Do you want to make lifelong friends, have tons of fun, and be more successful in your classes? You should consider going Greek at VSU! In this blog, Madison Beaumarchais, assistant director of fraternity and sorority life at VSU, gives us all of the details about Greek life at VSU.
What are the benefits of going Greek?
The benefits of joining a Greek organization are endless, but we would like to highlight a few. Coming into college can often be scary and lonely, but when you join a Greek organization you are instantly connected to the members in your chapter, and the Greek community at large. Our students are really good at taking care of each other and helping people find their sense of belonging. A benefit that comes with building a strong community is the resources that are now available to you. That includes academic support. Greeks have a higher GPA than non-affiliated students and higher retention rates. So that means if you join a Greek organization, you’re more likely to succeed in your classes and graduate on time.
Networking is also a huge benefit that people are looking for when they join a Greek organization. Not only does having a Greek affiliation on your resume help you after college but current students are getting connected with alumni and are being offered jobs, internships, shadowing and mentoring opportunities, and more. It’s a great community that extends beyond the walls of VSU. And lastly, being Greek is fun! The social aspect of all of the chapters is something our students really enjoy. There is always something to do and you’ll always have a group of people to do those things with.
Explanation of councils and chapters?
We have four councils on our campus, College Panhellenic Council (six sororities), Interfraternity Council (five fraternities), Multicultural Greek Council (two sororities, one fraternity), and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (two sororities, five fraternities). We encourage everyone who is interested in joining a Greek organization to do their research on each council and decide which makes the most sense for you. If you’re more interested in cultural education and competencies, the Multicultural Greek council might be for you. If you’re interested in philanthropy and building sisterhood, the College Panhellenic Council might be for you. Once you decide what council you’re interested in, you can start to research individual chapters and the council recruitment process.
Each council recruits differently. For example, the College Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council have formal recruitment processes that last a week, the former starting the week before school, and the latter in September. However, the Multicultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council both let chapters recruit individually. Research is going to be your best friend as you navigate the first steps of the process. But you can always reach out to the Office of Greek Life or any organization to ask any questions.
What to expect when you go Greek, what do you get to do?
Going Greek is going to be a lot of fun, and you will get the benefits that a Greek affiliation affords. Definitely expect to learn time management skills as there are required events in addition to fun stuff for the chapters. Older chapter members will help you learn how to balance being Greek and a college student and having a job if that’s something you’re interested in. Expect to find quick, meaningful friendships that are unlike other relationships you’ve had before. As well as opportunities that you weren’t afforded before you joined. You can also expect to never find yourself alone or unsupported.
Requirements for joining?
The Office of Greek Life requires a 2.5 high school GPA or cumulative college GPA to join any of our organizations. Each chapter may have an individual grade requirement, so again remember to do your research. First-semester first-year students can join the College Panhellenic Council, the Interfraternity Council, and a few chapters in the Multicultural Greek Council. The National Pan-Hellenic Council requires students to have at least 12 credit hours before joining.
The Office of Greek Life
Phone: 229-333-5674
Visit their website for more info!
