Students blog

Being a college student can be a financial struggle. Working a few hours, spending money on food, gas, clothes, and going out, all while trying not to go completely broke – I’ve been there, done that. Here are a few ways I have learned to save money.

Share a ride

After living in a sorority house with 67 girls, I’ve picked up a few tips that have saved me money so far in my sophomore year. First, carpooling can make a big difference. Whether we’re heading to an event or grabbing food, coordinating rides with friends not only saves on gas but also helps avoid parking fees. It’s amazing how much you can save by simply sharing a ride. If you're in college, I highly recommend creating group chats with friends to coordinate carpooling—it’s an easy and effective way to cut down on costs.

Rent or borrow clothes

Second, rather than buying a new outfit for every function, consider renting clothes or borrowing from others. There are at least five different Instagram accounts of girls just within my house who are constantly renting clothes. This has come in handy for sorority and fraternity functions, as well as gamedays, so I didn’t have to worry about going out and buying new clothes. Instead, I would rent a dress for $15, wash it, and then return it. It’s an affordable way to upgrade without the commitment of a full-price purchase.

Save on meals

Lastly, when you go to restaurants, I always either split meals, get a kids' meal, or choose a meal that's big enough to create leftovers. At the sorority house, we only have access to food on weekdays, so on weekends, I’ve had to find the most cost-effective ways to eat out. My favorite meal on a budget is the Chipotle $5 kids' quesadilla.

While college can be expensive, there are many ways you can work with others and get creative to save money. Small habits like these can add up and help ease the financial burden that often comes with being a student. The key is to stay open to alternatives and be mindful of your spending. With a little planning and collaboration, you can make college life more affordable without sacrificing your experiences.

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If you’re anything like me, the thought of joining a Panhellenic sorority both intrigued and terrified you. On one hand, you desired the lifelong friendships a sorority can could offer, but on the other hand, you didn’t know how you’ll fit into such a large sorority. On top of that, I wanted to join a club/organization where I would be surrounded by people who understood what it was like to be an Asian attending a predominately white institution (PWI). That’s when I discovered multicultural Greek organizations that are a part of a separate council called the United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC) on my campus, or more commonly called Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) on most other campuses.

I joined one of the Asian-interest sororities on campus and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. You might be asking: what are the benefits of multicultural Greek organizations? Here are three main benefits I’ve discovered:

1. A smaller, tight knit community

Multicultural Greek organizations are typically smaller in size than Panhellenic sororities. Because of this, it’ll be easier to get to know everyone in the organization on a deeper, more personal level. Additionally, sororities and fraternities within the Multicultural Greek Council often collaborate with each other for events, leading to great opportunities to get to know their organization and network with them.

2. Connect with Cultures

You could’ve probably guessed this one, but being a part of a multicultural Greek organization exposes you to cultures that you might not have otherwise crossed paths with. On my campus we have Latino-/Latina-interest fraternities and sororities, Asian-interest sororities, and a newly reestablished Divine Nine sorority in the council (that is, until more Divine Nine organizations become established, then they will be a separate council). And mentioned before, since organizations within the council work together, it opens opportunities for cultural exchange and allows for a stronger sense of belonging.

3. More leadership opportunities

Last but not least, in multicultural Greek organizations, there are more opportunities to pick up leadership positions in the organization because they are typically smaller in size. In my sorority, every member is encouraged to take on at least one position the term after joining and everyone has. These positions range from small-scale event planning positions, like organizing alumni coffee chats, to big positions on Executive Board. No matter how big the position, you’ll be able to develop important soft skills that you might not have a chance to develop in other places.

Although these organizations put an emphasis on their culture, they are not culture exclusive, meaning that as long as you are respectful of and willing to learn from their culture, you can potentially join. If you find yourself in a similar situation as me, consider joining a multicultural Greek organization. Who knows, maybe it’ll be one of the most fulfilling experiences at college, like it has been for me. Whether or not you choose to join a multicultural Greek organization, remember that you belong and you are allowed to take up space on your campus.

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Participating in formal recruitment at a major Greek Life school is an experience that is incomparable to anything else. In the past I had heard many of my friends talk about it, but it is truly like nothing you can imagine. There was so much going on, and I had no clue what had happened until it was all over. Here is an inside look at how recruitment works and what to expect before you embark on this amazing journey.

Anticipation

Before coming to school in the fall, I was anticipating what rush would look like. My future roommate and I had talked about it over the summer, but it became real when we submitted our credit card information to pay. I hadn’t prepared for this experience and when I got to Florida State, I realized I had no outfits, no energy, and no clear idea of what was to come.

Each chapter put in so much time and energy during the preparation week for the sororities the week prior to rush, and it did not go unnoticed. There was also plenty of terminology to learn and remember, such as those going through recruitment being referred to as PNMs (potential new members), ladies in the chapter referred to as chapter women, and the sorority house called the chapter facility.

The Week of Rush

The week kicked off with an all-day orientation session to familiarize the PNMs with the recruitment process. The Panhellenic Association provided the shirt to wear, and most girls paired it with trendy pants or a cute skirt. The next two days served as round one and featured short visits to each of the 17 chapters at FSU. The PNMs went from house to house and spoke to the women of each chapter. Those felt like the longest days of the entire experience!

PNMs would narrow down their choices after each round. In round two, PNMs could visit a maximum of 12 houses. And in round three, they could visit a maximum of seven houses. By round four the PNMs had made the hardest choices and narrowed their final seven houses down to two. That day came with the highest emotions and intense decision-making.

