some notable alumni in the ranks like former American marathon runner Gayle Barron, former president of the National Bar Association Evett Simmons, American aviator and former NASA astronaut Mary Ellen Webber, American actress Dana Ivey, and more.
Alpha Omicron Pi
On January 2, 1897, four women friends organized Alpha Omicron Pi at Bernard College in New York City. Later, the sorority expanded to other US colleges and universities. Today, it has 139 active chapters and initiated almost 170,000 members after more than 120 years of existence.
Operating like a social fraternity, Alpha Omicron Pi lives by its four guiding principles: loyalty, scholarship, character, and dignity. While the sorority’s core revolves around strong bonds and friendship, members are also committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. They also introduced the DEI Culture Survey, a survey that makes and runs a review on giving feedback on a structure of an organization.
One of Alpha Omicron Pi’s sorority life revolves around the founding principles of “service to humanity.” They have supported several advocacies, but one of their longest partnerships has been with the Arthritis Foundation since 1967. The organization has donated a significant amount of funds for arthritis research, camps, conferences, and more. Other philanthropies include Sister for Soldiers, a project that supports women and servicemen abroad.
Some of the notable members include Margaret Bourke-White, the first Wester professional photographer to be granted access into the Soviet Union and the first photographer for Fortune, an American TV personality and the $1 million winners of the hit TV series Survivor Parvati Shallow, curator emeritus at the Carnegie Museum of National History Mary Dawson, among many others.
Zeta Tau Alpha
Virgin State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) established Zeta Tau Alpha in October 1898. Founded by a group of nine young women who dreamt of formalizing their friendship by putting up the organization, the sorority is proud of its more than 270,000 strong initiated members scattered across 173 chapters.
For their philanthropic goals, they launched the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation. This instrument permits Zeta Tau Alpha to raise funds for their causes and advocacy like leadership and educational development programs, scholarships, breast cancer awareness, education, and many more. They partner with the NFL, the American Cancer Society, and Bright Pink.
Some personalities who are proud members of Zeta Tau Alpha, one of the top three national sororities, include American news anchor Betty Nguyen, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, daughter of the 36th US President Lyndon Johnson, American composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, and more.
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma’s history is very interesting and rich. Everything started when six exceptionally smart women came together at Monmouth College in 1870 to assert their aim of empowering women and acknowledging their full potential to impact the world. The founders, all lovers of literature and learning, established leadership and academics as the very core of the sorority life.
For almost 150 years, sisterhood members shared the values of leadership and personal development. Similar to a social fraternity, Kappa Kappa Gamma officers encourage high scholastic ranks and social growth so that their members become exceptional leaders.
Now a national organization, Kappa Kappa Gamma is closely working with Reading is Fundamental, a foundation that helps underserved children discover the love and joy of reading.
The sorority has already produced some of the most popular personalities like American fashion designer Kate Spade, political activist and American actress Ashley Judd, former American actress and now the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, American director, producer, activist and actress Sophia Bush, and more.
Tri Delta
Tri Delta, founded at Boston University in 1888 thru the initiative of Eleanor Dorcas Pond and Sarah Ida Shaw, sought to tackle the need for a sorority that solely focuses on the inner self and character of a woman instead of the outside appearance. Also known as Delta Delta Delta, this sorority has been in existence for over 130 years, yet the values it set out from the time it was founded still live on.
Tri Delta celebrates women from different circumstances and with different life experiences. Members enjoy the beautiful bond they share with their sisters centered on their ideals of friendship, self-sacrifice, and truth. These ideals serve as the members’ foundation for a lasting friendship beyond their college years.
Like a social fraternity, Tri Delta also urges its members to widen their intellectual and moral lives by giving support and scholarship funds to continue academic achievement. Sorority life at Tri Delta is also big on philanthropy, raising funds for charities and hospitals for cancer-stricken children. It has a long-standing partnership with St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The sorority has raised more than $75 million since 1999.
When it comes to alumni, Tri Delta has so many members who have made an impact in their respective fields, including American writer Joan Didion, American actress Farrah Fawcett, former competitive American ice dancer Meryl Davis, and former US Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole, and more.
Gamma Phi Beta
This sorority was formed thru the initiative of four college friends at Syracuse University on November 11, 1874, to stop gender alienation in campus life. Gamma Phi Beta was founded, and it served as a place for college women to get together in a supportive and welcoming environment. With almost 150 years of storied past, Gamma Phi Beta, which also holds the distinction of coining the term “sorority,” has initiated almost 225,000 members.
While the sorority promotes spiritual and intellectual growth in sorority life, it lives by its four core values: love, labor, learning, and loyalty. Members of the sorority are encouraged to volunteer and devote their energy, experience, and time to organizing policies and programs that further improve the sorority’s future. Thru volunteering, every member gets to learn professionally and personally and build helpful networks and collections.
One of their notable philanthropy events is Moonball, where they sponsor tournaments like volleyball, kickball, and basketball. This is the time for the organization’s members to serve as leaders and mentors.
