For the last four years, I have been a member of a local sorority. I personally believe there aren't that many differences between Greek and local sororities, but I've always stood by my decision to go local. During my time in my organization I've realized there seems to be a stigma associated with local sororities or sisterhoods, as if we're subpar to our national counterparts.

I wanted to clear things up once and for all, but I knew I couldn't do it alone. I decided that it would be a better representation of local sororities and sisterhoods as a whole if I talked with girls that were in similar organizations to my own. I wanted to see if their experiences and mine overlapped.

After talking with one girl from each of the five local sororities/sisterhoods on my campus--Alpha Sigma Gamma, Beta Omega Beta, Phi Delta, The Society of the Prim Roses, and Tau Lambda Sigma--I found that we did, in fact, have a lot in common. So here it is. Here's why local sorority/sisterhood girls decided to go local instead of Greek.

Size

"I just felt like this particular group was a lot smaller. I like smaller groups. I feel more comfortable in them, so I knew that was another thing I wanted."
-Madi James, The Society of the Prim Roses

For the five girls I talked to, size was of major importance to their decision. They wanted the intimacy and familiarity of a smaller organization. I also found that a lot of the girls, including myself, decided to join their organizations after getting to know members in their sisterhoods personally before rushing. Being in a local sorority gives you the chance to get to know every girl that wears your letters, not just the ones on your campus.

Cost

"I really thought about going Greek but I couldn't afford it. It's really nice being a part of a local sisterhood because it makes it a lot more affordable. I don't know about other groups, but I know BOB has been a lot more affordable and we also work with a lot of people to work off their dues if they can't pay them which I think is important in a college environment."
-Danielle Hughes, Beta Omega Beta

Outside of size, price is a huge part of why the girls I talked to decided to join their groups. According to an article published by USA Today in 2014, the average new sorority member pays $1,280 per semester. While this cost may be worth it in some respects, some girls just can't afford it. We're all broke college students, which means we get excited when we have a dollar, let alone enough to be a part of an organization.

Receptiveness

"Being in a local sorority is a lot more open, at least the organization I'm in. It has those aspects of sisterhood and stuff, if that's what you're looking for, but it's also non-selective so that's a big part of it that's different. It's a little bit more open for different types of people."
-Paige Yungermann, Alpha Sigma Gamma

All of the local sororities and sisterhoods on my campus have different levels of selectivity, but each girl I talked with mentioned how they felt their organizations were very open to a wide range of girls. They all truly appreciated the uniqueness of their respective organizations and said that their receptiveness to individuality really helped with this aspect.

Freedom

"Local sororities make their own constitution and they make their own rules. We're not subject to the National Panhellenic Council. It's really a member driven community. You have these rules because your alumni, your sisters, your friends, or you have voted them into your constitution. You choose; you get to help decide how your organization is run."
-Laura Seaman, Phi Delta

At least half of the girls I spoke with believed that the biggest difference between local sororities and Greek sororities had to be the fact that local sororities make their own rules and regulations. With the chaos of college, it's nice having some control over at least one aspect of your life. For me personally, there is a sense of respect that comes with having the chance to voice your opinion or propose a change in your organization's constitution.

Sisterhood and Philanthropy

"Of course you have the sorority aspect. You have sisters, you have people you can rely on, people who will always be there to support you, but the fact that it's local is more beneficial because you feel more a part of the community. Tau Lambda Sigma focuses a lot on service for the community. That's why we're based in Kirksville. It makes you appreciate where you're at more."
-Michaela Idleburg, Tau Lambda Sigma

In many respects, Greek and local sororities are very much the same. They both focus around sisterhood and philanthropy. According to my interviews, each local sisterhood has their own philanthropy, ranging from Victim Support Services to the American Cancer Society. The girls I talked with also made it very clear that giving back to the local community was extremely important to their organizations. It's like saying thanks for being our sorority's hometown.