<p>Hi, I'm a rising senior trying to decide which universities to apply to, especially the university regarding Early Decision.</p>
<p>I have nothing against Greek life, but I just don't think the Greek life scene will fit my personality.
Yes, I don't have to join and yes Greek life varies between universities; however, since I don't have a reference to judge from, I would like to attend an university where Greek life is not the center of the social scene, or where little or no Greek life exists. </p>
<p>I've been interested in Duke for a while and though of applying Early Decision, but I'm concerned about the number of Greek life (and the competitiveness among the students I've been hearing about) there...</p>
<p>I know many catholic colleges and smaller colleges have little Greek life, but I want to attend a bigger school (universities)</p>
<p>Are there universities with little Greek life?
From former or current students at Duke, how is Greek life there? </p>
<p>Look at Rice. They are a top notch university with no greek life at all!</p>
<p>I’ve only heard second-hand about Duke (Vandy too), but apparently it dominates the social scene. The college when you visit will tell you otherwise and how it’s “embedded” into the university’s culture, but it isn’t. It’s separate, and GDIs and Greeks are normally independent from one another. You may have some friends that are greek, but most of the time the greeks hang out with the greeks. </p>
<p>However, if you didn’t want to go Greek, you won’t ever see that side of it. The social scene is still prominent and you’d still have a great time regardless. </p>
<p>Some of the top Catholic universities are about the same size as Duke and don’t have Greek Life (I believe) such as Notre Dame, Georgetown, BC to name a few.</p>
<p>But note that a small percentage at a big university can still fill up a lot of fraternity and sorority houses, so the “fraternity row” may seem to be quite big. But if 95% of the students are not in fraternities and sororities, there are likely to be plenty of students and activities that are not fraternity and sorority related.</p>
That isn’t the case at Duke at all. Being in a frat/sorority is only one aspect of your social life – a typical Greek student is also in many other groups (marching band, gay-straight alliance, improv, volunteer organizations…) and has close friends from them. Virtually all Greek events except a few mixers are open to the entire campus, and Greeks and non-Greeks mingle all the time. The intermixing of Greek halls within the residence halls (there are no freestanding/separate Greek houses as a frat row) has always encouraged more interaction than at many comparable schools. </p>
<p>As you note, there are many, many social options for someone who does not wish to participate in Greek life at all. </p>
<p>A few years ago Duke implemented a “house system” modeled after that of Harvard, Yale, and Wash U in which groups of students live in the same residence hall for several years. Students can also choose to live in a themed living group (arts, languages, social justice, etc.). </p>
<p>In any case, Greek life has noticeably declined in the last five years as the university has placed increased emphasis on its intellectual side, a trend that will probably continue. </p>
<p>Should look at WashU. There are some frats on campus, but they keep a very low profile. So, you will have the option to go to the parties if you want to, but they are quite lame IMO. :D</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone!
I will definitely look at Rice and Notre Dame :)</p>
<p>@warblersrule: does the greek scene still dominate social life? As in, do you “meet/know more people” if youre inside the greek system? Or does individual character(?) Or interests (like clubs etc.) play a bigger role in meeting many new people?
Thank you!</p>
<p>How is it possible for Greek life to both dominate the social scene and for Greek and non-Greek students to be independent and not socialize with each other?</p>
<p>How about Brandeis?
Fraternities and sororities are not allowed.
If you would consider something a bit smaller, Oberlin does not allow them either.</p>
<p>Any school that has greek life has a social scene that is changed because of it. Anyone who is saying that there can be a greek presence on campus without it dominating a social scene, because of its ability to remove people from the general scene of the school, is being dishonest with themselves.</p>