<p>How much pressure is there to join a fraternity/sorority? What are the advantages/disadvantages of joining? If you don't join, will you feel left out socially? </p>
<p>Just curious to find out some more about the Greek life. I've heard several varying things about it and wanted to know more, especially from current students. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I'm independent and a current junior in Arts and Science. There are parties everywhere and I doubt you will feel left out. But I'd highly recommend rushing even if your not going to pledge as its a great chance to meet alot of people (and get tons of free alcohol).</p>
<p>cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool</p>
<p>I heard that alcohol is actually prohibited at Vanderbilt sorority rush events, though quite the opposite is true regarding fraternities. True?</p>
<p>I have had zero pressure to join a fraternity, or to drink or party at all for that matter. Okay, I live in Kissam quad, which is definitely the calmest, non-partying area! But still, none of my friends who drink and party have pressured me to do so. Basically, if you want to party, you can. If you don't want to, it is very easy to avoid the frat houses and do your own thing.</p>
<p>sororities are generally a lot stricter. this would not surprise me.</p>
<p>how's the weather? is it really hot/humid/etc</p>
<p>August through about early October was pretty hot and humid. Mid-October through early November was beautiful, and since then it has been freezing, raining, and thundering. I can't say what February-May is like, because I haven't been in Nashville at that time of year before. I'm used to thunderstorms occuring in July and August, and it kind of surprised me to find out that they have thunderstorms and tornados in the dead of winter here.</p>
<p>In regards to pressure to join a sorority or fraternity, I would say it comes down to your choice. There is not pressure at all, but it is fun! Less than half of the guys are in a fraternity and about half the girls are in a sorority (although this year the numbers are much lower). I am in a sorority, but I have lots of friends who are not, and many of my closest friends are in different houses. Because we don't live in the greek house, it is not as big of a deal... your friends are whoever you want them to be, you can live with whoever you choose, the sorority/frat system just gives you an opportunity to meet people you wouldn't have gotten to know otherwise.</p>
<p>Is it difficult for a transfer student to rush? I know rush is in the spring, but it was my understanding that there is a small informal rush in the fall for sophmores. Would a transfer had any chance of pleging in the fall, or would she need to wait until formal rush in the spring? I got the impression that the girls that rushed in the fall, were sophmores that were undecided about rushing during the previous spring. As they would have friends and classmates in these sororities, there chances of being admitted were greater.</p>
<p>Fall rush is perfect for both kinds of girls: those who decided not to rush as freshman and transfers. The benefits for fall rush are it is much more low key and less time consuming. The fallbacks are that not all the houses offer fall rush (only those who have pledge classes not meeting quota) so this means there are less spots available, and if you do not already know the house that is best fit for you, then it is a difficult thing... since not all the houses accept new members. (I think this year 6 / 10 houses participated in fall rush). I hope this answered your question!</p>
<p>i just went through spring rush for sororities and it was a great/exhausting/intense experience. im super happy in the house i ended up in, and a ton of the girls in my hall went through rush as well, so its not only a branscomb thing. you meet so many new people, and its worth it even if you decide not to join a house.</p>
<p>oh and regarding the no alcohol at sorority events as opposed to frat events...</p>
<p>i went to two frat semi formals where everyone was trashed so, yes indeed, frats have drinking (allowed by vanderbilt or not i do not know).</p>
<p>as for sororities, i havent gone to my bid party yet but it seems like they have to say don't drink, but whoever wants to will, and it wont be a problem.</p>
<p>typically on sorority formals, you will pregame heavy before leaving</p>
<p>I just wanted to drop a line to answer questions about fraternity pledge. I rushed pretty hard this past semester and never really found the house I was looking for. Unfortunately, my father and brother were both Nu Society brothers, and my connection is off campus until next year, 2006 Fall. I'm pretty sure that I am going to pledge when I get the chance, but from a guy who really likes the partying/boozing aspect of college, I would like to say that not joining a fraternity can suck. Things are a little different for sororities, because sororities are, for all intensive purposes, a social net, a way for girls to become great friends with upperclassmen, but with fraternities, this is where the real party scene is at Vanderbilt. If you are in Branscomb, January weeks can seem lonely as a non-pledge as your friends go out to fraternity for pledge-events (not-so-glamorous study hours, chapter education, some debauchery). My suggestion, if your friends go Greek, go Greek. You don't have to all join the same house, but find a house you can connect with.</p>
<p>I have seen a few posts about alcohol, and Vanderbilt has a very strange policy with alcohol, which has made obtaining alcohol at fraternity parties, and showing up drunk somewhat hard. However, there is so much alcohol on this campus that you can pretty much find someone who wants to pregame or party. A simple word of advice though, if you can afford it, and you look decently old, a nice piece of plastic that gives a 1984 birthdate can work wonders for your college experience.</p>
<p>In the end, however, there isn't a whole lot of pressure on first-years to join a fraternity. I think 30% of men and slightly under half of women go Greek. There is more of an impetus for women to go Greek I guess. The process is quite different. However, in the end, it's up to the individual. I know people who didn't want to pledge at the beginning of the semester who turned into the biggest prep-frat-srat people. Whatever.</p>
<p>SHOCKER!</p>
<p>VolStomper,
I agree with some of your observations, such as that there isn't a lot of pressure to join a frat. However, I can't agree with your "1984 birthdate" thing. You are already paying $40,000+ per year to be here, and if you want to drink, you have the rest of your life for that. Why not make that 40K worthwhile and, while you are here, get a decent education instead of a police record? just a thought...</p>
<p>lol...with such a large proportion of the undergrads drinking regularly, i doubt anyone's going to be getting a police record unless they are streaking and yelling at vupd or something</p>
<p>CHAKA!</p>
<p>Do they not really check too hard for fake IDs at Vandy? Do a lot of students have them?</p>
<p>A good fake is a plus but not a necessity. You can get into any frat party with your Vandy ID. Fake IDs are good for Thursday nights when everyone goes downtown.</p>
<p>why is the alcohol thing so important to some of you. you were accepted at Vanderbilt because of your academics and, I thought, you're integrity.</p>