<p>So pardon the rant, but I think that this is important for many prospective students and parents to hear. Half of the posts on the vandy board are along the lines of "Vandy seems like a great school, but I'm scared that it might be too greek" or "Does the Greek scene really dominate social life?" or other posts that make it seems as though greek life is this terrible disease overtaking campuses. I blame this on movies such as Animal house and the unfair portrayal of greek life in the media. Greek life is not this all-you-can-drink, make bad decisions and have loose morals party scene. Yes, there are parties. Yes, many greeks drink, but also many greeks don't party and don't drink. And partying and drinking are not synonymous. I am a member of a sorority at Vanderbilt, and my membership has never been about partying and drinking. It has, however, helped me to become more involved in other areas of student life, such as Alternative Spring Break. It has inspired me to attend on campus events such as musicals and lecture series. It has opened my eyes to cultures that I had never really known much about (no, not all of my sisters are WASPs). It has taught me work ethic as I pay for my own dues (no, not every greek member is rich). It has shown me how to get involved with philanthropy. My chapter actually babysits for victims of domestic violence every single week. It has given me over 150 women who I can call my sisters, women who wouldn't hesitate to come over in heartbeat at 3:30 in the morning if I called them crying. And I don't have an attitude of superiority either. 2 of my 3 suitemates are not greek, and we are best friend. My roommate doesn't drink and isn't greek, but she still goes to parties with me sometimes and actually has fun. And sometimes we don't even go to parties. Some nights we stay in and watch movies, or go out to dinner. My ex-boyfriend is in a fraternity and he stays in more nights than not. Also, many greeks are serious students. I myself am pre-med and a Cornelius Vanderbilt scholar. I guess my point is that while greek life is certainly not for everybody, it is not some terrible institution that believes in getting blackout drunk and ostracizing non-greeks. The positives of greek membership far outweigh any negatives, and much of what people hear or think about greek life is simply not true. I don't want students who would potentially be a fantastic fit for Vanderbilt to decide that they don't want to attend because they are scared of the campus being too greek. As far as I know, my greek membership has never negatively impacted a non-greek. Also, I believe that nearly everybody could find a greek organization that matches with his or her goals and ideals--it is not a one mold fits all situation. Again sorry for the rant, but I believe that greek life at Vanderbilt has received an unfair stigma and copious bad publicity that is undeserved and actually detrimental to the Vanderbilt community as a whole.</p>
<p>I think a lot of it comes from stereotypes about greek life at other southern schools, especially public schools. Yeah frats have a lot of parties, but there are still always plenty of other things to do and plenty of different kinds of people. I definitely agree and people just need to go into it with open minds and not worry so much. The commons really brings everyone together and rush doesn’t happen til later so there’s not that huge pressure like at other schools. Overall I agree and wish people would just relax!</p>
<p>I enjoyed reading your post, Lauren. I hope some of the prospective students with questions/worries/apprehensions find it and read it.</p>
<p>The reason greek life is treated like a plague on this board is because of the type of people that read this website. Almost all kids on here are not the type that will join fraternities or sororities. Kids that will join greek organizations are out having fun with friends, not sitting on their computers asking about school. And as far as the parents on here: if a parent is so involved in their kid’s life that they feel the need to get on an online board and ask questions for their student, they are way too overbearing. They never let their kids go to parties in high school, and they closely controlled their kid’s lives. Because of this, the parents on here think their son/daughter would be appalled by the greek system. And usually, because of this controlling upbringing, kids are not interested in the greek lifestyle, at least at first during the rush process.</p>
<p>^^^I thought Lauren’s post was a positive for Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Then you came along and insulted prospective students and parents, undoing it.</p>
<p>You have 147 posts. That isn’t a whole lot, but it does indicate that you spend at least a little time on this message board, so isn’t just a tad ironic that you criticize someone who asks a question on this board?</p>
<p>If you hurry, you can alter or delete your post.</p>
<p>I didn’t talk about myself at all in the post. Bringing me into it is just distracting from the real argument.</p>
<p>But more importantly, how is saying some people probably won’t fit into greek life at vanderbilt insulting them? A fundamental problem with a lot of incoming freshman, and especially their parents, is they believe getting into a greek house is a right. You have to be invited to join.</p>
<p>^^^There wasn’t an ‘argument’ to be distracted from. Lauren posted why, based on her own involvement, Greek life is not as it is portrayed on many of the threads on this board. She gave examples of the ways in which she has benefited from her participation.</p>
<p>You then helpfully explained that students who ask questions about Greek life are the kind who aren’t out having fun with friends, but who sit at their computers instead (unlike you, who are sitting at your computer), and that parents who ask questions are overbearing and controlling. </p>
<p>Way to go.</p>
<p>haha hell yeah. vandyclass is right on.</p>
