You may know you want to cross lines with a prestigious Divine Nine sorority, but how do you decide which one? With four fabulous options, just know that there is no wrong choice. Each sorority comes with its own strengths and positive community contributions. But for this lifelong commitment, you will want to be sure you are choosing a sisterhood that represents your values and your heart.
We have put together a step-by-step guide to help you determine which D9 sorority is the best fit for you.
1. Research.
Each of the four Divine 9 sororities has unique attributes. Do some research. Get to know the organizations. Familiarize yourself with the community outreach programs they organize. Find out what the different organizations require of their members.
2. Prepare Yourself.
Joining a sorority will require a commitment from you in three areas: finances, academics, and time. Before you commit to a sorority, find out about the financial obligations you’ll undertake. There are annual membership fees, yes, but also remember to ask about other financial contributions you may be expected to make. Make sure you are in a place to afford the commitment.
Academically, remember that you will be held to a high standard. Each of the D9 sororities has high academic requirements for admission.
Joining a sorority is a commitment. Make sure you have enough time to be a fully-committed member of the sorority. Each sorority will have its own projects, initiatives, and events, with varying time commitment requirements. Find out the time commitment of the areas you are interested in, and make sure you have the capacity to fit these new commitments into your schedule.
3. Get to know yourself.
Take some time to really think about who you are as a person. Each of these organizations highlights different strengths in women. Think about what you have to offer an organization. Give yourself a moment of introspection to think about what types of service you want to provide to the world and how you want to make it a better place. Having a clear picture of yourself will help you visualize which organizations you vibe with.
4. Look at the women you admire.
Is the woman from your church who you look up to a sorority member? Is one of the prominent Black celebrities you respect a member of a sisterhood? Do some of your favorite members of your own family belong to a sorority? Chances are good that if you admire or look up to a sorority member, you would fit in well with that sorority. Your values are most likely aligned.
5. Stop by and observe.
Find out about events organized by the sororities you are considering and attend those that are open to the public. Watch the sorors. Get to know them. Being forward and telling them you want to join them is off-putting and pretentious, so watch yourself. But finding out if you get along well with the members (or if it seems like you would) and if you find their events engaging and aligned with your values is critical.
Of course, you don’t have to take note of sorors at an event only; if you see someone sporting their DST bomber jacket while you’re out and about, you can watch to see if they are someone you’d enjoy spending time with.
6. Do more research.
By now, you probably have a good idea of which sorority you are interested in joining. All four of the D9 sororities have rich and beautiful histories and legacies. Familiarize yourself with some of the basic history of the sorority you are interested in. Know their core values. Be conscious of the community involvement your chapter has. Learn more about the graduate chapters and their community involvement. This will help you solidify your choice to rush a specific sorority, and it will also help you during the process of rushing.
7. Trust your heart.
Your mind might try to talk you in or out of different choices, but after all of this, you will likely know in your heart which one is the best fit for you. Trust those feelings.
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho are all stellar organizations with the best sorors in Greek life. Regardless of which sorority you choose to join, you will be entering into a group of women who will quickly become sisters. You can’t go wrong with choosing a D9 sorority.
