<p>I'm not sure if this has been discussed already, but I was just wondering about the true benefits of a professional business fraternity.</p>
<p>I understand that there are regular fraternities for making friends and other fraternities to help you build your professional life.</p>
<p>However, I've been told that in the end, all fraternities just end up partying. I've also been told that some fraternities, even though they party a lot, work as hard as they party.</p>
<p>So what are the real implications of joining a professional fraternity? Is it worth it?</p>
<p>Professional fraternities are typically more oriented towards a specific profession and therefore, focus on networking within that profession. It provides great opportunities to not only have a group of friends to party with, like a social fraternity, but to make connections outside the school that will no doubt prove beneficial after graduation. My personal opinion is that a professional fraternity typically has more benefits then a social, although the group may be smaller. It really depends on which fraternity and the school it is located at.</p>
<p>Do professional fraternities usually put a lot of emphasis on partying? I'm a fan of the networking aspect of the groups. However, I'm pretty... tame you could say... about partying.</p>
<p>i pledged and became a brother of an engineering fraternity. I've found no value out of this. Most other brothers were younger than me, so they were all useless in terms of helping me with my school work or getting me connections. I've made more useful connections making friend with class mates. They focus more on trying to party, which defeats the purpose of a professional fraternatity IMO. It would be one thing if they were all 4.0 engineering students, but none of them are, and are far from it. Worst of both worlds.</p>
<p>I'm in both and I say with complete honesty that the networking aspects will be much greater in a social fraternity. </p>
<p>Generally speaking, the professional fraternity is a solid resume builder for an frosh./soph., and a pain in the ass for a junior/senior. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that once you get in (with the exception being when you become involved right away) you'll immediately lose interest. Most of the people that joined my business fraternity pledged in hopes of meeting people and making friends. That or they had some visions of grandeur, where they joined the professional fraternity and then immediately were connected with executives at every fortune 500 company. </p>
<p>To a small degree I received some business development from my professional fraternity, but for the most part, I got more out of clubs at school that focused on specific careers. </p>
<p>Also, just because you're not into the party scene as much doesn't exactly mean you wouldn't like a normal fraternity. You don't have to be a complete ****show to reap the benefits of being in one. Granted, you might have a night here or there while pledging when you'll be expected to drink up, but try loosening up your collar a bit and just suck it up. You never know, you might have fun...</p>
<p>I'm in a professional fraternity and have learned quite a bit so far. However, it really depends on the chapter in terms of how much you are going to get out of the fraternity. Our chapter seems more interested in partying, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just wish we would focus a bit more on professionalism and networking.</p>
<p>I think its important to realize that every chapter in any organization is different. My best advice is to check out the one you are most interested in and see how the people act, etc.</p>
<p>I pledged a co-ed business fraternity. I honestly learned so much from it. We were "taught" the right way to dress professionally, how to completely redo our resumes, how to network at corporate mingles and ask for business cards, and a lot of other industry tidbits. Many of our events focus on networking with alumni and executives from Fortune 500 companies. A lot of the upperclassmen in the fraternity got amazing internships--on their own time and merits, but it still helps to receive advice from them. (I ended up being scared to pursue my major because I realized how tough and competitive the recruitment process is, but that's another story...)</p>
<p>We did do dinner and drinks when we crossed, but that's pretty much it in terms of "partying". I actually wish there were more social events, but apparently we don't have the budget (and aren't "allowed" to sponsor events where alcohol is served). The drawback is that my fraternity is very large and at times pretty impersonal--everything's strictly business (lol): workshops, lectures, corporate mingles, community service, etc. And since it's so large and we aren't close, no one's really going to hand you a dream internship or job. =/</p>
<p>The good thing is that there's no hazing. And you don't waste time attending the numerous mandatory and highly time-consuming social events most fraternities/sororities require of pledges. We have lots of events, but they're all really helpful and purpose-driven. Oh, and there's always free food at all the events, which turned out to be worth many times the one-time pledging fee I paid.</p>
<p>Of course, this all varies depending on the particular society and campus.</p>