Sneak Preview Day!

         Today was sneak preview day on campus for my university. It was an amazing turnout and the campus was filled with a lot of incoming freshman and transfer students. I gave a lot of campus tours today with students and parents and I was asked a lot of questions that I feel are really important to ask. I know a lot of the time some girls transfer to other schools so this list below will be really helpful, when figuring out where you want to transfer to for college. This list applies to any grad level, undergrad or graduate.

1.       Student housing prices? Is it more expensive to life on or off campus? - Especially if you’re not a financial aid student, and you’re paying for school on your own. This is very helpful to know because it will help you plan your budget. Remember also there are different prices for full time students then half time students.

2.      Is my major impacted? - A lot of the time schools majors will be impacted. What does this mean? It will be harder for you to get the classes that you need. Don’t be discouraged to apply for the school when you know your major is impacted. It does not mean the school is bad, it means there are a lot of students on campus who has the same interest as you. Which is a good thing, you will have more people to study and socialize with.

3.      What is social life like? - Its college life so of course you want to know about what to do when you’re not studying. However I really encourage prioritizing your social life with your academics. Get to know the day and night life off campus, not to mention go in groups to meet new people. Safety is key!

4.      Are their internships as well as jobs available for me? Especially for those who are already in college but are transferring this is a question for you. It will give you a leg up on your educational goals when you graduate. Internships paid or non-paid are gold especially if they are in your major. A lot of the times schools with have jobs and internships in departments for students. Or if you want a job on campus, get to know the career center.

5.      Financial aid questions-There are too many for me to put down. Ask as many questions as you want with this field. Such as scholarships, loans, grants, when your financial aid money gets to you, etc. this is a really important one so if you know you need financial aid do not be shy on asking too many questions.

6.      Is the campus safe? - For me when I came to my school this was the question I was asking every campus I visited. I knew I was going to live on campus and be taking a lot of night classes, so the school I choose had to be a safe one. A lot of schools have campus police than walk around or drive around campus to patrol. Also a lot of schools have emergency booths so if a student is not feeling safe, campus police will come to you to walk you were ever you need to go.

7.      What are the student organizations like?-If you’re already in a sorority and are transferring, it’s ok to get to know other organizations. Especially if your school does not have your sorority. Your alumni so this means you can join other clubs on campus. Now if there is your sorority on campus, you are still considered active (if you have not graduated) however when you go to chapter meetings you represent your chapter as well as the organization. If your confused on that contact the sorority’s archon of where you are transferring to, she will answer any questions or concerns you will have.

Best advice: Get to you’re the school you are visiting, such the teachers, campus, student organizations, food options etc.  If you applied to a lot of schools for fall, visit as many as you can. Visit them when your family and friends. Don’t be shy on asking questions, and have fun while you’re going on campus visits! I hope this piece has helped any of you who are considering to transfer to another school.

Senior Year of Formal Recruitment

     Being a senior is a very bitter sweet time, especially right around recruitment time. Fall is our formal recruitment at my school and I am so sad that it is over. We have Meet the Sisters, Philanthropy, and Preference round all happening and then it is a blur. Preference round was when it all hit me that I am a senior and this will be my last moments as a sister and college student of Kutztown University. I couldn't help but cry when my sisters were talking about what my sorority means to them and how much our chapter has grown in the years I have been apart of it. My sorority is definitely not the same sisterhood it was when I joined, but isn't that a good thing. With every new person who joins our chapter we grow, change, and mold to the people who are now part of our amazing sisterhood. We pride ourselves with this quote a lot, "Individually unique, together complete." With my chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma, Zeta Omicron I am proud to say that none of my sisters are exactly the same but we do come together for the same purposes and strive to better ourselves through schooling and being involved.
     Bid day was amazing and we got an amazing group of twenty three beautiful women to welcome into Phi Sigma Sigma. With College Panhellenic Council we also raised our total at our school from sixty five to seventy five women. I am so excited to live this last year in college to the fullest and continue to watch this great sisterhood continue to grow and thrive. All sisterhoods have their ups and downs but it is how you work through them that make the sorority stand strong and true. Together we can have it all!
     

Why More People Need to Address Social Issues on College Campuses

If you read my previous blog post about how my “sorority changed my life” then you know that I was a victim of sexual abuse for 10 years along with every other kind of abuse throughout my life. That experience, along with my core belief in the good in humanity, has shaped me into a person who believes all people should be treated as equals no matter race, sex, or any other characteristics that make humans individuals.

After hearing the moving and undeniably incredible speech by Emma Watson about feminism, I was reminded that feminism, or general belief in gender equality, has become something of a whisper between a few individuals and that in order to ignite a chain reaction of change, it needs to screamed for the whole world to hear.

What better place than a college campus to spark this conversation? During my time at Pace, there were three main Greek organizations of 18 (usually in conjunction or “cosponsored” with others) that spoke about social issues such as rape culture and equality during a majority of their events (shout out to the Beta Delta Chapter of Omega Phi Beta, the Beta Gamma Chapter of Lambda Upsilon Lambda, and the Alpha Xi chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon). I think it is important to note that Greek life at Pace University is only 13 percent of our campus. That being said, imagine if the entire campus talked about social issues such as feminism? Furthermore, imagine if it was discussed occurred across the globe.

It has been said that one voice can make way for change and I believe the former Harry Potter star did just that.

During her speech in front of the United Nation, Watson formally opened the door for conversation about feminism, equality, freedom, stating within her first lines “I am reaching out to you because I need your help. We want to end gender inequality—and to do that we need everyone to be involved.”

And those words ring true. It is up to each and every person to make sure that the conversation echoes throughout the world and in turn truly make equality a reality.

So I urge you all to take a stand and to fight for not only feminism, but also equality in all aspects of human life.