Asked by
carolina-love-chapelhill
work - work - work! if you really want to join greek life, then you must be willing to work for it. maximize your summer months by working 2 jobs, waiting tables for tips, babysitting, tutoring, whatever you can do. during the school year, you can work on campus, work part time, sell crafts online, be a campus rep ~ whatever you can manage! many sorority members help pay the bills for their chapter expenses. it can be done with willpower and determination.
as for the clothing and accessories needed to rush (and to socialize after joining), you can shop outlets, deep discount stores, resale boutiques, borrow fancy dresses from friends, etc. there are lots of ways to be elegant and frugal at the same time. keep your everyday fashions simple and classic. college girls can get away with wearing jeans, shorts, tee shirts and sweatshirts most of the time. there is a way to be spirited and campus cute on a dime! you just need to be really smart about where you buy things, mix and match a few key pieces and get creative with your limited budget. good luck! xoxo ;)
Q: I am going abroad next spring (my junior year) and my Gbig keeps guilting me about missing my big’s senior spring and last events such as formal, senior sendoff, and graduation. I feel bad that I won’t be there during her last months at school, but we have never been that close, and I need to live my own life. What should I say to her comments about not being there for my big?
A: with the ever increasing popularity of spending a semester abroad, it means more & more sorority girls are missing important events at their chapter. it’s an unfortunate side effect of this college experience. some girls decide not to go away, because they don’t want to miss their chapter life. but it’s an individual choice for each student. your academic enrichment should come first and foremost.
right away, ask your gbig to please stop making those comments. talk to her in a friendly way and explain that you are really sad to go, but you can’t miss out on such a wonderful educational opportunity. tell her you will hate to miss all your big’s senior events and you are really torn up about it (even if your’e not - exaggerate a little). explain that her constant sniping makes it even more hurtful. appeal to her emotions and ask that she stop because it is such a sensitive subject.
also tell her ~ you DO have plans to celebrate your big’s spring semester from afar and you have some surprises in store! for example, send a special graduation video from abroad. mail gifts that can only be found in your foreign country. leave some surprise packages behind before you go. let your gbig in on these “secret plans” and make her understand that you are not totally deserting the sorority traditions. you will be with your big ‘in spirit’. if she is fully informed on how you feel, and what your plans are, she should stop with all the harassment! be reassuring, sensitive and sincere ~ that should do the trick. and good luck on your adventure! xoxo ;)
Q: Do the recruitment counselors, or the gamma chi/rho chi’s, still have special traditions similar to regular chapters even though the members are from different sororities? ~ cheerhealthstyle
A: no, not really. members from the different chapters get together to prepare, train and lead the PNM groups during formal recruitment, but they do not participate in ‘rituals’ like regular chapters. there is an orientation, practice sessions and lots of learning about how to help the rushees through the process. it’s more like a volunteer experience or sisterhood retreat. there can be some fun traditions like revealing their affiliation/greek letters on bid day, or attending a rho gamma wrap-up dinner, but nothing too formal or ritualistic. xoxo ;)
Q: I received the position of Rho Gamma at my school this year and I was planning on making little paddles or crafts for the other Rho Gamma’s from my chapter. Do you possibly have anything that would be good suggestions? Thanks!
A: i love the mini paddle idea! another cute gift for a rho gamma is a decorated clipboard! they are handy during recruitment, and can be decked out with rhinestones, paint and/or decoupaged.
other cute recruitment friendly gifts include ~ laniards, notepads, decorated pens, koozies, croakies, rho gamma “survival basket”, friendship bracelets, panhellenic hair ties, painted water bottle or tumbler, painted picture frame, sorority slippers or socks (after a long day walking & standing), go greek sunglasses, fanny packs, decorated make up bags, key fobs, decorated binders/notebooks, canvas tote bag and favorite food/drink treats to enjoy after a full day of rush rounds! xoxo ;)
Q: I was COMPLETELY CHEATED out of the big/little experience, which was something I was so looking forward to in my sorority life. For clue week I only got two things, but they did seem well crafted. We hung out like twice after reveal but she often ignores me and I ALWAYS text HER first. My basket was minimal and she only gave me one set of letters. We never talk and when i see her around campus and she doesn’t seem excited to see me. now she’s gonna be a rho chi. IDK what to do. I feel cheated.