Notable alumni of Gamma Phi Beta include former NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle mission specialist Laurel Clark, American actress and comedian Cloris Leachman, and world-renowned American classical violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn, and more.
Alpha Phi
Founded in 1872 by ten college women at Syracuse University, Alpha Phi was established after these ten ladies were denied admission to men’s fraternities. Since its existence more than 150 years ago, Alpha Phi has already initiated more than 250,000 women who pledged their commitment to leadership, lifelong commitment, personal growth, academic excellence, and community service.
Alpha Phi developed numerous effective programs that support national sorority life in terms of education, growth, well-being, and health. These include StepUp, Alcohol Skills Training Program to combat alcohol abuse, GreekLifeEDU, and many more. They also put up the Alpha Phi Foundation and granted more than 70 need and merit-based scholarships each year.
Some of their advocacies include regular contributions to women’s heart health initiatives, where they provide $1.2 annually. Alpha Phi also devotes at least 225,000 hours of community service every year.
Notable alumni members of Alpha Phi are Civil Rights activist Amanda Nguyen, American actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, former American snowboarder Stacia Hookom, and many more.
Tri Sigma
On April 20, 1898, eight women from State Female Normal School (presently Longwood University) came together and established a sisterhood that was part of the Farmville Four, a group of Greek-letter sororities founded between 1898 and 1901. Tri Sigma prides itself on being adaptable, strong, and resilient.
The Tri Sigma sorority life is about getting out of the comfort zone, finding the best versions of yourself and learning to build lifelong friendships anchored on mutual respect.
Tri Sigma also reiterates the importance of leadership development and personal growth by giving its members some valuable Greek life experience. They are also focused on service and philanthropy and are a national partner of March of Dimes, a socio-civic group that aims to serve children in need.
Some prominent members of Tri Sigma are American novelist Billie Letts, American singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood, Canadian actress Lauren Lee, American actress, comedian, singer Lauren Holt, and many more.
Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma was founded at the Lewis School for Girls. The brainchild of three young girls, Eva Webb, Mary Comfort, and Anna Boyd, wanted to make an empowering and safe community for college women and foster a culture of commitment and belongingness. Since its inception in 1873, Delta Gamma has grown to be the biggest international women’s organization, with more than 250,000 members across 150 college sorority chapters and 200 alumnae groups.
Since its inception, Delta Gamma has gathered college women from different backgrounds but with the same goals and interests as the national sorority members. These women break down their barriers, overcome differences, build meaningful connections, and embrace a more positive perspective of living the sorority life.
The sorority built Delta Gamma Foundation as a way to guarantee the future of the sisterhood. This organization focuses on three major areas of support: Sight Service, Programming, and Individual Member Support.
Like any other national sorority, Delta Gamma also boasts of some notable alumni. This includes film producer Cynthia Chvatal, American actress Patricia Heaton, American journalist Joan Lunder, and American theatrical producer Cheryl Crawford.
Delta Zeta
Delta Zeta was created by six women in 1902. These women were inspired by their goals of lifetime sisterhood at Miami University, a school that men dominate. Today, Delta Zeta has 260,000 initiated members.
Real and lasting friendships bound the sorority. Thus, members of Delta Zeta, a national organization, encourage each other to embrace social responsibility, pursue learning, and promote values-based living. They wished that they would be able to impact people’s lives through their actions positively. Delta Zeta lives by its core principles of belonging, community, friendship, curiosity, generosity, and progressive interest in living the sorority life.
Each Delta Zeta chapter uses its influence and reaches by giving its service to the community they belong. They were able to raise funds and help in spreading awareness through the Heart of Hearing and Speech Foundation. They also worked with the Starkey Hearing Foundation in 2015 and raised more than $5 million in the next years to solidify its advocacy. In 2020, Delta Zeta partnered with the American Society for Deaf Children.
Renowned members of any Delta Zeta chapter include Princess Marth of Sweden, American comedian Joy Behar, former member of the US Senate Maurine Neuberger, and former California State Treasurer Ivy Baker Priest.
Also a popular honor societies for women are Pi Beta Phi (or Pi Phi) an international sorority founded at Monmouth College, and agricultural sorority Sigma Alpha that are members of the National Panhellenic Council. Sigma Alpha has over 19,000 members while Lambda Theta Alpha supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. More than $500,000 has been raised by the New Jersey-based sorority to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital end cancer and diseases in kids.
Top Reasons Why You Should Join a Sorority
College is something many students look forward to. This is when you will be away from home on your own, in a brand-new place, with little (to no) friends. When finding ways to meet new friends, joining a national organization like a sorority is your best option.
But why should you join a sorority? Simple. Sororities help you get the best out of your college experience. While stereotyping in sororities somehow has a grain of truth behind it (like partying and alcohol abuse), there is much more to sorority life than partying and colorful outfits.
Here are reasons why a Greek life during college is something you shouldn’t miss.
You make long-lasting friendships.
This is the top reason why joining a sorority is a wise choice. With a Greek life, you get to earn so many sisters within your school’s chapter, other school’s chapters, and alumni from anywhere. You instantly have that family in school and across the work.
