Good friends Marjorie Wilkinson and Ruth Henry arrive at Miss Allen's school as incoming freshman. The two girls had hoped to room together but are assigned to different roommates. Marjorie's roommate is another freshman, Lily Andrews, who is very rich and very overweight. Ruth's roommate is Ethel Todd, a sophomore who is a member of the school's exclusive sorority. The new girls, most particularly Ruth, are entranced by the idea of joining the sorority, which consists of just four girls from each class. In the meantime, Marjorie throws herself into athletics, forgetting about the sorority. Most likely because of Marjorie's popularity and athletic success, she receives one of the coveted invitations to join the sorority. Ruth feels intensely jealous. Ruth suggests to the faculty that they form a Girl Scout troop. The idea is received enthusiastically. A troop is formed, with both academic and athletic requirements. As more girls qualify for the Girl Scouts, the students lose interest in the sorority. Marjorie struggles to bring her grades up so that she can become a Girl Scout, little realizing that another student has interfered. Meanwhile, Marjorie and Lily become close, and Lily tries out for athletics, gradually losing weight. Lily becomes a Scout, but Marjorie still falls short of the requirements. Marjorie wonders whether her dream will ever be realized.