Frequently Asked Questions
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Will my student be able to balance their workload while joining a sorority?
Going through the process of joining a sorority is a commitment that does take time, however balancing this process along with their workload is absolutely doable. In fact, it actually helps one learn to manage their time. It holds members accountable, for they develop their time management skill. For example, new members can learn to schedule homework and assignments they have to complete around weekly new member meetings by utilizing chapter study tables.
What are the hazing and alcohol policies here at Purdue?
Hazing is contrary to the missions and values of fraternities and sororities and a violation of Purdue policy. The state of Indiana, Purdue University, and all cooperatives, inter/national fraternities and sororities have policies against hazing. (refer to the risk management page for the policy).
How much does a sorority cost?
Each sorority is different and varies by cost, and this is an excellent question to ask the chapter members when going through recruitment. Organizations collect dues and membership fees or house bills from every member. Most groups have one-time initiation fees, in addition to the first year of semester or monthly dues. Dues are spent on philanthropic events, scholarship programming, membership recruitment, and parent/alumni programming. Some dues go to the national organization to offset the cost of regional and inter/national leadership conferences or professional development resources available to members. Most organizations offer payment plans and scholarships to help their members meet their financial obligations.
How does the GPA compare between those that joined and those that didn’t?
The average GPA for the Fraternity and Sorority community is 3.31, while the average GPA for those who are unaffiliated is 3.28. The all Panhellenic GPA is 3.41, which is higher than the all women’s GPA by almost a tenth of a point (3.34). We are excited to announce that the Greek community’s hard work and dedication to academics has paid off, as we have a higher GPA than those who did not join a fraternity or sorority. For more information regarding academic achievements please visits: Semester Reports.
How does primary recruitment work? How many rounds are there?
Panhellenic sororities host a primary recruitment process in the early fall semester. This two weekend process allows any prospective members the opportunity to meet and interact with women from 18 Panhellenic chapters. There will be four different rounds of primary recruitment. The first round is open house round, where the prospective member will visit 18 chapters. There will then be first invitational, second invitational, and finally preference round. The registration to participate in primary recruitment opens on June 1st.
How is formal recruitment different from males/IFC recruitment?
Male recruitment is an informal and casual process, while sorority recruitment is more structured. Men can choose which fraternities they would like to visit, without having to visit all chapters, while women have the opportunity to visit all the sororities during primary recruitment. During recruitment, women will have a recruitment counselor, called a Gamma Chi, who helps them throughout the process.
How does continuous recruitment work?
Continuous recruitment occurs after primary recruitment in the fall and throughout the spring semester. The number of chapters that participate in continuous recruitment varies from semester to semester. This is an informal process, and the chapters that participate in the process will hold their own events.
Can you tell me about the engineering sorority?
In order to join Phi Sigma Rho, you must be an STEM major. However, you can switch your major and still continue to be a member of this sorority throughout your time at Purdue. Fun fact: Purdue is home of the Alpha- or first- chapter of Phi Sigma Rho.
I’m not sure if it’s for me…
Try it out! Purdue has over 30 sororities and women’s cooperatives including those affiliated with the Multicultural Greek council and National Pan-Hellenic Council. It is a great experience and if you don’t know whether or not you will like it, just give it a try!
What happens if I don’t get a bid?
You can go through continuous recruitment, however not every chapter will partake in continuous recruitment. You can also go through primary recruitment again the following year. There are also other options, such as joining cooperative housing, which is a group of Purdue students who live, learn, and socialize together.
How many people get bids?
There is no predetermined number of women who will get bids during the academic year. Our goal is to provide the sorority experience to as many women as possible. Our percentage of women placed in chapters through primary and continuous recruitment has increased significantly over the last three years, and we hope to continue that trend.
Why did you join a Fraternity or Sorority?
There are many different reasons why I joined a sorority. However, coming to Purdue and knowing no one, I knew this would be an excellent opportunity to be able to meet many different people. It is an amazing way to reach outside your comfort zone and get to know a variety of people from all different places and backgrounds. Along with developing relationships with others, I wanted to have leadership opportunities and ways to give back to this incredible community. The opportunities and experience I have had from joining a sorority are indescribable, and the amount of inspiring individuals I have met has made my experience at Purdue even better than I could have ever imagined.
What are the live in requirements?
