Chapters welcomed over 100 new members during recruitment last semester with a limited number of available beds in their houses. Many first-year students now face uncertainty about whether they will be able to secure a spot in their chapter’s house next year — a longstanding tradition for sorority members. 

First-year Rylee Madden, a member of Alpha Phi, shared that while she hopes to live in the house her sophomore year, the large pledge class of around 115 members has created challenges. Alpha Phi has 86 available spots to live in the house. 

“Everyone is on the same page,” Madden said. “We are all encouraging each other to go to events. But it is nerve-wracking. I haven’t looked into other housing options but I am staying positive and hopeful.” 

To address these housing disparities, many sororities are relying on a point system to determine who will live in-house. Members earn points by attending meetings, philanthropic activities and chapter-sponsored events. If a member participates in more events throughout the semester, their ranking to receive a spot in the house next year increases. 

Gamma Phi Beta first-year Emily Schultz said there are only 86 beds in her chapter’s house, despite having over 100 members. 

“We have to get points by going to late-night dinners or profit shares, so basically all of us have been working really hard to get points if you want to live in,” Schultz said.  

For those with fewer points, finding alternative housing is growing more urgent. However, because points accumulate throughout the school year, some first-year students were unable to make housing plans until they were sure of their point ranking. This wait has set many behind in the competitive housing market. 

First-year student Jillian Foster, a member of  Pi Beta Phi, said her pledge class has 97 members but only 81 beds. 

“There’s not a lot of good apartments now on campus because you didn’t really know if you were going to live-in or have a spot or not with the amount of people rushing,” Foster said. 

With an increased demand for sorority housing, the houses’ points systems not only incentivize participation but also add pressure for new members. As the lists of members receiving spots in-house come out, many students will be thrown into the housing market at the last minute.

Edited by Julianna Mejia | jmejia@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Chase Pray | cpray@themaneater.com 

Copy edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com

Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com