A: i understand that it’s tough when reality doesn’t live up to expectations but you seem overly focused on what you didn’t GET GET GET! your gifts were not numerous enough, not crafted enough, not fancy enough. your big doesn’t give you enough time, attention, interest or flattery. that’s a lot of gimme - gimme. you were not totally cheated! it sounds like you have an “average” big who has given you gifts, taken the time to craft and has tried to connect with you on some level. but honestly, you seem so concerned with getting things, that it’s probably a huge barrier with your big. she may feel her attempts at generosity are not “good enough” for you!
it’s better to count your blessings than complain about not collecting enough stuff. accepting and appreciating what another person can give is a very honorable trait. the big/little relationship should be more about friendship, than the size of your gift baskets. please take a moment to step outside your feelings of being short-changed, and see that there are more important things to be had from your sorority sister. your judgements are keeping you from having a better relationship!
i believe your big can sense your disappointment and that is hindering your connection. if you want to mend this, please just spend some relaxed, non-judgmental time together. and stop keeping a texting and gifting “score card”.
also remember that a big/little relationship is a two way street. you must do YOUR part to strengthen the sisterly bonds. what have you done lately to spoil your big? how generous are you towards her? how much time and talent have you put into the relationship? try giving more than you receive, with no strings attached, and you may find things quickly change for the better. give it a try! xoxo ;)
Asked by
b1rds-flying-high
many “old time” sororities like phi mu are actually fraternal organizations. other fraternities that come to mind are delta gamma and kappa alpha theta. all are technically ‘fraternities for women’ in the sense that they are a private fraternal order of initiated members. we have come to call them sororities today. some other chapters are established as ‘sororities’ such as sigma kappa and gamma phi beta.
in practice they serve the same exact purpose and are all termed sororities on campus. but if you are being exact for certain chapters, like phi mu or delta gamma, you should call them fraternities. xoxo ;)
Asked by
hidrangeas
i am an ASU sorority alum, but i keep my affiliation private for the purposes of this blog! i am now ‘all-panhellenic’ so i can post for everyone without any bias or pre-judgement. it’s better if sorority sugar is neutral and doesn’t play favorites. but i can say i’m an alum of the BEST sorority ~ so it should be obvious! xoxo ;) ;)
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A friend from my chapter recently discovered that another chapter was using her artwork for derby days without her permission. She commented on the photo on Instagram, saying it was her design and would love a shirt, and then emailed the President, but the girl on Instagram deleted the comment and the president hasn't responded to her after almost a week. How do you suggest we go about this? We are all frankly saddened by the lack of sisterhood.
Asked by
letthelamps
at this point, your friend should call the president and see if she can reach her directly. sometimes people don’t get email, or it goes to their spam. or, she could stop by the sorority house/dorm and pay the president a visit. there must be a way to locate her for a conversation. your friend should then explain the situation and see what can be done. at the very least, the culprit should get a reprimand!
there’s not much else your friend can do, accept bring it to the chapter’s attention and ask for an apology and some “credit”. (she’s not going to sue them!) there’s probably no copyright on the image, so sadly these cruddy things happen. the other girl is just not nice. with so much image sharing on instagram, facebook, tumblr and all the rest ~ there are more chances than ever for designs to be unofficially “used”. it’s a form of flattery, but in an underhanded way. hopefully your friend can get some acknowledgment, but if not, she needs to move on and not let it sour the rest of her semester. xoxo ;)
Asked by
sarah23456
for any interview you should plan ahead and have a firm grasp of what makes you perfect for the job. here are some interview tips that will help you prepare……
❉ 12 sorority sugar tips for a successful interview: ❉
- it’s your job to sell yourself. get comfortable with expressing your top selling points and explaining why you are the ideal candidate for the position. you have to toot your own horn and not be afraid to politely brag a little.
- be the “solution” they are looking for! every internship or job has problems that need solving. do your research and discover what needs fixing the most. then offer your unique abilities to do the job better than others.
- the most prepared candidate will get the job. never go to an interview cold. if you are well versed on what the top issues are for greeks on your campus, you will be way ahead of the game.
- be able to speak about what makes you uniquely qualified for the position. have your past experiences and qualifications firmly in your head. practice telling your “story” without rambling or getting off track.
- in addition to your qualifications, you may be asked about your personality too. know who you are and be able to describe your personality in attractive terms. what are your best traits? do you work well in a team? are you a born leader? do some self evaluation and prep before the interview.
- if applicable, have a nicely printed resume ready, or an application filled out. be on time, organized and have everything properly completed. a messy applicant with a sloppy presentation ~ will not be a top contender.
- be sharp! remember names, shake hands, look professional, use correct grammar, make eye contact, smile, be respectful and friendly and hide those nerves. how you conduct yourself means as much as what you say and how you look. and never, never chew gum!
- dress to impress. even if it’s “just an internship” you should treat the interviewer with respect by dressing classic, clean and polished. you always want to look even nicer than the job you are applying for. simple and traditional attire will do the trick. even casual college students can look well groomed for an interview.
- keep on topic. don’t babble, tell long-winded stories, gossip or badmouth others. never use foul language or speak negatively about anyone else. keep your answers relatively short, simple, clear and positive.
- have a few pertinent questions ready in advance. asking some thoughtful questions shows your level of interest and your understanding of the job. you want to be inquisitive and curious to learn more. it’s important to make 100% sure that you really want the position. you might find during the interview, that it’s not the place for you after all.