This is an excellent question to ask when going through the process of primary recruitment, as the requirements for living in a sorority chapter facility depends on the specific chapter. Typically, for housed chapters, members will live in their sophomore and junior years of college.
Do freshman live in?
Typically, first year students do not live in the chapter facility. However, this is a good question to ask the specific chapter. First-year students will most likely stay in their residence hall throughout their first year of college, to have that traditional collegiate experience.
Can I rush as a sophomore if I’m not ready as a freshman?
Yes, there are many first year members in in the community who are sophomores! Many sophomores decide to go through primary recruitment.
What has been your favorite part about joining your chapter?
My favorite part of joining my chapter has been the passionate, inspiring people I have had the opportunity to meet. I have loved surrounding myself with hardworking, kind, and determined individuals make me a better person each day. Further, the opportunities that have come from being in my chapter, such as participating in our philanthropy events, have been an incredible experience.
Does every sorority have a house?
No, there are 18 chapter facilities, and two without a house. However, women in those chapters typically choose to live together in residence halls, apartments, or off-campus houses.
Does my daughter need recommendation letters? How many?
No, your daughter does not need any recommendations letters. However, if she would like one, you can check the national chapter website for the specific chapter that you would like to write a recommendation letter to. The national chapter website will have instructions for how to go about doing this.
What is a legacy?
A legacy is a woman whose specified relative has been a member of the sorority in which the potential new member desires membership.
How much does it cost to go through primary recruitment? What does that money go towards?
Currently, going through primary recruitment costs $15. This money goes towards buses, a shirt that the potential new member will wear during the open house round of recruitment, and potential new member packets that have information about each sorority in them.
How many sororities are at Purdue?
There are 21 Panhellenic sororities here at Purdue; 7 multicultural sororities, and 4 National Pan-Hellenic- or Divine Nine- sororities.
What is Greek life?
Greek life refers to the fraternity and sorority community, which is at many different colleges and is composed of all the chapters on campus. Each chapter is named after two or three letters of the Greek alphabet, which holds a special significance to the members.
Aren’t you paying for your friends?
By being in a sorority, you are not paying for your friends. Like joining any student run club, there are fees associated with becoming a member. Greek organizations require dues so that they can operate, just like any other organization and business. Joining a sorority, you will make friends that will last a lifetime, for sororities provide an environment that fosters personal growth and promotes lifelong friendship.
What are the parties like/what are the frat boys like?
All parties at have to pass certain requirements set by chapters’ national offices and Purdue University. We work to make Purdue an extremely safe campus with many bylaws and risk management practices to keep members healthy. Just like the sorority community, our fraternity community holds many different chapters and personalities within each organization. Each chapter is unique in it’s membership, so there is no way to generalize the types of men who join.
What is the top house and what is the bottom house?
We are all one big community. Each chapter is different, unique, and special in it’s own way. Each chapter is equipped with wonderful, passionate individuals, and we are all one community with no chapter being better than another.
What is the benefit of joining a sorority?
There are numerous benefits of joining a sorority. All sororities have benefits such as sisterhood, scholarship, leadership, philanthropy, and the excellent opportunity to meet so many different types of people. Sororities provide an environment that fosters personal growth and promotes lifelong friendship. Sorority membership provides opportunities for learning and involvement. Each sorority is based on ideas, purposes, principles, and values. Each sorority also sets standards for scholastic achievement, leadership development, and community service. According to the Gallup-Purdue Index study, fraternity and sorority members are more likely than all other college graduates to be thriving in each of the five elements of well-being (purpose, social, financial, community, and physical) and more fraternity and sorority members strongly agree that they were extremely involved in extra-curricular activities and organizations (39% vs. 16%). Extreme involvement indicates that these fraternity and sorority members took advantage of extracurricular activities and organizations beyond their fraternity or sorority.
What happens if I join and I don’t like it?
Joining a sorority can take time to get used to, so it is important to look at staying and continuing to go outside your comfort zone. However, there is the possibility of withdrawing if sorority life is not for you. If you are not initiated into the sorority that you joined, you can be initiated into another if you go through recruitment the following year.
How does Greek life at Purdue compare to what’s shown online?
Fraternity and sorority life is what you make it. If you put your best foot forward and strive to make your chapter the best it can be, then it will reflect this.