<p>Just wanted to get some discussion going about joining a sorority/fraternity after you transfer to UC. </p>
<p>Pros/Cons?</p>
<p>Anyone have transfer friends who rushed and knows about their experiences? </p>
<p>Hopefully this kills a little time for us waiting til April :)</p>
<p>ive had a few friends join frats after they transferred and they were placed on academic probation because they were so busy with all the pledges and crap… oh and they went to berkeley</p>
<p>nah, ima stay away from frats</p>
<p>It’s definitely a preference thing… joining a nationally chartered social frat/sorority is pretty equal to working 20-25 hours a week, but it’s time spent hanging out and having a good time rather than working and making money. </p>
<p>I like working and making money more than hanging out… but all of my friends that joined one freshman year (many) and stayed in it (almost all) absolutely love it!</p>
<p>I’ve been thinking about joining one. Seems like a “have to” to be a big man on campus and everything. I’m so grateful to be getting into a UC that I’m not sure anymore if I wanna do the whole pledging thing. Problem with frats and sororities is, if you’re not in, you’re out.</p>
<p>i’ve toyed with the idea, but i’m not sure yet.</p>
<p>was considering it but it seems like it’ll take too out of me, gonna focus on academics my first qtr and see whether or not i can handle the workload first</p>
<p>I’ve read advice on pledging as a transfer that many wish they pledged in spring rather than right away in fall. Go to rush events in fall but don’t pledge until spring might be what I’m gonna do.</p>
<p>I might, I want to join an Asian/Filipino sorority or a multicultural one…wouldn’t it be kinda weird though since most pledgers are lower division students?</p>
<p>I posted before about the greek system here at Berkeley during winter break but someone wanted me to post about it again for you guys. </p>
<p>After just completing Spring Rush, I must say a ton of transfers showed up. Last semester, I was one of the few transfers to do it my first semester. </p>
<p>Let’s just say this - don’t get stuck in with the whole “frat house” image. Really… not all fraternities are “frats”. Like my fraternity, despite throwing some pretty awesome parties every week, places heavy emphasis on school work, community service, and overall well-being. I was never forced to do things I didnt want to do (i.e. drink or anything like that matter). Yes, it took over a good portion of my time, but that was because I chose to put the time in. I still got awesome grades (if anything, if i wasnt in a fraternity, i would have gotten lower grades since people in my house were in my classes and were the ones i studied with). Yes, there are “frats” out there that haze, but not all of them do. In fact, some of the houses that do haze, will often give you the option of participating in it. </p>
<p>But the whole joining second semester and not first, it’s really a personal thing. Some people want to get used to school first before doing other things. I totally concur with that mentality. I will say this though - because I pledged my first semester, I had a great time. I really hated Berkeley when I first arrived but because I joined the greek community, I came to love it. I had fun every weekend after a hard week of school. Not saying greeks are the only way to do so, but it really helped make berkeley fun. And if any of you go to Berkeley and end of meeting me, you’ll know I love Cal (i actually cheered against my childhood dream school UCLA a few weekends ago). And for me at least, my love for Cal came from being in the greek community.</p>
<p>Greek is definitely a good way to go but it’s definitely a personal choice. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me… although I dont really go on these boards that much.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t even consider.</p>