- don’t bring your phone to an interview. you never want to text, check emails, look online, or talk to someone else during your interview time. best to leave the temptation in your room.
- always thank the interviewer for his/her time and express your gratitude for the opportunity. follow up with a prompt thank you email as well. you can’t be too polite or courteous. people take notice of good behavior and it really makes a difference. it’s the classy thing to do!
Asked by
that-suburban-prep
ahhhh… you need the sorority sugar home page! please go to my blog URL and at the top you will find several links to helpful pages with lots of sorority information. please check out the “frequently asked questions” page and my “ultimate grand supreme glossary of sorority terms”. both are great places to start learning about greek life. on my pinterest, i have a very helpful ‘library of posts’ that will also answer many of your questions. it’s entitled “sorority girls do it better”. there is a placard & link to dozens of my informational posts detailing the sorority experience.
in very basic terms ~ formal rush is the week where potential new members (PNMs) visit all the sorority houses on campus, interview with them and then by mutual elimination and selection find a sorority match! you pick the chapters you like and the sororities do the same. at the end of the week hopefully your favorite chapter will offer you a bid of membership, you accept and everyone lives happily ever after!! xoxo ;)
Q: I’ll be rushing this fall as a freshman and I was wondering if you have any suggestions as to what to avoid wearing during recruitment.
A: what to wear and what not to wear does depend on where your campus is located and what the accepted “style” is. a PNM would dress one way at a southern SEC school and a different way at a small school in the pacific northwest. always research the norms and acceptable styles at your future college. in some places recruitment is very dressing, and in other places jeans are the norm. here are some general guidelines for what to avoid ~
sorority recruitment ”what NOT to wear”:
- any item of clothing that is faded, torn or worn out. check for frayed and drooping hems, armpit stains, snags, pilling and holes. no tattered clothes period.
- no glitter, sequins, sparkles or beauty pageant wear. preference night is dressy, but not a formal dance, night club or wedding. dressy and elegant yes ~ red carpet glam no.
- avoid plunging necklines, backless dresses, cut-outs, mini skirts and super short shorts. rush is an all-girl event and you don’t want to look like a lingerie model. it’s not the time to look “hot”. think classy and gorgeous instead. no one wants to see your bottom or your boobs!
- keep the jewelry and accessories to a minimum. the sisters should focus on YOU, not your overpowering jewelry. it’s ok to wear one signature piece, but please don’t pile on the sparkle. just say no to wearing chandelier earrings, statement necklace, multiple bangles and rings on every finger ~ all at once! especially annoying is banging bracelets during rush conversations.
- keep it classy and simple with your make-up and nail art. rush is no the time to trick your nails out in multiple colors, flowers and gemstones. keep it simple with lighter colors, a french manicure or clear gloss. a mini-pedi is a must. keep your make-up daytime appropriate and not too thick. the goal is to have the sisters interviewing you focus on your personality, not distracted by your heavy eye shadow or purple fingernails.
- super high heels can be a killer. even if you love high heels, keep in mind you will be doing a lot of walking and standing. blisters and sore feet make it almost impossible to remain cheerful and bubbly. wear sandals/flats when you should and save the heels only for the dressiest rounds. avoid any shoes that could be referred to as stripper heels.
- steer clear of all white and all black dresses. frequently chapters wear these colors during some rounds, so it’s best to just avoid those colors all together. you want to shine in your prettiest, most flattering colors anyway.
- don’t try to dress as a ‘sorority cliche’. if you don’t normally wear preppy headbands, bows or pearls, now is not the time to dress in costume. if you dress in a totally new style, (just for the chapters to like you), you will probably look unintentionally funny and feel very uncomfortable. if you show up in lilly from head to toe, the chapters may think you are trying too hard. it’s ok to buy a lilly dress and incorporate it with your other fashions, just don’t go crazy trying to be the ultimate sorority girl.
be true to yourself and let your style shine, while at the same time presenting yourself to your best advantage. recruitment is one giant job interview and you don’t want anything to detract from the sororities seeing your inner beauty. xoxo ;)
sweet follower feedback ~
I just wanted to say thank you for keeping such a fantastic and balanced blog. I love that I can always see my sorority just as often as I see the others, whereas most websites ignore us (Theta Phi). I also wanted to say thank you for having pictures of girls who might not be considered the “stereotypical sorority girl”. Many sites only have the bottle blonde, skinny girls in their pictures, but I love that there are all sorts of girls on your blog! Thanks!
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SS ~ thank you soooo much for your kind words! it’s my pleasure to post for ALL the NPC chapters (and others too)! i think sharing the sugar from the panhel is a fantastic way to find inspiration, ideas, crafts, fashions and all the rest!! i am sweet on all greeks ~ in every shape, style and size!!! xoxo ;)
