What's a fraternity like?

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>As the title asks, I want to understand what a fraternity is/does. The reason I ask is because I've been invited to one (incoming freshman here). My image of a fraternity is media-dependent and I can only imagine a bunch of college students drinking and socializing. At the same time, I feel like if I don't join one I will be an outcast.</p>

<p>What do you do in a fraternity? How many people usually join? Would you consider it a good EC, if you can call it a EC? And anything else you'd like to fill me in with :)</p>

2

<p>don’t feel like an outcast if you aren’t in one.</p>

3

<p>It depends on the school but generally you shouldn’t feel like an outcast if you aren’t in one. It’s usually around 50-100 people, though of course it varies. There’s a lot of drinking and it’s a good way to meet girls as you’ll have socials (private parties basically) with different sororities. However it costs money, sometimes a lot (though then you’ll have a place to live) and there’s often a LOT of drinking. </p>

<p>And you can also be hazed (many schools have policies on this but they are often not followed, you can always drop out if you don’t want to go though with it). I know at my school most frats hazed, but I don’t know about other schools. It also will give you a lot of connections that could help you get a job one day. There’s also a sense of brotherhood in most of them that is really attractive to many people. (I’m in a sorority so that’s how I know about all this).</p>

<p>Some people consider it “paying for friends.” You’ll have to decide if you agree. I say go to a few rush events and see if you like it, there’s no obligation to join and you have nothing to lose!</p>

4

<p>Watch the show “Greek”, it’s on Netflix</p>

5

<p>hahahahah the show is pretty interesting. My question is…is it possible to major in engineering and be in a frat without having my grades suffer?</p>

<p>Sent from my HTC HD2 using CC App</p>

6

<p>I’m in a fraternity and also happen to be an engineering major. While engineers are heavily underrepresented in the Greek system here (compared to those in other majors), joining a fraternity is one of my best decisions. Because of my fraternity, I’ve developed a huge set of social skills and had several opportunities to build my leadership skills. It’s also my support system and “home away from home.” However, a fraternity might not be the right decision for everyone.</p>

<p>In all social fraternities, everything centers around the concept of brotherhood. You are expected to bond closely with your brothers (those who won’t or don’t won’t get a bit or will depledge, respectively). First and foremost, they’re your best friends, but they also hold you accountable to living up your values and ensuring that you’re a better person overall. Your brothers always have your back, and you always have theirs.</p>

<p>In terms of activities, it’s basically the stuff you do as a cohesive values-based group. These include throwing philanthropies, doing community service, studying together, living together, developing leadership, and parties.</p>

<p>In terms of time commitment: it’s supposed to be define your life. Unlike clubs or classes, it isn’t something you just add to your life; your life revolves around it (just like your decision to go to college). If it doesn’t, you aren’t getting what you’re supposed to be getting out of a fraternity. That said, even with all the time consumption, a fraternity is supposed to help you advance your academic goals too. Personally, I spend several hours a week studying with my brothers.</p>

<p>As for the negative aspects: to be honest, they exist in several groups and are very real concerns. One example is drinking: fraternities have parties because brothers are, first and foremost, friends. When you have a bunch of college-aged friends, some who are old enough to buy alcohol, drinking is something that happens. That said, you shouldn’t be pressured to drink; if you’re uncomfortable with drinking, you wouldn’t be a good fit with a group that pressures you to drink a lot. Another issue is hazing: it’s strictly prohibited and illegal, but some chapters do it out of tradition or in a flawed attempt to build brotherhood. Avoid those groups; you should have several options of groups that build brotherhood but do not haze. There’s always resources around campus (such as the Greek Life office) to address these issues.</p>

<p>Go check out the recruitment events and see if you jive well with the people. If a chapter feels that you’re a good fit for them, they’ll extend you a bid, which is a formal invitation to join. When you accept the bid, you become a pledge*, where you try out membership in the fraternity for a couple months. If you bond well, then you will be initiated and your membership becomes permanent.</p>

<ul>
<li>Yeah, some fraternities don’t exactly have a pledge program (i.e. SigEp); most do, but fraternities do have their differences.</li>
</ul>

7

<p>If you school has a big Greek scene (SEC), then yeah you should join, if you can afford. And, if you’re smart enough, it will not inferior with your academics.</p>

8

<p>^That’s what worries me. I’m going to an SEC school with a big Greek scene, and although I would love to join a sorority as a freshman, I really don’t think that I have the funds to do it.</p>

<p>It’s super expensive.</p>

9

<p>I’m guessing the far majority of people at Auburn aren’t greek. You will have no problem finding friends and having a social life without being greek, especially if you are a girl.</p>

<p>Just be friendly and try to get involved as much as possible. Since you are a girl you will be able to walk into any party you want and its pretty easy to get party invites from people. There is a lot more to greek life then boozing so if you have the funds then I recommend rushing and joining a sorority. If not you can still have an amazing college experience.</p>

10

<p>^I’m going to USC, not Auburn. And it’s only 20% Greek… but I’ve heard the Greek scene does dictate a lot of the social scene, but I really can’t afford it, at least not the first year. I looked at it and it’s $2-3000 a year. I just won’t have that extra amount of money.</p>

<p>That being said, I don’t drink and I’m not much of a partier, so maybe Greek life isn’t for me anyways.</p>

11

<p>Richard Feynman was in a frat… Just saying</p>

12

<p>Going Greek looks expensive, but the truth is: the money you pay isn’t something extra; it’s just going to replace your fun/entertainment budget in some aspects and your housing budget in others.</p>

<p>In fact, most chapters I know of have separate (much lower) dues for those who don’t live in the house.</p>

<p>Personally, I pay my fraternity dues (~$800/yr, unhoused) via financial aid. It’s accounted for in the $1700/yr of personal expenses that my university estimates that I’ll need.</p>

<p>So basically, what I’m saying is that there’s rarely a case where you can’t truly afford the dues. If you think you might even be slightly interested in Greek Life, you should check it out. There’s no commitment until you accept a bid.</p>

13

<p>Out of cost dues at USC are still about $1000 and semester dues are about $500 on top of that… That’s $2000… which I would love to be able to spend, but I don’t know if I can.</p>

<p>Lord. First semester dues at USC alone are between $650 and $1350.</p>

<p>But I think I’m going to rush in the fall. At the very least, I’ll figure out if I’m interested in it. And I do live by the philosophy that where there’s a will, there’s a way.</p>

<p>But thanks excelblue. Your post was enlightening. :)</p>