I applied to Vanderbilts school of engineering, and I was wondering how insane the Greek situation is there. A lot of people have told me that it’s an integral part of the social scene; what’s the experience like for students not involved in Greek life? Do lots of engineers also take part in Greek life (asking since engineers are often really overloaded with class work so they don’t always have enough time for sororities or fraternities).
The first thing you should know is that while the School of Engineering often is associated with more homework and studying, the notion of not having time for social clubs and organizations is totally inaccurate. You’re only in classes a few hours a day and will have a ton of free time regardless of your major.
Less than half the school is Greek, so in that sense, there’s plenty of social life outside of the Greek community. If you’re looking for a “party” scene, the Greek community certainly dominates. Considering almost all students live on campus, the only real gathering place for a stereotypical college party/event is Greek houses.
There are many more aspects to the social scene than these events. Greek life definitely plays a large role in the overall social scene of the University, I don’t want to downplay that, but there are PLENTY of students who have vibrant social lives without it.
I will add that I encourage all students to at least give Greek life and rush a chance. It’s not for everyone but it’s not exactly what you see in movies or at large state schools. Greek students at Vanderbilt are still Vanderbilt students – they were valedictorians and 1600 SAT scorers just like everyone else, and actually tend to have higher GPAs on average than non-Greek students.
I agree with @Pancaked. While Greek life is a MAJOR part of the social scene at Vanderbilt, there are plenty of student organizations and events around campus that will help you make friends and pursue your passion. You will find other people who are also not into Greek culture. Vanderbilt is large enough for students to find different kinds of people.
You have nothing to worry about. You will have a very fulfilling life without being Greek. Your statement about engineers is completely false.
I would say that one thing about being in the engineering school is that the experience may be a little “tighter” socially than being in the broader and larger Arts and Sciences program-- which of itself can be a positive…misery loves company re the rigor, access to professors is probably enhanced. You have upperclassmen in engineering to talk to about decisions you make. Name a great engineering school with no Greeks and then ask if you can afford to go there and if you are willing to eliminate a school because it has a healthy Greek life. I guess I feel it is foolish to eliminate colleges on this basis. IOW if my son was a Georgian he is going to be applying to Georgia Tech regardless of their Greek life as one of his schools. Ditto our kids are going to apply to UVA and WM and Mary which both have Greek life. Many of the schools with zero Greek life are some of America’s finest liberal arts colleges, and if you are private pay, not many of them have merit dollars to offer. Swarthmore has an engineering program and no Greeks but only gives need aid if you can get admitted at all.
We had a Duke son who went Greek and loved it and a Vandy son who found Greek life to be a turnoff for him. Since your question is sort of can I be happy if I don’t rush at Vandy, my take on that as a parent is that you must pick your college based on many factors. Vandy son might have liked the scene at a liberal arts college he was admitted to attend with no Greek life —but he was offered a much much better financial deal at Vandy. (Your best fit financially is more important than whether or not Greek life makes you feel lonesome if you don’t partake) Here are other things Vandy son would have missed: Varied and international classmates in a class of 1600 that meant he was always getting to know new people during all four years, a sprawling campus in a fab location for non Greeks with plenty to do on foot when you step off grounds and plenty of things to attend if you skip Greek life gatherings and parties. He would have missed the sophistication of attending a school of 6000 with another 6000 in graduate schools coming and going all day. (great learning laboratory and tons of campus events on all subjects). And we like that Vanderbilt is diverse economically (due to the great financial aid) and politically (son is liberal but Vandy is mixed thus debate happens). Vandy might not always be comfortable for all–but neither is UVA or Chapel Hill or Berkeley for that matter, and a mid sized school will ready you for the real world and offer you exposure to students who are on very different paths from one another. Anyway…legitimate concern that comes up on lots of college websites. Vandy is actually more of a sorority school than a frat school re numbers and the percentage of women participants has not declined even though the footprint of the student body has become vastly more national and less regional. If you get into Vandy and decide to attend, always good to love “the one you are with” and arrive with a great attitude re making it work for yourself.