Greek Life Questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

Hello,

New incoming freshman here. I wanted to learn more about fraternities at UChicago. Apart from what I’ve read here and the 2016 Maroon article, I don’t know much about Greek life. Few other campus issues are as polarizing as Greek life. I do realize that there are some negative points (dues, binge drinking, sexual violence, etc). But there are obviously some positive points as well (comraderie, building a social network, making friends, etc). I don’t really want to get into a debate on the pros/cons here. Instead I have a few basic questions:

  • How does one go about 'joining' a fraternity? Do you have to be invited? Which term do students typically join?
  • How difficult is it to join? Is is based on some type of vote?
  • Do the frats have their own housing? Or do students live on campus?
  • Any job networking benefits of joining a frat?
  • Are frat brothers required to attend all the parties? What if I want to study? Will I be looked down upon if I skip parties?
  • If I join a frat and then later decide its not for me, how difficult is it to leave?
2

  1. lol the frats are bordering-on-desperate for people (though, depends on the frat). You don’t have to be invited, there are too many frats relative to interest.

  2. I don’t think it’s that difficult but I don’t know the details. Hazing isn’t much of a problem compared to other schools.

  3. Yes but a minority of the frat lives there. It isn’t like Northwestern where frats have practically entire dorms to fit everyone. First years are required to live off campus, but you can do whatever you want after. Chances are you don’t want to live in the frat house, yikes

  4. Yes

  5. Probably not, but depends on the frat. This is something you should scope out BEFORE you try to join

  6. Easy at the cost of social capital

Don’t come in with the idea that you are lucky to join a frat. Keep the attitude that the frats are lucky to have you. Don’t rush off to join. Wait at least a few quarters to scope out the situation and see which frats you like and which ones you don’t, they vary a lot. If you just want to join a frat for the networking and you are less interested in maximal access to partying (you will still have access to most parties without being in a frat), there are way better ways to network.

3

@HydeSnark’s comment is very good and I’ll just add that a lot of the frats are very seedy, even beyond the (extensive) public reports of seediness in the Maroon, etc. - definitely do your research before joining one.