Most NC State students look forward to Labor Day weekend as their last taste of summer before taking their first exams and spending all their free time at the library; however, for hundreds of NC State students, Labor Day weekend will not be so relaxing.

During this weekend, formal recruitment for both the InterFraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association will commence as students from all years and backgrounds will try to find their place in NC State’s Fraternity and Sorority Life.

In order to join a fraternity or sorority, students must go through the formal process of recruitment which sometimes leaves students stressed about which organization they want to be a part of for the next three to four years. During these five days, students will be able to visit different sorority and fraternity chapters and each day list which ones they would potentially like to join.

Sometimes the students do not get their first choice of what organization they get a bid from, but the advice of “trust the process” is very apparent in recruitment. “Trust the process” means to always keep an open mind during Recruitment because every sorority and fraternity has something positive to offer its members.

Currently 13 percent of NC State students are involved in Fraternity and Sorority Life, and after this weekend that number will only grow. This growth is not unique to NC State, and more college students are joining fraternities and sororities across the country despite poor reflections of Fraternity and Sorority Life in the media. If you have ever been interested in going through recruitment, know that what the media shows is not an accurate picture of what NC State Fraternity and Sorority Life is.

Many news stories and movies focus on the negative aspects, which overshadows the positive values of fraternities and sororities. Fraternity and Sorority Life is not focused on partying and excessive drinking; instead, NC State Fraternity and Sorority Life focuses on scholarship, philanthropy and success.

Fraternity and sorority members come from all academic backgrounds including engineering, business and communications. According to NC State’s Fraternity and Sorority Life, the majority of fraternity and sorority members have a GPA higher than the all-student GPA at NC State.

Each year, NC State awards sororities and fraternities with outstanding scholarship and academics for reaching this accomplishment. Additionally, college graduation rates are 20 percent higher among participants in Fraternity and Sorority Life than non-participants. 

Almost every fraternity and sorority on NC State’s campus has a designated philanthropy or cause for which the group advocates. These philanthropies include Feeding America, Alzheimer’s Association, Reading is Fundamental, ALS Association, and many more. During the 2016-2017 academic year, NC State fraternity men and sorority women volunteered a total of 81,896 hours and raised $180,762 for their philanthropies. 

Fraternities and sororities build up their brothers and sisters for success during their time at college. NC State Fraternity and Sorority Life encourages its participants to enroll in other organizations and clubs, and 88 percent of Fraternity and Sorority Life students are involved in outside organizations, and many are in leadership roles. Students can gain leadership experience in their fraternity or sorority chapter by being on an executive board, going on NC State-sponsored leadership retreats and winning awards for their achievements with Order of Omega and the Outstanding Women’s Awards.

If you are interested in joining an organization that centers on academics, volunteerism and overall success, then going through recruitment at NC State may be the right choice for you. NC State Fraternity and Sorority Life does not focus its attention on superficial values, but builds up its members for future accomplishments and teaches them life lessons. Fraternity and Sorority Life changes students’ lives for the better, and makes a positive impact on its members and the community no matter which Greek letters they wear.

You can register for Formal Recruitment for the InterFraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association at https://fsl.dasa.ncsu.edu/join/rush-recruitment-intake/.