should i be in a sorority ?

I would definitely recommend going through recruitment! I can't speak for what it is like for girls in other sororities because each house is a little different, but this is my personal opinion and experience. I love being in a sorority! It has brought me my best friends and it has opened so many opportunities for me throughout college and I know many other girls will say the same. For figuring out how much dues cost, the Auburn Panhellenic website shows the average cost per year/semester. Some sororities dues could be a little higher, some a little lower. Other than that you spend money on t-shirts and outfits for formals and socials. I felt like I never spent money on costumes for swaps (only for freshman) but I know some girls who did. I just brought stuff from home, made some pieces, or borrowed from older girls. As for how much time a sorority will take up also depends. First semester freshman year for me definitely took up the most time. We had new member meetings once a week and swaps. But after first semester it winds down. Most houses don't force you to go to too many events/ all of them. Philanthropy events everyone has to attend and chapter you must attend as well. All sororities encourage their members to be involved in other clubs and things around campus so you'll have time for that too if you are interested.

The first semester always has the most activities but the only things you are usually required to go to are new member meetings, chapter, and philanthropy events. There's usually only 2 or 3 philanthropy events a semester and new member meetings stop after you get initiated. After that the stereotypes of wearing all the same clothes is false, the only shirts my sorority requires are the philanthropy shirts and the others are up to the member if she wants one or not. The only other time clothes shopping is required are the outfits chosen for recruitment which can get a tad pricey but most items you'll most likely already have like white shorts, brown sandals, necklaces, etc. Other than that nothing is required but you'll have so much more fun going to the socials, swaps, formals and sisterhood events with all your new sisters!

Don’t worry about not wanting to go to events bc once you find your people, you will go to literally everything and have a great time bc of the people you’re with, not where you are!

Just a gr troll cramming lots of unrelated topics of information into a thread question to garner lots of paragraphs in response.

If you can't afford the cost of belonging to a sorority, don't attempt to join.

If uninterrupted study toward better grades is important to you and your courses require extra labs/big study workloads, you may do better pursuing sorority life during second year after things settle and you are more aware of personal time constraints.

Individual sororities may absolutely require participation and attendance toward initiation and as a part of their active membership status. If you do not want to be 'forced' into sorority activities, don't join.

It is perfectly okay to attend formal recruitment and end up not signing a bid card. That situation does not take away any bid from another woman, as quota is set based (among other things) on the number of pref attendees who DO sign a bid card.

It's when women 'on the fence' (as you state you are) sign a bid card then refuse to accept a bid can end up taking a spot someone else would have preferred.

PNMs really need to have their sorority decisions finalized by the time they sign/don't sign a pref card. After they sign, their refusal of bid acceptance will have taken a spot from another pnm desiring that specific home.

It is also unkind to reluctantly sign a bid card, accept a bid, then quit the sorority within a very short time frame. Any pnm THAT unsure of her sorority choices ought to 'decline to bid sign' and re-rush at a later date.

You join a sorority for life, not just for when you feel like being a member. You are always wearing your letters.