As a big, you are most likely your little’s closest relationship with an established member of the sorority. You will be seen as a friend, peer, and role model so it’s so important to establish a genuine connection. You can do so by getting to know her interests, goals, and aspirations and showing that you genuinely care about her well-being and growth.

Make plans to grab dinner together, invite her over for wine, go shopping, anything! Plan an outing with plenty of time to chat that will allow you both to bond and get to know each other.

Remember how nerve wracking it was when you first joined your sorority: walking into the first dinner, attending your first chapter, meeting everyone (including the older members) the first night out. It can be so stressful so make sure they feel welcomed and that everyone is excited that they are there.

Make sure you invite them to events where they can interact with fellow sisters. This will help them ease into their new environment, fostering a sense of comfort, and ultimately motivating them to become part of the sisterhood, knowing they'll encounter familiar and friendly faces.

Building on the previous two tips, establish a caring relationship and safe environment for her. Let her know that she can come to you with any questions, concerns, or just to chat. Answer any questions she has and share your own experiences, both positive and challenging, as a sorority sister. This can help her feel more connected and prepared for her own journey. Additionally, recognize that it can not only be difficult and overwhelming to think of every question she should ask, but that she also doesn’t know what she doesn’t know about. Prior to chatting, make note of important information that she should know about.  

This can include:

• How to Make the Most of their Sorority Experience

• Rules and Expectations of the Sorority (including unspoken rules!)

• Typical Schedule for each Day, Week, and Month, for example:

  • Daily: “Breakfast is served from 8 - 9 am, lunch is served from 11 - 1 pm, and dinner is served from 5 - 6 pm Monday through Friday. A lot of girls eat lunch and dinner together”

  • Weekly: “Chapter is every Monday night from 5 - 6 pm, our social events each week typically follow this schedule, and every Sunday night we get together and watch a movie around 9 pm in the living room!”

  • Monthly: “In September we typically have an invite and this philanthropy event. In October …”

   

• Offer insights on time management and balancing academics with sorority commitments

Building on the previous two tips, establish a caring relationship and safe environment for her. Let her know that she can come to you with any questions, concerns, or just to chat. Answer any questions she has and share your own experiences, both positive and challenging, as a sorority sister. This can help her feel more connected and prepared for her own journey. Additionally, recognize that it can not only be difficult and overwhelming to think of every question she should ask, but that she also doesn’t know what she doesn’t know about. Prior to chatting, make note of important information that she should know about.  

This can include:

• How to Make the Most of their Sorority Experience

• Rules and Expectations of the Sorority (including unspoken rules!)

• Typical Schedule for each Day, Week, and Month, for example:

  • Daily: “Breakfast is served from 8 - 9 am, lunch is served from 11 - 1 pm, and dinner is served from 5 - 6 pm Monday through Friday. A lot of girls eat lunch and dinner together”

  • Weekly: “Chapter is every Monday night from 5 - 6 pm, our social events each week typically follow this schedule, and every Sunday night we get together and watch a movie around 9 pm in the living room!”

  • Monthly: “In September we typically have an invite and this philanthropy event. In October …”

   

• Offer insights on time management and balancing academics with sorority commitments

Remember how nerve wracking it was when you first joined your sorority: walking into the first dinner, attending your first chapter, meeting everyone (including the older members) the first night out. It can be so stressful so make sure they feel welcomed and that everyone is excited that they are there.

Make sure you invite them to events where they can interact with fellow sisters. This will help them ease into their new environment, fostering a sense of comfort, and ultimately motivating them to become part of the sisterhood, knowing they'll encounter familiar and friendly faces.

As a big sister, you are a role model for your little sister and other members. Demonstrate the values and principles of your sorority through your actions and behavior. Additionally, encourage involvement by attending as many events as possible, both sorority-driven and social events. This will also help her explore different opportunities that align with her interests.

Beyond demonstrating positive behavior and attending various events, find ways to go above and beyond. Rather than just being a kind person, go out of your way to compliment your sisters. Rather than just attending events, go above and beyond by exhibiting a positive attitude about every event. Instill not just the correct behavior, but encourage positive behavior.

Celebrate your little’s achievements, both within the sorority and outside of it. Whether it's academic success, personal accomplishments, or milestones, acknowledge

A sadly common theme among many big/little relationships is a steep drop off in communication after the big/little events finish. It’s so important to maintain regular communication with your little sister, even after she becomes more integrated into the sorority. Continue to check in, offer advice, and be a source of support.

You can establish monthly dinners, find times to walk to class together, or even do “family” dinners with her and her little (your grand little) to maintain and strengthen your relationship.

The big/little relationship can be such an important relationship so make sure you understand the responsibilities. At the end of the day, the largest piece of advice we can give you is to put in effort. Put effort into your relationship, their environment, their perception, their attitude, and ultimately, their experience.