Let’s get rid of any confusion. A fraternity is for men and a sorority is for women. The words come from the Latin words for brother and sister. Wait, but they call it “Greek life”, right? Yep. This is because of the actual names of the organizations. They derive their names from the names of Greek letters.
Classic.
Now that you’ve had your history lesson, let’s do a preliminary evaluation. For the sake of brevity, I am going to refer to a Fraternity/Sorority collectively as a “frat”. You need to ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I like people?
- Do I want to learn to like people?
- Do I have extra cash to fork over for dues and frequent social gatherings?
If you answered no to these questions, then you do not need to join a frat, unless they are offering you a scholarship. (More on that, later.)
By joining one of these organizations, you can expect to do more socializing than you have ever done in your entire life. There are usually weekly parties or things going on in which you are expected to participate. This also requires a fair amount of money. Though alumni frat members seem to love donating houses once they become successful, new members still have to pay membership dues. Supposedly this helps fund volunteer projects and other worthy endeavors. Don’t forget that going out to restaurants or bars adds up pretty quick, too.
Now for round 2. More questions:
- Do you want to do well in college?
- Are you being offered a scholarship for joining a specific frat?
- Does frat life only interest you because of its dark side?
I realize that stereotypes exist for a reason, but I prefer the exceptions to the rule in this case. Take a trip down memory lane at some point and watch Animal House or Revenge of the Nerds. I grew up thinking that all colleges had constant feuds amongst frats and that all most students did at college was drink and do nothing. If you have this same misconception as I once did, pay attention. Some students do this, but you should not. You do not go to college to get drunk three or more nights a week and you do not go to college to find a new hook-up every night…
…all of your drinking and Don Juan’ing should be done in moderation.
If you willingly put yourself in a fraternity infamous for its late-night escapades and laundry list of expectant mothers, then you are setting yourself up for failure. Many successful and prominent people were in frats back in the day, but I can guarantee you that they did it for the right reasons. These reasons include networking for future business/employment opportunities and leadership experience.
As I mentioned earlier, if you are being offered a one semester or one year scholarship for joining a frat, consider joining even if going Greek is the last thing you ever wanted to do. If the amount if not substantial, though, tell them to keep the toga.
Meet all the criteria thus far? If so, a frat is probably for you. Before joining, there are a few more things you need to do:
- Do your research. Talk to students and go online. See what this fraternity is all about. Find the one that fits your lifestyle, personality, and budget
- Don’t get duped during “rush” week. At the start of every semester, all fraternities perform what is known as rush. This is essentially just a membership drive where tons of parties and giveaways occur and most frat members are extra-nice. Let your research guide you, and participate primarily in the activities of the fraternities of which you have knowledge.
- Don’t be afraid to quit. Some fraternities used to be notorious for horrendous hazing practices for new members. Undoubtedly, some of this nonsense still goes on. If for any reason you want to get out of a frat, quit. It doesn’t matter how many current members drank the cup of skunk piss before. If you are being forced to do something that makes you feel unsafe get the hell out of there and let somebody on campus know what’s going on.
You now have the self-awareness and information to make your own decision. If nothing else, take advantage of the free food and prizes during rush week.
Joining a fraternity or sorority can be fun, though many online universities don’t have a huge Greek life presence. Though, if you don’t have the time for classes and clubs, online degree programs might be a good choice for you. Whether you want your online MBA or Bachelors degree, you can do it all from the comfort of your home!
