6 Signs Greek Life Just Isn't For You

While joining a sorority can be an amazing experience for many people, it's not for everyone. Some universities are strongly Greek, like where I went to school, and the pressure to affiliate can be pretty overwhelming for a small town teenager striking out on her own for the first time, but seriously, you don't have to do it. There are some tell-tale signs that Greek life might not be for you, and none of them have anything to do with being "lame" or "antisocial."

Though I was never officially in a sorority, I'm not completely ignorant about the recruitment process. I rushed for exactly one day. We stood in line waiting to be interviewed about pre-determined topics. On the second day, I decided to go get a chicken sandwich instead because my feet hurt from wearing heels, and the only thing I hate more than standing in line is making small-talk about things some random girl found on my Facebook wall.

After I jumped ship, I experienced my fair share of regrets, thinking maybe I missed out on all of the fun and sisterhood as my friends affiliated to and loved their respective sororities. I'd never get a super special tote bag or get invited to any parties ever. Life over.

But then something crazy happened. I made friends with people from all of the Greek organizations, got invited to attend plenty of "exclusive" parties, helped a couple of fraternities with their rush events because I wasn't busy with my own, and even went on a couple of girl-dates to some sorority functions with friends.

Greek life is awesome in many ways, and provides a ton of networking potential for after graduation, but it's not essential and doesn't have to define your college experience. Did I have a largely positive experience with the elements of Greek life that I was exposed to? Yeah, I did. Do I regret going to get that chicken sandwich? Heck, no.

Here are some signs that Greek life might not be for you.

1. You like to keep a flexible social schedule.

As a sorority sister, there are going to be parties, mixers, date functions, philanthropic events, road trips, and more at which your presence is expected. If that sounds like a poop emoji to you and you prefer flying by the seat of your pants most of the time, you can always enjoy other friends' "private" events when you do feel like attending those events. After all, you don't have to be in one Greek organization if you're in all of them.

2. You don't actually want to live with a bunch of other women.

When I was in college, sororities were non-residential, meaning you didn't necessarily live with your sorority sisters, and sororities didn't have university sanctioned houses off campus. But most Greek women that I knew ended up living with their sisters anyway. It is absolutely OK to recognize that you're not into the idea of living with a bunch of other women. Maybe you are an advocate for co-ed housing, or maybe you just want to live by yourself. If full-time residential sisterhood overwhelms your senses, you can just... not.

3. You want to be a part of other kinds of social and philanthropic organizations.

Maybe your school has different kinds of social and philanthropic groups that are inherently appealing to you. Maybe you want to try out for a walk-on position on a varsity team. There are a lot of other things a college student can sign up for that aren't Greek.

4. The expensive Greek merchandise isn't your style.

Maybe you just don't like any of the gear, which is completely fine.

5. Clapping makes your hands itch.

Real talk, sororities do a lot of clapping and singing, so if that isn't you, it's kind of adapt or die, or eat a chicken sandwich and go home, like me.

6. You just don't want to.

You don't need a specific reason to skip the whole recruitment process. If you don't want to, that's a great reason not to do it.

In conclusion, there are some amazing reasons to rush — if you truly want to. Don't miss out on the many benefits of Greek life, if you want to be a part of it. But, if you think it's not for you, trust your instinct. You do you, ladies.

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