Going to higher education without a solid support system or good and reliable friends is emotionally challenging. Yes, it is easy to meet new friends as you go along, but with a sorority, you can connect with a much larger group of people who share similar core values and interests.
Get more connections within the campus community.
Making connections is also another advantage of joining a sorority during college. Sororities may be called a secret society, are expected to have hundreds of members in them—even in just a single campus chapter. Thus, there is virtually no way to make all your sisters your best friends.
But imagine the connection you get when you have a large circle. Your sorority sisters will get involved in different organizations and things at school. Sorority life or Greek lifegives you the best connections to anything you wish to pursue.
Meet new and diverse people.
Sororities are packed with so many girls in the campus community. Meaning that you have the chance to meet diverse people coming from different backgrounds. You will meet girls from different states (or even countries) just by participating in Greek life.
Get academic help.
Many people have this misconception about sorority girls having bad grades because of the fun and partying often coined with Greek life. But this is not true at all. On average, sorority girls maintain a higher GPA than the general student population. Most chapters require a minimum GPA that every member should maintain.
Practice philanthropy.
Every sorority is proud of its multiple philanthropic projects in and out of the campus community. These high ideals and civic works are their way of giving back to the community, and this usually involves volunteering, hosting service days, organizing fundraising events, and many more.
Grab leadership opportunities.
In the Greek system of life, you are taught about leadership. Sorority leadership roles will give you the experience in a leadership position and teach you about the organization, communication, responsibility, and more.
Get support and mentorship.
Once you join and get accepted into a sorority, you instantly have that large support system. A sorority narrows down your social circle, giving you closer and more intimate support. This makes adjusting to college less tremendous. You will also be assigned a “big sister” during your first few months in the sorority.
Participate in social events.
Sororities hold events that give you the chance to meet other people and improve your social stature. You will never be bored with Greek life because of competitions like anchor splash, dances, mixers, fundraisers, and philanthropic events. Remember, college should be enjoyed and explored, and there is no better way of doing this than by becoming a sorority member.
Fraternity and Sorority Associations That Advocate On-campus Greek Societies
The National Panhellenic Conference or has at least 26 global social sororities as members, while the North American Interfraternity Conference embraces collegiate male fraternities to its association.
Both the National Panhellenic Council and North American Interfraternity Conference advance fraternity and sorority causes, assist sorority and fraternity members, and promote the good fraternity and sorority life that is all about commitment, support, and friendship.
Choosing the Right Sorority for a Great Sorority Life
You need to be thorough when scouting for the best fraternity or sorority. Before arriving at your university, check for sorority recruitment dates and secure your registration.
Research. Before you attend the recruitment event, do your research. Check the university’s list of Greek organizations and make some thorough research on each one. Like every national fraternity established, every sorority now has its national website you can access easily online.
Check the personalities of each sorority. Create a list of all the sororities that you find interesting. A crucial factor when scouting for the right sorority is personality. You should be around like-minded people to form lifelong friendships.
Check Events. Check the events lining up for the whole semester. These events are the perfect ways to check if you enjoy getting involved with a sorority.
Ask for the Dues. Sororities have dues, and they are expensive, much like a national fraternity does. When scouting for the best sorority, this is something you must consider. Going Greek usually costs $1,280 per semester for the newbies and $605 for everybody else. Factor in the uniforms, plus the payment for Chapter Rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the academic eligibility to join a sorority?
Fraternity or sorority rules dictate that their members be of good academic standing. Typically, applicants must be full-time students at a four-year college. Also, some colleges prohibit first-year students from joining sororities or limit their involvement at least in them. Sororities strongly emphasize academics, so there is a GPA requirement between 2.5 and 3.0. Some sororities adhere to the academic guidelines their national sororities and chapters set. Before joining national sororities, remember that so many activities take place within a sisterhood.
Can first-year students join a sorority?
First fraternity and sorority rules are somehow the same but different. A major factor to this is also the school. Some universities allow first-year students to join sororities, while others only entertain would-be Greek members enrolled for at least one semester. Every school and every sorority has different eligibility requirements. To better understand, it’s best to contact the sorority chapter you wish to join directly.
What financial commitment is associated with sororities?
Joining a fraternity or sorority carries a financial commitment. Every chapter is self-supporting. The revenues they get come from sorority or fraternity members who pay dues. When joining a sorority, expect to pay fees and dues to maintain your membership. While membership fees are generally affordable, some chapters accommodate special circumstances for their Greek members.
Key Takeaways
Although some people still cling to the notion that these fraternity or sorority Greek organizations are nothing but anti-feminist groups, the establishment of many sororities in the 19th century was a developing act! Like fraternity members, today’s most popular sororities and sorority members promote an excellent campus life while championing equality, public service, and human rights.
Pick in random three national sororities and you’ll discover the benefits of Greek life! You will learn about lifelong friendships with female friends who uphold the values of sisterhood and friendship or offer support for your individual success!
Enjoy the Greek life that a fraternity or sorority is all about!