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<p>You definitely just insulted everyone on collegeconfidential including yourself. “Kids that will join greek organizations are out having fun with friends, not sitting on their computers asking about school.” Do you really not see the insult in that at all? Checking on a forum doesn’t take every minute of my life. I can also bet you that close to all students on any topped ranked college (including those in frats/sororities) have been on this site before. Also its better to have parents that care about their student’s education than to have a parent that has no idea what their child is going to do in the future. </p>
<p>Stop making generalizations with your screwed up logic. Rather than defending yourself take midmo’s advice and change it before you offend more people.</p>
<p>ahhh please stop fighting about his comment 
that was not the intention of this post, nor is it conducive to the point that I’m trying to make</p>
<p>This is a good post.</p>
<p>I think that something else reassuring to potential students here is that, even if you’re not interested in any of the Greek scene (for whatever reason, but because going Greek is bad in any way at all), it really doesn’t dominate the social scene here. Just as Lauren mentioned, there are musicals, lecture series, etc. etc. amazing restaurants, concerts, etc. to be attended, and this has nothing to do with being involved in Greek life. If you’re not part of a fraternity or sorority, however, you definitely need to be more independent in finding things to do (looking them up on your own). Overall, Vanderbilt (and Nashville in general) is going to have everything you want to do right in your back yard, basically. It’s really awesome.</p>
<p>The reason why people are scared is that Vanderbilt has consistently ranked in playboy’s top ten party Greek schools and *****s top party schools in recent years. One look at their admissions stats will tell you that many Vandy applicants are not the crazy partying type. Vanderbilt isn’t known for it’s intellectual atmosphere, and even though this will probably change in the near future as the quality of applicants increases, students who were originally hoping to go ivy, don’t always feel comfortable going to what statistically seems to be party school.</p>
<p>I agree that Vanderbilt’s Greek life may be enriching and amazing, but I have seen fraternities and sororities that seem to revolve around the partying and drinking scene. Also: hazing. True, it does not happen at all fraternities and sororities, but so much media attention is focused on it when it results in death, that it seems to apply to all of them, anyways.</p>
<p>Greek life in general has the reputation of being all about partying, hazing, and the like. I personally am not a fan of Greek life but I understand that it doesn’t always live up to the negative stigma that everyone associates with it. Your post makes some very valid points.</p>
<p>Hello Lauren! </p>
<p>I’ll be a freshman at Vandy next year, so this is a great chance for me to clear up some misconceptions about Greek Life there. I think most people on this board are simply not interested in Greek Life (myself included). Then again, I’m a first generation student, so part of my lack of interest is that I’ve never known much about fraternities/sororities until recently.</p>
<p>I think you’d make Vandy more appealing for people like me if you gave us a better picture of what life is like for those who choose not to participate in Greek Life. I know most of your post was focused on clearing up some of the stereotypes about Greek Life in general, but I’m more interested in knowing how well the non-Greek students “fit in” at Vandy. For example, do they have a successful social life? Are they able to make plenty of friends? Are there other student groups that are active in community service and philanthropy?</p>
<p>Those are just a few of the questions I’d like to have answered. I’d love to hear from a non-Greek student at Vandy too, if possible. Thanks in advance for your help! :)</p>
<p>While vandyclassof2013 may have gone about saying it in the wrong way, he actually has a point. Vanderbilt has long been known for having a thriving greek life. That’s why many students (myself included) choose to come here, and it’s what sets Vandy apart from other top 20 schools. If you are not into the social scene that Vanderbilt offers, why choose to come here? Why not attend a school of the same caliber, like Duke, where the greek scene is not so dominating? It seems like, by coming into Vandy with a negative view of the greek system, you are willing alienating yourself from the majority of campus, when you could be happier at a different college.</p>
<p>For those insinuating that social life at Ivy Leagues is not the least bit intimidating, you’re kidding right? You honestly believe that if you attend Harvard, Yale, or Princeton you automatically fit in better than if you attend Vanderbilt? I’d venture to say that it is even harder to fit in at those schools.</p>
<p>PS. Great post Lauren. It’s a shame it has turn into the usual name calling and finger pointing that every other Greek themed post turns into.</p>
<p>Hi lauren, I just wanted to mention that this was a great post and I appreciate it. I’ve been considering applying to Vanderbilt (I’m currently a junior), and all the talk about the “presence of Greek life” has given me a certain level of concern. But this helped clear up any inkling worries I had, so Vandy is definitely staying on my list of where to apply! Thanks!:)</p>
<p>LBlock, there have been a number of posts from parents & some from students that explain that those not interested in greek life have plenty of social options. Lauren is trying to show that being greek can also be a good option (given that the discussions about greek life often focus on NOT wanting to go greek). Unfortunately, some have decided to use this thread to disparage those not interested in the fraternity/sorority scene with comments like “why bother to come here if you aren’t interested?” … </p>
<p>Thank you, Lauren, for pointing out that there is merit to considering going greek. I was in a greek letter organization, as was my husband. Neither of our kids is the least bit interested, even though they grew up seeing the life-long friendships we made through our groups. We respect that, just as they respect that our decision was best for us.</p>
<p>That is what it is all about … what is best for the individual. There is something for everyone at Vanderbilt, whether or not you are interested in rushing/joining.</p>