<p>Hey lindz et.al.,</p>
<p>I'd like to know how it works if you join a frat/sorority and choose to live in the house. 1) Are the frat houses considered university housing? 2) If so, is room selection part of the campus housing lottery? 3) If not, does each frat handle its own housing and room contracts? 4) What is the current cost of living in a frat house? 5) How much are the meal plans? 6) Do brothers/sisters typically get a small campus meal plan as well so that they can stay on campus for lunch instead of heading back to the house? 6) Are the houses open only when school is in session? 7) If so, are move-in/out dates identical to the dorm schedule? 8) Anything else that's important to know! </p>
<p>Thanks all!</p>
<p>Most of my answers are the same: it depends. :) Hope I'm at least a little bit helpful!</p>
<p>1) I believe the fraternity houses on Fraternity Row are considered campus housing. They do have access to University internet and utility services, and swipe card access.
2) No, not at all. Each chapter does room selection differently; many have a point system based on your GPA, semesters as a member, etc.
3) Not sure about housing contracts for on-Row houses; off-Row houses typically have a lease of sorts with their chapter's house corporation
4) Depends on the fraternity. Typically a bit cheaper than living on-campus.
5) Also depends on the fraternity. Some have a cook, some get catered, some have more meals provided than others.
6) You COULD get an "apartment meal plan" or a Terrapin Express account, but most people don't bother with the hassle of going through the university and just prefer to use cash when they find themselves on campus and hungry.
6) Depends on the fraternity's policies and house location. Typically on-Row houses are open only during school, but some have other policies and sometimes brothers come and stay overnight anyway. As far as I know, all of the off-Row houses are open during breaks, but again that's up to the fraternity. (None of the sorority houses are open during breaks)
7) No, they're usually a bit earlier/later.
8) Ask some of these questions during rush!!!! :) You also could consider being a boarder in a house with extra space for a semester (they always advertise on the OCH website) while rushing or if you want to rush in the spring.
In general, living in a Greek house is comparable in price to living on campus.</p>
<p>alright, well I am in a fraternity at UMD, so I will answer your questions as best I can</p>
<p>1) The ones on the row are, which means they are cleaned by the university
2) No, your lottery number has nothing to do with getting into the frat house, the frat can pull in anyone they want
3) Like Lindz said, it depends if its on campus or off
4) Depends
5) Again, it varys between fraternities
6) They usually get terrapin express, as it is easy to put money back on
6) Usually the on campus ones close during thanksgiving, close during Christmas and open back up in time for winter classes, and stay open all of spring break
7) No, they are usually more flexible</p>
<p>Lindz said live as a boarder in a frat, I did this and I can tell you do not not not not not not not not do this. Its somewhat awkward as once the brothers realized that I was not interested in rushing, they treated me as an outside, which was difficult as they would often have rituals in the house and I could not leave because they didnt want me to see them.</p>
<p>jtrain-- out of curiosity, what house did you board in?? i agree, it can be really awkward if you join another house. one of the girls in my pledge class boarded in another house the semester during pledging as well as the next semester. needless to say, she spent a lot of time sleeping on the couches in our chapter house. :)</p>