<p>from what it seems like, ppl who join frats or sororities are much more interested in partying and having social activities..is that true? im going to ucb next year and i kinda want to be in a sorority but not if i would go down and get kicked outta school typa thing. also, i'm not very smart, so i'd have to take time out to study especially since berkeleys tough obviously. help?</p>
<p>There are many professional sororities for the more academically oriented. Like pre-law, pre-med, pre-business, etc. You get the full experience without (as much of) the partying that goes on in the social frats/sororities. Explore all the different kinds when you get here. But just a word of warning, I’ve heard from numerous people that joining and participating in a sorority sucks up tons of time and energy. I know a few people that have had to deactivate because of that.</p>
<p>wow what a naive view</p>
<p>heeeeeeey!</p>
<p>Most (if not all) national Greek organizations mandate that members maintain GPAs above a particular level (3.0 or whatever), along with priveleges for having high grades. Greek organizations obviously cannot survive if their members are not doing well in school and are forced out. Academic success is not supplemental, but is foundational and encouraged in Greek life.</p>
<p>“also, i’m not very smart, so i’d have to take time out to study especially since berkeleys tough obviously. help?”</p>
<p>Who types ‘i’m not very smart’ on the Berkeley forum of College Confidential? ARE YOU FOR REAL?</p>
<p>@ Strykur: Come on, go easy on her. I’m sure she’s very intelligent; she was admitted to Berkeley for a reason. </p>
<p>@ berry: I have many friends in fraternities and they all find that it complements their academic endeavors. Many of your “bros” or sorority sisters will be in your major or in the same class as you. Even those that are not will often know of ways to receive help when you’re stuck. </p>
<p>Rushing a sorority, so I’ve heard, is a great way to meet people, become acclimated with the school environment, and just become a part of Berkeley. It’s so large that you’ll undoubtedly find your niche. I hope to join you in the fall, but I have another 2 weeks of purgatory to sit through as I await my fate from the transfer admissions :).</p>
<p>I wish you the best!</p>
<p>lol thanx! what i mean by im not very smart is that people who got in have like 2200’s on sat’s and get like straight A’s. on the other hand, i didn’t. : / i got a 1790 sat score in 1 sitting 1850 superscored. gpa=4.17 or so and 3.75 unweighted. idk im not even in the top 10%. but i guess everything put together got me in : ] yay</p>
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<p>We care!!!</p>
<p>if anything, I find that being in a social frat helps me at interviews. Recruiters can look at resumes and see that a good amount of applicants are able to handle the workload without a problem, and the real question becomes, “would I want to spend 8 hours a day with this guy?” If you can demonstrate that you are not just a bookworm and can excel socially, you are already ahead of the game</p>
<p>@ berry14: Those are great stats. Maybe they aren’t the best of Berkeley’s admitted class, but they are still very strong in general. Frankly, like I said, you were admitted for a reason, and I’m sure you’ll be fine and do great.</p>
<p>Also, just to put it into perspective, I never even took the SAT. I won’t even get started on my hs GPA. I don’t think that my prior mistakes and evident lack of judgment has made me a stupid person. If anything, as cliche as it sounds, we learn the most from our faults and errors. Thank god for transfer policies. I swear if I had to stay at my CCC any longer…lol.</p>
<p>As has been said, there are “professional” sororities/co-ed fraternities that tone down the frequency of their partying…others have parties that are “not affiliated with the fraternity,” and you shouldn’t feel pressured to go if you’re busy with other things. </p>
<p>Give rushing a shot, at the very least, and get a feel of what Greek life is. I’d say that having a social outlet will help out your well-being. Very few people stay 100% sane studying 100% of the time. You’re in college; get good grades, but don’t forget to have some fun while you’re here. If you feel later on that your house is detrimental to your GPA, you could always leave…if they’re cool, your sorority should be understanding.</p>
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<p>you’d be surprised at how many people are stupid here</p>
<p>@123: Agreed. If you just try, you will probably be better off than half the people in your class.</p>
<p>123 is correct, I had similar stats to yours, and I do better than the majority of the students in most of my classes.</p>
<p>Don’t worry too much about what you were like back in high school – you’ve gotten into Berkleey and it’s a clean slate. Enter with an open mindset and make it a wonderful experience. You’re not the only one with those type of status to be admitted.</p>
<p>With that being said, there’s actually a whole other side to the Greek system other than the partying. However, it’s the partying that’s very visible.</p>
<p>While all the fraternities and sororities are different, you should keep in mind that joining one puts you in a closely-knit social group. One obvious effect of this is lots of wild parties, but the other side is that you immediately have a large support system (it’s very structured, but it works). This can give you academic support. Have you ever heard about all those test banks that most Greek organizations hold?</p>
<p>Among other things, most IFC/NPC fraternities/sororities also participate in community service and philantrophy.</p>
<p>The thing is - do your research before making a decision. Attend rush and find out as much information as you can. The decision on which fraternity/sorority to join and whether or not to join should be a very personal one, though.</p>