Dear Sorority Girl,

Now that I'm in a sorority, I feel like the only people I ever see are my fellow pledges and occasionally the older girls in the house. My best friends all joined different houses, and I'm afraid my relationships with them will change. What do I do? - Alone and Afraid

Dear Alone and Afraid ,

So, yeah, pledging is somewhat time-consuming, and you may be wondering why it's necessary to eat, breathe and sleep whatever house you've decided to join. It's not because sororities suck the life out of you. It's because it's really important to meet the girls in your pledge class. Even though you may not know them well right now, just wait - in a few months, they will come to be some of the best friends you'll ever have.

And by no means does this mean that you have to abandon your friends in other sororities. My friends in other houses come over all the time because my particular sorority has amazing desserts. I go over there because their fax machine is always working. You know what they say - sharing is caring.

What I suggest doing is introducing girls in your pledge class to your friends in other houses and having them do the same. You'll increase your social circle and make a few really good friends at the same time.

Your sorority will be an incredible experience for you, and I promise you'll get out of it way more than you could ever give (except maybe for dues) - just have a little bit of patience and give it some time.

Dear Sorority Girl,

I'm a freshman who just joined a great house, but I'm a little overwhelmed by all the new faces. What can I expect from the other girls in my sorority? I keep hearing things about "pledge moms" - what's the deal with that? - Dazed and Confused

Dear Dazed and Confused ,

I can promise that you can expect to make friends with girls who you didn't know existed before rush. And whenever you want someone around - regardless of the circumstances - these are the girls who will be there to support you. As cheesy as it sounds, it's almost like creating a family for yourself (I know, I know - there's the soro-tute sentiment that's in all of us.).

Pledge Mom Week is when you create an "official" Greek family. An older girl in the house will adopt you as her "pledge daughter" and essentially shower you with gifts for an entire week. Sounds like something you could get used to, eh?

You'll probably also have a pledge father - a good friend of your pledge mom who's in a frat and probably has a pledge son. So basically, it's another way to meet people and a fun week for the girls. So get excited for the new wardrobe and tons of partying that is about to come your way.

Dear Sorority Girl,

I didn't join a sorority. Now what? Am I going to be left out? And what if I decide later that I want to be in a house? - Unaffiliated and Proud

Dear Unaffiliated and Proud,

Whoa, whoa, whoa. slow down. I think it's great that you didn't join a sorority just to join one. You should be in a house where you feel completely comfortable, and if that didn't work out for you this time, then props to you for trusting yourself and not conforming.

And while Greek events are primarily attended by people in houses, many times non-Greeks go to them. I know at my house's last crush party, plenty of people not in sororities or fraternities came. Frat parties are open to everyone, as are date parties, assuming you are able to get a hot date in the house throwing it.

However, there are always events being thrown by people not in houses that a lot of times people in sororities and fraternities don't even know about. It's weird how the social scene at Northwestern works.

Anyway, so let's assume that as the year goes on, you start to reconsider joining a house. No problem, there's always spring rush and fall rush next year.

So relax, think about how lucky you are to avoid all the pledge drama and know that there are a million options available to non-Greeks at NU.