My son was accepted into the Liberal Arts Honors program. He is excited about being involved in the program with small class sizes and all that the program has to offer. Eventually he wanting to go into law. However, he is also wanting to rush and be in a fraternity. The honors program suggested to him not to pledge and not live in the University Towers that a few of his friends are wanting him to do.
My husband and I are encouraging him to stay with the honors program and forgo the Towers and live in the Quad (the honors dorms) or some other dorm, and if he wants to pledge to perhaps, if there are any, become involved in an academic fraternity.
Interesting that your son was told not to pledge. I have a kid in honors and I don’t remember him being told that, bit he doesn’t share everything with me. Son did think about it, and did go to an initial meeting (or whatever you call it…), but concluded he wanted to be involved in other activities. S ended up doing lots of intramurals, music, and working on the side, so I don’t think he could have done justice to a frat. He didn’t live in honors or in Towers freshman year because he wanted to room with a friend on campus.He is off campus now, but in nerdy north campus, where it is cheaper and quieter.
In my little world, I can’t think of any kids in honors who pledged, however, so maybe there is something to it. Honors does take up more time, with more classes, more advanced classes, and research. I hope someone who is doing honors and frat will chime in.
Could he pledge sophomore year? He would have a better idea of the time commitments for his academic work by then. Oh! I meant to add: he could check out some of the spirit groups. Some are as selective if not more than frats, but some are not.
My child is in Plan II and the Business Honors Program. He pledged one of the more selective spirit groups with quite a large time commitment, and he also has a robust social life outside of the spirit group. He has not had any trouble making very good grades.
You know your child. Advise him based upon that knowledge.
My son informed me he would like to go to ‘Roundup’ next weekend. What are some of the more ‘academic’ fraternities he may want to check out that require high g.p.a & study hours? I know he’ll have the final say, but just to inform him.
Lol there’s nothing academic about Roundup, it’s just a party for recruits so that rush potentials are already decided before August. I don’t believe any of the traditional frats have GPA requirements or study halls. Those would be the “fraternity organizations”, like the Pre-Law Greek association, etc. If you’re looking for academic extracurriculars or support look outside frat life.
FWIW: i went to a Plan II info meeting for prospective students. A parent asked whether Greek life was compatible with Plan II. The response: we (Plan II) have no problems with our sorority students. Frat boys, on the other hand … appear to have a hard time reconciling the conflicting academic and social demands.
Austinwannabe, that’s exactly what they said in LAH. That the girls were ok ,but the boys they recommended trying their 2nd year if any. Do you know of some that are going to pledge anyway? My son really wants to.
@joranger I heard on the radio today about a frat that has gone to alcohol-free housing (phi delt maybe?). Not sure of the name or whether they are at UT - but it seems like a good approach to me.