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Now that the "rush" is over, the new member period begins! Any tips for sorority new members on acclimating to Greek Life? Post them here!

Here are mine:

Have fun!

Pace yourself. You have an entire school year (and all the rest of college!) to experience Greek Life. You don't have to go to every social and mixer. Do attend some, though! They're fun!

School comes first, but chapter meetings and mandatory service hours are important, too. Schedule yourself accordingly so you can get it all done.

Did you know that most national groups offer scholarships? Check it out online-- there may be a national scholarship on reserve just for women from your chapter or members in your major. Your area alumnae association may also offer scholarships. Ask your scholarship chair for more information.

Know that having 100 sisters does not equal 100 new best friends. There are going to be people you become very close to, and others who are more acquaintances than they are friends. That's ok! It's normal.

What's said in chapter meeting stays within the chapter. Don't gossip about negative chapter goings-on with non-members, on message boards, etc.

The older members have been there longer. Respect their opinions by observing how things work before you go in and try to change everything. This is also a good lesson on the job or in any other extracurricular activity you may join. You risk alienating people when you try to drastically change how they do things-- or they may do things a certain way for a reason.

Don't speak poorly of a fellow chapter member.

If you're ever in a situation that compromises your morals, integrity or a situation that just doesn't feel kosher, get out of there before anything happens. And call a chapter adviser immediately. All sororities have taken a national stance on hazing-- there's a zero tolerance policy in place for the hazers and the hazed. Don't be a victim. You're not there to do pushups, run personal errands for sisters, be woken up at odd hours, or made to do anything that does not have a positive educational purpose (scheduled new member meetings/retreat and reasonable study hours during normal waking hours).

To feel sisterhood, you need to attend more than than bare minimum weekly meeting and service hours. Come to a few socials and sisterhood events to meet people! As always, remember to balance your time out so you have time for school and yourself! Getting and using a dayplanner helps!

In a group of women, there will not always be 100% agreement. If you have a conflict with a member, try to resolve it between one another before taking it to an officer, like Standards. It's ok to not always be in agreement with all the members.

Choose your battles carefully. If the chapter majority votes for something, like buying pink roses for the formal instead of white, and you're not on with winning end of the vote, learn to accept it. Sulking won't change the outcome.

Take the time to understand how the sorority works as an orgnanization! Chair an event or take on some kind of leadership position-- it will help you grow as a leader in ways you hadn't imagined possible and help the sorority, too!

Get involved with an activity outside of the sorority, something all your own.

Make friends with non-chapter members, both Greek and non-Greek! Also remember that you made a lot of friends in recruitment-- you may not have all joined the same sorority, but you're still Panhellenic Sisters-- don't let these great friends get away! The same goes for your friends pre-recruitment who may or may not be Greek! You can be a member of a sorority and have lots of friends outside the sorority at the same time! (And who knows? Your non-Greek friends may see how much fun it is to belong to a sorority and decide to go through recruitment next year!)

When you wear your letters, and when you are not in letters, you represent your organization. Make an effort to look and be your personal best. Others judge you by the activties and behaviors of your sisters, and others judge your chapter by your behaviors and activities. So be a good student, look your best and be a lady.

About boys: If you like a guy, and he's in a fraternity, ask around. He may have been involved with one of your sisters. There's an unspoken code of ettiquette in dating a sister's ex, even if she isn't your close friend. Similarly, you're going to be meeting lots of boys. Word travels. He may kiss and tell.... or others may have kissed and told on him. Be discrete. Fraternity parties and mixers aren't the place to meet your soul mate-- have fun and make new friends, but be responsible and be a lady. Hold out and get him to take you out on a real date in broad daylight. You don't have kiss (etc.) all the boys... and know that if you do, people will know it and may judge you for it. Oh and just some common sense, if you have a crush, don't be a fraternity house stalker.