<p>there have been several threads about kids attending greek schools who are not part of greek life and many find it difficult</p>
<p>some campuses you cant AVOID greek influence, it is so emeshed in the college- and intertwined it is unavoidable</p>
<p>both my Ds don’t want colleges wiit much greek life either</p>
<p>and Opie, it is NOT lame to pick or reject a school for what others do or how big a certain activity is on campus</p>
<p>Greek life isn’t just some small club you can ignore at many schools</p>
<p>In some schools almost all social life is around frats and such, with all that means</p>
<p>It is a personal choice not be in a school that has a “culture” and “scene” you don’t want to be prevelant on campus</p>
<p>I know some kids that GO to schools for what others do, it should be okay to NOT go to a school for the same reason</p>
<p>Wisconsin is not heavily Greek. About 10% of the undergrads belong to a fraternity or sorority. However, there is still quite a heavy party culture at UW. If that is what you are trying to avoid, it might not be the place for you.</p>
<p>“and Opie, it is NOT lame to pick or reject a school for what others do or how big a certain activity is on campus”</p>
<p>For the most part yes it is. You’re letting others dictate your choice. As my dear old mama said “I thought I raised a kid with a spine.” Be who you are and be proud of it. It is lame to not go where you want because somebody else does. Would your answer be the same if the poster were asking about people of color? Think about it.</p>
<p>“Greek life isn’t just some small club you can ignore at many schools” </p>
<p>Sure it is. If it bugs you it is only because you allow it to. </p>
<p>“In some schools almost all social life is around frats and such, with all that means” </p>
<p>That’s because frats have social activities. Does that or would that preclude you from having your own social activities. OR would you be upset because somebody else is having a party? Couldn’t you have your own?</p>
<p>“It is a personal choice not be in a school that has a “culture” and “scene” you don’t want to be prevelant on campus”</p>
<p>It all comes down to fit. However, to not go where “you” want to go because of the greek system isn’t their fault, it would be yours. They certainly wouldn’t block your enrollement. </p>
<p>“I know some kids that GO to schools for what others do, it should be okay to NOT go to a school for the same reason”</p>
<p>Depends on how you mean this? Do they go because somebody is going there without regard of what they personally want??? That too would be just as dumb as not going to your 1st choice because of a frat. </p>
<p>I guess I have a different viewpoint, I don’t expect my kids to follow anybody. I prefer they have an open mind, but I also want them to use it. To choose not to attend a school is fine. To choose not to attend a school because of a greek system (or people of color, jocks, nerds, etc..) when all else is good is lying to ones-self. Sometimes you have to call BS on yourself and get to the real reasons.</p>
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<p>citygirlsmom, would you please list some of those schools that are so dominated by Greek social life that there is no chance a non-member could enjoy the school?</p>
<p>^I’ve heard such comments about Wake Forest and Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>^^^My son heard such comments also, which is why he wasn’t interested in Vanderbilt–until he visited a couple of times, and came to the conclusion that everything he had “heard” was exaggerated nonsense.</p>
<p>He is now a student there, and reports that there are fraternities, fewer than a third of the men belong to them and almost none actually live in them, and they throw a lot of parties, all of which are optional attendance. The academics are good, as is the social scene outside of Greek life. </p>
<p>I’m glad he was mature enough to check things out for himself, and not be content to dismiss a good opportunity because of things he had “heard”.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that every campus is a good fit for every student. Of course that is not true. However, there is something to be said for taking the opportunity while at college to get to know a lot of different kinds of people, and learn to see past the stereotypes.</p>
<p>“Be who you are and be proud of it. It is lame to not go where you want because somebody else does. Would your answer be the same if the poster were asking about people of color? Think about it.”</p>
<p>I think it would be, to a certain extent. If a minority student didn’t want to go to a school where he or she would be one of a tiny handful of people of color, I think that is a very reasonable consideration. The question would have to be put more delicately (“I want a college with diversity,” vs. “I want to avoid colleges that are too white”), but it’s a sensible question.
But really, the desire to avoid a college dominated by the Greek scene is hardly the same thing. Of course, several posters are questioning whether any of the schools under discussion really are dominated by the Greek scene.</p>