Chelsea Mills

Finding my Place: My Journey with Greek Life at Dartmouth

As an Early Decision college applicant, I was confident that Dartmouth was my top choice. Still, there were aspects of the college—especially the Greek Life culture—that felt overwhelming to my high school self. I wasn't sure if Greek Life would be a welcoming space for me. Now that I'm a tour guide, I see that many prospective students still feel the same way. It's hard to fully understand the role of Greek life at Dartmouth until you're here. But as I share the insights I've gained over my past couple of years as a student, I hope to ease some of that anxiety for you.

First-year students aren't involved in Greek Life right away. During the first six weeks of the fall term, there's a 'frat ban' that prevents first-years from socializing in any Greek house. This policy gave me more time to settle into Dartmouth, meet people in my dorm, and explore campus life without the pressure of Greek Life. By the time the frat ban ended, I felt much more confident about what I wanted from my social experience. I knew that I didn't have to rush to make friends.

I loved forming genuine and fulfilling friendships. By the time I started my second year, I felt much more confident in both my social circle and myself. While I heard plenty of stereotypes about each sorority and fraternity, my upperclassmen friends helped me see past them. They casually shared their insights about the values of different houses, which helped me understand them better. 

Sophomore fall is the earliest term students can rush a sorority or fraternity at Dartmouth. With around 60% of upperclassmen affiliated, some might feel pressured to join Greek Life. But, I'm grateful I approached rush with an open mind. Instead of focusing on stereotypes, I reflected on my own values. It's important to remember that choosing a house is mutual—you're choosing them as much as they're choosing you. Conversations with members about their experiences helped me understand the sisterhood within each house, and after a few weeks, I found the perfect place for me.

What I love most about my sorority is the community—from the incredible '26s in my rush class to the supportive upperclassmen. My main goal during rush was to find a group of women I could look up to as mentors, and the upperclassmen in my sorority are exactly the type of person I envision myself becoming—driven, kind, and genuine. (This is especially true for my big and grandbig—I'm obsessed with my sorority family!)   

Since joining my sorority, I've grown in ways I never thought possible. I feel more socially empowered and supported at Dartmouth. I've also developed strong friendships with like-minded girls and found a community that wholeheartedly accepts and supports me. My house now feels like a true "home" on campus, and I'm even living in my sorority house this term (my junior fall)! 

It's funny to think about how much I love my sorority now, given how hesitant I initially was to embrace the Greek Life culture at Dartmouth. If you're low-income, international, a POC, or any other social minority, you might share this same anxiety. But I was amazed at how welcoming my sorority has been. Take my sorority family, for example- all the girls in my lineage are black! It may be surprising, but the strongest Black community I've found on campus is within my predominantly white sorority. I doubt I would've found such a welcoming space at a college with more "stereotypically exclusive" sororities. In fact, I probably wouldn't have rushed at any other college besides Dartmouth.

In a sorority, each new member ("little") is assigned to upperclassmen members ("bigs") who serve as mentors. These groups make up a "family". My family has had all black girls since 2022!

I try to talk candidly about my sorority experience with prospective or first-year students. It's important to me that all students are well-informed before deciding whether to rush. Still, I recognize the deep-rooted issues around inclusivity and safety within the national Panhellenic Greek system, and Dartmouth is no exception. I've unfortunately seen these issues affect my peers firsthand. I appreciate the campus initiatives that aim to move Greek life in the right direction, both proactively and in response to past issues. We have a long way to go in this regard, but I welcome the open discourse on campus around this topic. 

I'm hopeful for positive change, but for now, I'm incredibly grateful to be part of such a welcoming community in my sorority. I can't imagine my Dartmouth experience without my sorority, even though I was hesitant at first. I encourage you to explore and find a community that helps you thrive, whether that's within Greek Life or through other spaces on campus. A strong support network can really make all the difference.