<p>So I'm a rising senior in high school, starting to get my list of colleges together. There's a lot I like about W&L, but collegeboard.com says that 73% of women join a sorority. Is that figure accurate? I'm not really interested in joining one, and I'm not sure if I want to go to a school where so many join sororities and fraternities. Any advice would be great. Thanks :)</p>
<p>It is accurate, but the system is a little different. Because so many girls are Greek, it's easier to find a house where you fit in. And two of my greatest friends are independent, and that's not a big deal either. The sorority thing can be the center of your life if you want it to be, but it doesn't have to be. I'm friends with a lot of girls in other sororities. I went in very against the Greek system, but I found a house that I just really fit in with, and it worked out for me.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. :)</p>
<p>I'm a freshman in a sorority at w&l. I know the high greek percentage is a little daunting for some people, especially those who live in areas where greek life isn't all that popular. Some people choose not to join a sorority, for various reasons (they aren't interested, it's not something they have time for, whatever). Greek life adds a lot of good things to w&l and I encourage you to come to school with an open mind about it. Pretty much everyone finds a house that they are happy in and they have a really great time with their frat/srat</p>
<p>Is the word "srat" unique to W&L? I've never heard it used in any other Greek system.</p>
<p>Srat was new to me as well. When I went to college (and at the school I currently advise), frat was considered very derogatory and srat wasn't coined. I haven't seen it used anywhere except a couple of Southern schools.</p>
<p>Because W&L has such a high Greek rate, membership seems less exclusive than at a school where the population is less but the movers and shakers of the campus all happen to be in GLOs. It's really more of a conscious decision to not accept a bid.</p>
<p>The female PNMs have a unique opportunity at W&L next year to join one of the 5 current NPCs that have been around since the late 80s/early 90s OR be a charter member of Alpha Delta Pi. Some women will really like the idea of being able to set the standard of the new chapter. It will also provide an opportunity for upperclass women to go through recruitment and have a good shot of joining a group. </p>
<p>Are there any pics online anywhere that shows the new ADPi house being built? Perhaps one of the actives on this board could take a pic and upload it to a photobucket acct for all of us to see? I assume it will be the same floorplan as the other 5 Panhel houses with a slightly different exterior.</p>
<p>I think "srat" is kind of unigue to w&l. there are a lot of things that are unique about us... Anyway, the ADPi house hasn't been built yet. I would show pictures, but there is nothing to show yet. Still just an empty space next to Kappa. I heard they are going to start building next year, to give the girls some say in how they want the house to be, but that's just a rumor. All the srat houses have the same layout on the inside, with some special touches for each. They are all really beautiful</p>
<p>Ok seems like it's time to retell S's illustrative story about the diff bw Greek life at W&L and Greek life on other campuses, many of which he visited throughout his jr and sr yrs. When S came to W&L in Feb of his sr yr for the GWHS competition, school administrators invited students to go see campus social life firsthand. So he went with others to an off campus frat party with a Euro-techno theme. Upon arriving at "Das Klub" via Traveller bus, they were greeted at the end of a velvet "rope line" by an "over the top" bouncer in intimidating muscle gear. Bouncer asked for names so he could check "to see if you're on the VIP list" he had on a clipboard. Name given, list "checked," bouncer says, "oh you're here for the George competition, welcome to W&L!" Obviously the "bouncing" was fake bc the list was the entire student body -- and someone had actually taken care to add the scholarship guest names. A great time was had by all. S met people from so many diff frats/srats he could not begin to remember them all. </p>
<p>Fast forward two weeks to UVa and the Jefferson Scholar finals. Again, students were invited to check out the night life -- with their student hosts though, not on their own. S's freshman host took him and a couple others along with their hosts to a frat party. Arriving on the porch steps, a brother stopped them for names, checked a list, said, "you guys aren't on here, so if you want to get in you have to name at least 10 brothers in the house." No kidding this time. Eventually they were let in when bouncer realized they were Jefferson guests. Almost no brothers talked to S -- or their freshman hosts. </p>
<p>This made a big impression on S (who to be honest decided that W&L was it before he went back to UVa). It anecdotally illustrates how W&L's TRULY open Greek system differs from campuses where the Greek system is either officially or "de facto" closed. Unlike most schools, W&L independents are often regulars at one or more frat houses, and students actually attend other frat's parties. Two yrs later, S has plenty of friends who are independent or in other houses and friends in all the srats -- people that he spends significant time with, not just acquaintances -- this, even though he chaired rush for his frat. Still friends with many of the people he met at Das Klub, even though most are not in his frat.</p>
<p>So before you cross off W&L bc of its Greek life "stats," please listen to these students who can tell you from personal experience what a mistake it would be to judge the W&L Greek system by some measure other than what W&L students tell you and/or your own observation. All Greek campus life is not alike.</p>