Incoming freshmen have many decisions to make about how to spend their college life, most of which may be decided within a few weeks of arriving on campus. Perhaps one of the biggest is whether or not to join Greek life.

During the first weekend, newcomers are enthralled by how easy it is to have a good time and how different life is away from home.

While walking down Greek Row, most new students are recruited by nearly every fraternity and sorority there is, and are given a glimpse of the life they could possibly become a part of.

The choice, however, can be unbelievably difficult for inexperienced students to make. I, myself, am contemplating joining a fraternity along with some friends, and have found that rush week can be one of the most exciting times of the year.

Fraternity parties may be great, but the level of commitment that goes into joining one can hamper new students’ ability to concentrate on studying. A great amount of self-discipline must be possessed, or the next thing you know, you’re failing two of your classes and struggling to stay in your fraternity or sorority.

To be fair, many veteran fraternity and sorority members have learned how to control themselves and maintain their GPAs.

Another point to consider in regard to time management is that there are also many events hosted by the Greeks, such as philanthropy projects, in which they donate their time to help raise money for non-profitable organizations like the American Cancer Society, the Ronald McDonald House and Hope Haven.

With more than 30 different chapters to choose from, a potential member has a tough decision to make. By checking out the various houses, you get a feel for which one suits you best. Some houses may have members that are easy to get along with, while others seem to have no interest in helping new recruits understand what the life is like.

It’s a complicated process, but in the end, seeing is believing. The next four years can determine who you are as a person and help you find out what makes you happy. If the Greek life is your calling, you’ll find out within three minutes of being in it, which also is why potential members have to be careful.