Sisters Helping Sisters: Academics

“Which professor is better?” “Did you enjoy this class?” Ah, yes. It’s registration time on college campuses all across the country. This is one of those times that makes me glad I joined a sorority. If it wasn’t for the advice of one of my sisters I never would have taken the economics class that made me declare a double major. Registration advice is just one of the many ways we can help our sisters succeed academically.

Setting up a mentor/mentee program within the house can help younger members connect to older members as well as help everyone with school. This can be a formal system or just informal pairings that people make themselves. My chapter assigns each new member to an upperclassman who has the same major as them. That way you have a go to person for academic help.

Listening to your sisters talk about their work load can help you find out if someone is struggling. Most people have a hard time admitting when they are in over their head. If you notice that a sister is constantly stressed and disappointed when she gets assignments back, it might be time to talk to her. You don’t want to make her feel attacked or reprimanded. Make sure she knows you care about her and that you just want the best for her. Suggest some on-campus resources or study dates to let her know you support her. And if you are the one in over your head, don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s from a sister or your teacher.

As college women, we are here first and foremost to get an education. There’s a delicate balance between work and play that even many seniors still haven’t quite mastered. When you notice that you or one of yours sisters is dabbling a little too much in the play realm and not enough in the library, it might be time to intervene. Some people might just need a little warning to get back on track. Occasionally, though, you’ll come across a sister that needs a little more help. Some suggested ways to help are to increase their required study hours or to ban them from certain sorority social events until they can figure out their academic life.  

Academics can be a very personal issue for some people, so tread with respect and love when confronting someone you think is struggling. Every sorority values academics. Let your sisters know you do too by preforming to your fullest potential and helping your sisters to do the same. 

How to Organize Your Planner

The first day of classes is vastly approaching, for some people classes may have already started. With a new school year in gear, it's important to stay organized and the tool I use most to keep organized is my planner! Here are my tips & tricks to using your planner efficiently!



Start with a to-do list on a sticky note, random piece of paper, whatever. I find it easier to put assignments on a to-do list and then in the weekly section of my planner, I write the assignment down on the day I want to complete it and again on the day it is due.

I use a color coding system that is really simple:
Due Dates
Sorority Events
And then I use a blue or black pen to write down everything else.
I find using a color code system is really helpful if you keep it simple like this. I tried using multiple colors and it just confused me but do what works for you!

Make it Fun! If your planner is colorful and fun to look at you'll be drawn to use it more. This year I bought my first Lilly Planner (the one in the picture above!) & I am absolutely in love with it. Use stickers (Lilly has some Greek themed planner stickers), washi tape, the whole nine. Like I said, the colors will make using your planner more appealing.

What planner did you get this year? How do you organize it?