7 Things To Think About If You're Considering Greek Life

By Uloop Writer on December 19, 2019

Deciding whether to join Greek Life can be a difficult decision for many undergraduates. Once you have decided you want to be a part of a brotherhood or sisterhood, picking which organization to join can also be troublesome. The importance of your selection is exaggerated by the way most Greek orgs. do not allow you to join a different fraternity/sorority once you have been selected or admitted to another fraternity/sorority. In other words, there are no “trades.” Once you pick an org. to be a part of, there is no going back unless you decide to walk away from Greek Life altogether.

Although the road to finding your brotherhood/sisterhood can feel murky, confusing, and awkward at times, the experiences and friends you gain through Greek Life will be well worth the struggle if you find the right fit. Therefore, I have listed seven key factors students should consider when deciding on joining Greek Life or picking between different Greek orgs. Enjoy!

7. House

Whether an org. has a house is surely not the most important factor in deciding whether to join. However, a chapter house can serve as a central meeting place for all fraternity/sorority events, socials, fundraisers or other Greek Life activities. Also, at times, rent in chapter housing can be much more cost-effective than on-campus housing, or off-campus rent. Additionally, if a chapter does not have a house, it can be difficult to plan previously mentioned events with every member of a growing chapter in alternative sources of student housing. Furthermore, some houses have kitchens and a cooking staff while others do not, so that could also affect your selection. Houses are also ideal for recruiting new members and keeping a chapter afloat.

6. Leadership Structure

Different Greek chapters employ various leadership structures in order to carry out fraternity/sorority operations. Almost all chapters have the commonly thought of positions such as President, Vice President, and Treasurer, however, there are a variety of ways orgs form lower-level or supporting leadership roles. For instance, some chapters have a Scholarship Chair, who serves as an academic overseer of the fraternity and commonly supervises an “academic probation” program for members struggling in academics, while other chapters do not have such a position. Therefore, if you are partially interested in joining Greek Life to gain leadership experience, you should ask about a chapter’s leadership structure and see if there is a position that would be a good fit for your experience and/or career interests.

5. Academics

Joining Greek Life can possibly take a toll on your academic performance whether it be due to an intensive pledge process (introductory semester of joining, leads to initiation and becoming a “full” member) or the responsibilities that come with a leadership position. As a result, it is very important to be in a stable and confident academic position prior to joining Greek Life. Additionally, different chapters have different minimum GPA requirements, so that will need to be taken into account when rushing. You can also see how different chapters on campus compare in cumulative, chapter-wide GPAs to not only gauge the potential effect joining each chapter could have on academics, but also to measure the character and work ethic of each chapter.

4. Social Reputation

Stay clear of chapters that have been recently punished or reported for engaging in hazing, drug use/distribution or sexual harassment or assault. Although there are thousands of greek chapters across the country that greatly benefit their campus and community through philanthropy, school spirit, and other contributions, there are still several bad eggs out there. There is a great misconception from the general public on the value of Greek Life on college campuses, and chapters that conduct themselves in an unsafe manner are only strengthening the negative view on fraternity/sororities.

On a less serious note, you should also feel free to ask about which brotherhoods/sisterhoods a chapter has strong social relations with. In addition, the reputation of a chapter will also affect how the overseeing college faculty regulates and monitors that chapter. You want to be on good terms with your school administration.

3. Sisterhood/Brotherhood

The most important factor in deciding which Greek org to join is surely whether your personality and character molds with the rest of the chapter. Ask yourself, “Do I see myself being close with these people for the rest of college?” “Do I share interests with a lot of the members of this chapter?” “Would I hang out with these people outside of fraternity/sorority operations and events?” It is essential to see yourself fitting in with the brotherhood/sisterhood of the chapter you join because if you join and do not fit in, you will be spending money on dues for something you do not enjoy. In addition, you will not have the opportunity to start over with a different org. Pick a chapter based on the people that represent it rather than the perks and privileges that come with joining.

2. Time/Availability

Joining a fraternity/sorority is a much larger time commitment than it first appears. Not only will you have weekly meetings, but you may also be required to participate in community service and philanthropy events that could take place at various times throughout the week and weekend. Also, the brotherhood events, parties, and socials should also cut into your schedule, although they are more fun. Therefore, if you have a demanding job or other commitments outside of school, Greek Life may not be for you, especially during the pledge process, which is commonly the most time-consuming portion of your experience in a fraternity/sorority.

1. Money

Greek Life is expensive. Fraternity/sorority dues are semesterly, which only adds to your already FAT list of college expenses. Dues vary between chapters but they all certainly cost a decent amount of money in order to fund the chapter and pay the “Nationals” of each org. Many chapters offer payment plans to members, but there are some who do not. It is important to plan for the financial impact of joining Greek Life.

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