<p>I graduated from Yale recently and know a lot about the fraternity system at a lot of Ivy League schools (including schools like Harvard and Princeton). If you have questions about fraternities / sororities at all in any context, post em here...</p>
<p>There was a post here the other day saying that the social lives at Harvard and Yale were "dead"......this surprised me as (Ok, I'm a parent) I'd never heard that before about either school. Have things dramatically changed since I was in college or is it just that these have secret societies and eating clubs as opposed to a typical "frat row" scene?</p>
<p>Harvard has a social scene, but it does not have fraternities or sororities.</p>
<p>Harvard has fraternities and sororities, but they don't have houses, which is pretty important to establish Greek life. The fraternities and sororities do have events at local bars though.</p>
<p>To answer DKE's question, I don't think the social scene at H or Y is dead. Both have pretty vibrant off campus scenes (bars, clubs, off campus houses etc.) and on campus scenes (room parties, fraternities, final clubs for H, etc.)</p>
<p>Are the social scenes at these schools very elitist? To what degree? What reasons or advantages do most people see in joining the fraternity system?</p>
<p>Harvard does have all male social clubs that are similar to frats and do have houses (like the Spee club.)</p>
<p>Some clubs at Harvard used to be incredibly elitest (Porcellian)....and the secret societies at Yale were the same way.....not sure what they're like now.</p>
<p>IMHO, the Porcellian is still elitist in the old-school sense, but the other final clubs are basically just local frats; they're places for the members to drink and meet girls. Only about 10% of guys join, so it's only a small slice of the overall scene.</p>
<p>Here's an interesting take on finals clubs at Harvard from their campus newspaper <a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=507007%5B/url%5D">http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=507007</a></p>
<p>What's your take, YaleSociety?</p>
<p>Basically I just dont undertand the greek system since it seems to be paying for friends.</p>
<p>trevian, the article's assessment seems to be right on. From my limited experience, final clubs are more or less local fraternities in much nicer buildings and bigger endowments. They aren't elitist in the sense that they all exclude people on race or class or whatever (though some are more upper crust than others), but they are "elitist" in the sense that some people want to get in but can't. </p>
<p>Fraternities are a good way to jump into the social scene, meet friends that span all classes, and if you are an officer gain skill in running an organization. The one thing I've learned over the years is that one of the main benefits of a fraternity is that you know people not only in your class, but 3-4 classes above and below you. Through my fraternity I know guys that graduated in 00 and 01 and who will graduate in 08 (and I assume I'll met some 09'ers when I go back for Harvard Yale games). That's a pretty big span.</p>
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<p>one of the main benefits of a fraternity is that you know people not only in your class, but 3-4 classes above and below you.</p>
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<p>This can be true of other types of organizations, too (notably singing groups, as well as the Lampoon, etc.). I was class of '99, but I know Veritones going back to the class of '90 and forward to the class of '06.</p>
<p>Singing groups (a capella especially) at elite colleges often function very similarly to fraternities and sororities in their social aspects. </p>
<p>I guess this is useful. People never question the desire to join a capella groups, so I'll make the analogy. Fraternities are like singing groups, but the main interest is partying, drinking, and joviality instead of singing.</p>
<p>Hanna, I used to sing (Wheaton Whims) with the Radcliffe Pitches and the Harvard Krokodilloes....what are the Veritones? Coed? What a great name!</p>
<p>Yes, coed. It was the most fun I've ever had in my life. I can't wait to go back -- our twentieth reunion is coming up this fall!</p>