If your idea of a fraternity or sorority is the perspective provided by movies “Animal House” or “Legally Blonde”, you probably need to take a step back and look at the roots of the Greek system which has spawned professional, honorary, social and other types of group organizations. In particular, the sorority you consider may be part of a national organization with a uniform set of codes and rules, or it may be a local organization that establishes its own bylaws and rituals. In any case, the sorority system is open to females only and specialized sororities have been established that appeal to black women, Christian women, etc.
There is a recruiting period during the academic year, during which women vie for attention and connection in hopes of becoming members. As such, this and the fraternity system are politically founded and many people consider these recruiting procedures to be nothing more than a popularity contest. Some colleges and universities no longer allow fraternities or sororities on campus, but the older, more traditional schools, still sport signs that will point you to the buildings of sorority organizations like Kappa Kappa Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Alpha Theta. To be considered for membership, you have to ‘rush’, ‘pledge’ and, if you are accepted, you are then ‘initiated’. If you have a relative or friend who went to the same college and belonged to this sorority, you have a ‘legacy’ that will almost certainly guarantee you a spot in the sorority house. Perhaps the worst part of the sorority and fraternity system is the rejection felt by those who participate in ‘rush’ and recruitment only to find that they have been turned down by the sorority and cannot join. It can be a heartbreaking experience for students who have dreams of ‘belonging’ to this time honored Greek System.
If you make it through ‘rush’ and you are accepted into the sorority of your choice, you will live with other sorority members in a large house or complex that is the central location for sorority events and administration. Though sororities differ in purpose and traditions, a membership in a sorority often gives you a great opportunity to network with alumni ‘sisters’ and peers to get an internship, a job offer after school or any one of a number of other great leads and connections.