Greek life is an impactful part of Kansas State, with nearly 20% of undergraduate students participating. Between influencing the community through service and growing lifelong friendships, when you go Greek, the possibilities are infinite. While some people may be nervous about the stereotypes and social aspect of Greek life, there is so much more when you open those chapter doors. 

K-State sorority life continues to thrive as an important part of campus, steadily growing and evolving every year. Many incoming freshmen have primary recruitment as their first college experience, as it happens before the first week of enrollment. Opportunities are endless between friendships, sisterhood, philanthropy and other social aspects that can lead to growth in networking. 

For many college students, fraternities are a major part of the college experience. Joining a fraternity is one of the main reasons students choose to attend college. While fraternities are known for their social side, they offer much more. They create a bond of brotherhood, encourage stronger academic standards and help members build networking and connection opportunities that can last well beyond college.

As a college freshman, it can be hard to develop friendships. However, having a shared recruitment experience can bond future panhellenic members, and being in a sorority puts you into a similar category of girls, where you share the same values. 

Sisterhood is a term often used when people describe their experience in Greek life, which can be described as a strong bond of friendship and empowerment. Experiencing sisterhood is a bond like no other, where you can find your people. It makes home not feel so far away because the bonds and relations you’ve created within your sorority feel like home. 

For a fraternity, the brotherhood you build can’t be explained. One minute you guys are strangers whom you know nothing about, and the next minute you’re dancing with them in front of every sorority for serenades. Some of my best friends are in my pledge class, people whom I’ve only known for less than seven months and now feel like I would do anything for. Joining a fraternity is about making friends and building relationships, a brotherly bond that cannot be broken.

When joining a sorority, there are many opportunities, such as philanthropy. Each sorority focuses on one core philanthropy, raising funds through events throughout the year. Other Greek life chapters will hold their own philanthropy week, creating a fun and competitive environment where different chapters will compete in different events to fundraise for a good cause.

Fraternities also excel in GPA and academics at K-State. According to K-State grade reports, last year the average GPA for fraternity students was 3.36 while the average for non-Greek life students was 3.19. For over 30 years, members of fraternities have consistently maintained a higher average GPA than the overall university average. Most fraternities require a GPA limit to join, which helps students prioritize academics and encourage them to go to class, have study hours and get their work done so they can enjoy the social aspect of college.  

With many past generations of classes in a fraternity, you are likely to have better networking and future connections for life after college. Students who want to do sports broadcasting after college benefit from Greek life because Mitch Holthus, sports announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs, is part of my chapter, Beta Sigma Psi.

Going Greek can change the trajectory of an individual’s college experience in the best way. Sometimes in college, individuals can feel lost in a new environment, but finding a chapter that supports you can be essential. It can lead you to many opportunities, provide a path of success and create a support system of capable women you can call your sisters. Having the choice to be a part of such an empowered group of women has shaped many young women into who they are today. 

Coming into college with no expectation of joining a fraternity, I instead planned to come to college, go to class, chill in my dorm and that’s it. Luckily, my good friend encouraged me to join his brother’s fraternity — Beta Sigma Psi — and even though I was skeptical at first, it was one of the best decisions ever made. I’ve made more friends than I thought, my grades have been better because of it and it saves me money because it is cheaper to live in a fraternity house than the dorms. 

However, Greek Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There is a very competitive side throughout chapters, especially among sororities. When you are in a sorority, you have to remember you aren’t just representing yourself, but you are representing your entire chapter. If someone messes up, everyone will blame it on your chapter, not just the individual. 

One current issue with Greek Life is the use of the social media app YikYak. This semester, YikYak has continuously seen the trend of anonymous posts bashing other sororities and spreading hatred toward members of different chapters. Many individuals in Greek life are easy to point and blame, but at the end of the day, the chapters have to remember they are all a part of one panhellenic community. 

In addition, fraternities have the stereotype that you pay thousands of dollars to get hazed, and at the end of the day, you are paying for your friends. Most people who say this never joined a fraternity. Has it happened before, sure, but most fraternities are truly about building brotherhood and living the college life. Think about it, if every fraternity were like the stereotype, then there wouldn’t be any of them left to join. 

If you have the chance to join a fraternity or sorority, take it. It can be scary to join a Greek house that you know nothing about, but there is nothing to be afraid of, and if worst comes to worst, you can always leave. 

When you go Greek, there are so many opportunities that can help lead you down the right path. From sisterhood to brotherhood, you never know who you will meet. You could meet your future employer or your life-long best friend, but you’ll never know if you don’t give it a shot and go Greek.