Interested in an NPHC Sorority?
Interested in Sigma Gamma Rho or any of the four NPHC sororities? Here is a list of questions to reflect on to help you on your way:
What is a Sorority?
A sorority is defined as a women's student organization that is formed chiefly for social purposes. However, it offers much more than just membership and social expansion. A sorority provides academic enhancement, life-long friendship, development of leadership skills, and the opportunity to serve the community. As a national organization, a sorority generates personal and professional growth through networking and participating in other activities well beyond your college years.
Why do you want to belong to a Sorority?
This is a question that needs to be taken seriously and should be well thought out and answered honestly. There is not a single correct answer; it can only be answered by you. Therefore your answer should come from the heart.
How do you know which is right for you?
The one thing that we cannot stress enough is DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! Being a part of a sorority is a lifetime commitment, and you need to know what you are getting into. You would not go to college without finding out any information right? So why would you do the same when trying to decide on a sorority? The Internet is a great place to start, and Lawrence C. Ross’s book The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities is a tremendously useful resource. In any case, don't be afraid to go to the source - ask a member!
Should you make your interest known early?
How do you meet the members of the sorority you wish to belong to?
The best way is to get out there and be active on campus. Most Greeks are very active on the yard. They are in other organizations, hold work-study positions, are campus leaders, etc. You are bound to encounter someone who is apart of the sorority you wish to belong to.
Specifically for us, if you see us on the yard, say hello. Feel free to introduce yourself and/or email any member for more information. Also, come to our events and activities. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to get to know us and learn what each of us, as well as our organization itself, is about. In return, we get to learn about you! If you only come to the Interest Meeting, we will not have much to reflect on when deciding whether or not to invite you into our family.
What is the sorority looking for in a member?
Although the answer to this could be a number of things, we look for someone who is going to be dedicated, well rounded, and genuine. If you are not, then at least be willing to be the best person you can be. With that said, let us stress the sincerity element. It is imperative to the chapter and to yourself that you remain true to who you are. If there is something ill at ease with you about an organization, that may tell you more than an informational session. It is often said that when you join a sorority you are buying friends, but the truth is you are building a bond of life-long friendships and experiences that will be with you forever.
One thing we do emphasize is: please keep your reputation intact. A negative reputation can follow you. It can not only ruin your chances of getting into a sorority, but it can hurt you in other areas of your life as well. Remember once you are a member of any organization you represent all of your sorors and vise-versa.
What if you do not have the grades to become a member of a sorority?
Well that’s easy, work on them! Not just to become a member of a sorority, but for yourself. Your education is currently what’s most important, and it’s why you are in college in the first place. The key is to not let your grades slip in the first place, because it is very hard to bring them back up. However, we all have pitfalls from time to time - just try to keep them at a minimum.
"I want to step, do the call and be popular!"
If this has ever come out of your mouth, you are definitely not ready to become Greek. Being a member of a sorority is not just about the colors, stepping, or the call. It is about uplifting yourself and the community. A lot of people do not realize how much Greeks actually do within the community and on the college campus. Three letters across your chest is not going to make you any more or less attractive.
A sorority is defined as a women's student organization that is formed chiefly for social purposes. However, it offers much more than just membership and social expansion. A sorority provides academic enhancement, life-long friendship, development of leadership skills, and the opportunity to serve the community. As a national organization, a sorority generates personal and professional growth through networking and participating in other activities well beyond your college years.
Why do you want to belong to a Sorority?
This is a question that needs to be taken seriously and should be well thought out and answered honestly. There is not a single correct answer; it can only be answered by you. Therefore your answer should come from the heart.
How do you know which is right for you?
The one thing that we cannot stress enough is DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! Being a part of a sorority is a lifetime commitment, and you need to know what you are getting into. You would not go to college without finding out any information right? So why would you do the same when trying to decide on a sorority? The Internet is a great place to start, and Lawrence C. Ross’s book The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities is a tremendously useful resource. In any case, don't be afraid to go to the source - ask a member!
Should you make your interest known early?
- Note: This question is going to be answered from a Sigma Gamma Rho perspective.
How do you meet the members of the sorority you wish to belong to?
The best way is to get out there and be active on campus. Most Greeks are very active on the yard. They are in other organizations, hold work-study positions, are campus leaders, etc. You are bound to encounter someone who is apart of the sorority you wish to belong to.
Specifically for us, if you see us on the yard, say hello. Feel free to introduce yourself and/or email any member for more information. Also, come to our events and activities. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to get to know us and learn what each of us, as well as our organization itself, is about. In return, we get to learn about you! If you only come to the Interest Meeting, we will not have much to reflect on when deciding whether or not to invite you into our family.
What is the sorority looking for in a member?
Although the answer to this could be a number of things, we look for someone who is going to be dedicated, well rounded, and genuine. If you are not, then at least be willing to be the best person you can be. With that said, let us stress the sincerity element. It is imperative to the chapter and to yourself that you remain true to who you are. If there is something ill at ease with you about an organization, that may tell you more than an informational session. It is often said that when you join a sorority you are buying friends, but the truth is you are building a bond of life-long friendships and experiences that will be with you forever.
One thing we do emphasize is: please keep your reputation intact. A negative reputation can follow you. It can not only ruin your chances of getting into a sorority, but it can hurt you in other areas of your life as well. Remember once you are a member of any organization you represent all of your sorors and vise-versa.
What if you do not have the grades to become a member of a sorority?
Well that’s easy, work on them! Not just to become a member of a sorority, but for yourself. Your education is currently what’s most important, and it’s why you are in college in the first place. The key is to not let your grades slip in the first place, because it is very hard to bring them back up. However, we all have pitfalls from time to time - just try to keep them at a minimum.
"I want to step, do the call and be popular!"
If this has ever come out of your mouth, you are definitely not ready to become Greek. Being a member of a sorority is not just about the colors, stepping, or the call. It is about uplifting yourself and the community. A lot of people do not realize how much Greeks actually do within the community and on the college campus. Three letters across your chest is not going to make you any more or less attractive.