At the end of round four, PNMs could either put down their two choices in order, or they could single preference selection and choose one house. This selection then determined which house the PNM received a bid for on the final day, called Bid Day. That morning, all the PNMs gathered together, opened their bids, and then ran to join their new sorority, spending the day celebrating their new sisterhood and forever home.

The Conclusion of the Experience

Through this experience, I met the most wonderful ladies in every house, every line, and in my sorority now, and I could talk about every one of the amazing people for hours and hours.

My favorite part of rush was waking up every morning and seeing almost two thousand girls gathered and helping each other with makeup and accessories. All the dressing up, all different girls going through the same process, the whole experience made me think of the recent Barbie movie. This truly is a girl’s world.

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As soon as winter break comes to a close, some college students will be traveling back to campus in order to join a Greek life organization. Whether you’re a freshman girl who has been waiting for rush week all semester, or a junior guy looking to rush to meet a good group of friends, the entire rush process can be a stressful one.

To calm some nerves, I have compiled some advice about the process from my friends at colleges all across the US. I hope you find it helpful as you go through this stressful, but genuinely fun and rewarding experience!

Xavier Kretsinger-Walters - James Madison University
“Sounds obvious, but be yourself. Chances are, if you change up your personality just to fit in or get a bid, you'll end up in an organization that you won't feel connected to. Find a Greek organization with similar personalities where you see yourself making good connections and friendships.”

Alivia Clay - Texas Christian University
“I would say to follow your gut. I felt most at home at a sorority that wasn't considered a top house and because of everyone else's opinions I ended up choosing the "better sorority" that hasn't been a great fit. Sometimes the houses that are the least popular have the most fun and where you'll find the most friends. Just follow your heart <3 Good luck!”

AJ Vazquez - Indiana University Indianapolis
“I would say to go with the group of people that you best fit with and that you feel you can be yourself. A Greek organization is meant to better young men and women and it’s key to find an organization that feels like a home away from home. I also encourage those interested in Greek life to rush all chapters they can and not focus on the number of members or anything they’ve heard but to judge based on their personal experience and perspective.”

Student - University of Florida
“Just be yourself and don’t be scared to answer any questions! They just want to get to know you for who you are!”

Cassidy Chinn - University of Georgia
“Always be authentic to who you are! The rush process can be hyped up and super stressful, but you really do find where you are meant to be. Greek life is great, and you really do get out what you put into it!”

Jasmine Ferrante - University of Maine
“I would say to always be yourself and not change who you are! You will end up in the right chapter for you and thrive in the chapter.”

Victoria Kaplan - UC Berkeley
“Rush week can be incredibly exhausting, so make sure you take time for yourself to properly recharge and be the best version of yourself. While you may think you absolutely need to be in a certain house, at the end of the day the people you click with make the best friends!”

Michelle Qi - Florida State University
“Be open minded because you will be happy where you end up and you WILL find your perfect family! It can feel overwhelming at times but stay strong and know that there is always a house for you!!”

Jen Fiengo - Coastal Carolina University
“I personally went through spring recruitment. If you don’t walk into the room and feel comfortable, that sorority is not for you. You need to go somewhere that feels like home, and you will know it when you feel it.”

To sum all that up, the whole point of the process is to find your home and a group of people you want to spend college with. Good luck, trust the process, don’t stress, and you will find your people in the end!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

Growing up, I always struggled with my cultural identity since I lived in a predominantly white area. Most of my peers and friends did not look like me, and most knew little to nothing about the country I was born in, South Korea. Therefore, I went through a very long phase of cultural rejection. I refused to speak the language and never wanted to take any Asian food to school. I tried my best to fit in with my peers.

Accepting My Culture

It wasn’t until seventh grade that I became more open-minded and susceptible to learning about my Korean culture. Food was always a part of my life, but now I craved Korean food more often than I did before and would ask my mom to cook certain dishes. I incorporated more of the culture such as music, tv shows, etc. into my life. This was a turning point in my journey of embracing my Asian American culture. Time passed and my culture became a bigger part of my life, but there was still more I could learn, and I felt like there were communities out there to help.

Progress Stalled

My progress was stalled when I decided to attend college at a predominantly white institution (PWI). I was hoping to go to a college with a bigger Asian American community. However, this could not be further from the truth. In the days leading up to leaving for college I started to worry that I would lose all the progress I’d made so far or hit a dead end since there was no difference from the environment I grew up in my whole life.

A Search for a Cultural Community

As soon as I got to campus, I was obviously comfortable with the environment since I was used to being around people who don’t look like me. But I wanted to challenge myself and continue my journey of finding my cultural identity. I decided to immerse myself in the different cultural communities on campus. The community that allowed me to finally feel a strong sense of belonging was my Asian-interest sorority, alpha Kappa Delta Phi. (This group uses four Greek letters in its name and chooses not to capitalize the first letter.) Being at a PWI, this sorority provides a home away from home and is a tight-knit group of young women that are pursuing a college degree and finding themselves. One of the pillars of this sorority is Asian Awareness which has played a huge role in helping me to truly find my cultural identity and embrace my Asian American culture. I have never been able to share so many experiences with so many other Asian American women. Being able to relate to so many other people was the best feeling in the world.

How Can I Make This Better for The Next Generation?

In addition, I have been able to engage in many dialogues with my sisters and talk about what cultural identity means to us and how we want our kids to be more in touch with their culture. Despite my worries, I have felt the most pride in my culture and am the most in touch with my culture during my time here in college because of this community that I found.

I urge you to share your stories, traditions, and ways that have made an impact on you and find a community that will help you embrace your culture. There is so much to learn about where you come from and what makes you, you. It’s never too late to start embracing your culture and striving to learn more about your identity.

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!