Joining A Sorority

Chi Delta Theta :: An Asian-American Interest Sorority :: Since 1989

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Joining A Sorority

In order to join a sorority, a young lady must share some type of common bond with the members. Some examples may include a religion, profession, field of study, interest, etc. Separate from college campus life, sorority sisters often live together in a house that is identified by Greek lettering on the outside. Many sororities are chapters, which are part of a national organization. Local sororities, on the other hand, are unique to their area and have the ability to create their own unique requirements.

The process of joining a sorority is commonly referred to as ‘pledging.’ The interested candidates are called ‘pledges,’ which is where this term was developed. Often, the practice is also called ‘rushing.’ The term ‘rushing’ refers to a historical prospective, which notes that students would rush to join sororities at the beginning of the school year. During this process, potential candidates are invited to a sorority party in order to meet the current members. While it is important that pledges get to know the members, contact is often limited during this time in order to ensure fairness when voting in the new members.

Depending on certain requirements, potential members may be required to meet certain academic criteria prior to becoming a new member of a sorority. This may include a minimum grade point average, number of credits completed and/or a track record clear of any academic wrongdoing. At the end of ‘pledge week,’ potential candidates are invited to bid if they are interested in joining. If their request is approved, the student will be welcomed into the home as a pledge. Upon completion of any additional requirements as official pledges, an invitation will be extended to become a sorority member.

During initiation, students may be asked to perform certain tasks that may be intense - either physically or emotionally, while others may be embarrassing. In recent years, there has been much media attention surrounding the grueling tasks that pledges are sometimes asked to perform. Each pledge has the option of either following through with the sorority demands or removing themselves from the competition. Because of the concerns surrounding initiation, many sororities and fraternities have banned this type of activity altogether.

If an invitation to join a sorority is presented and accepted, the new member will become a permanent part of the house and the sorority. Working as a team, forming lifelong friendships and supporting one another are just a few of the benefits of joining a sorority. Many alumni celebrate their exclusivity with a secret sorority quote, handshake or song.