A fraternity is a social organization formed at an academic institution where like-minded men gather for socialization, friendship, learning and sharing common goals, values and interests. These people make a commitment to each other for life.
Full Answer
What are the pros and cons of joining a fraternity?
What are the Pros and Cons of Joining a Fraternity?
- Pros to Joining a Fraternity. Adapting to college life is challenging. For nearly everyone it is their first experience away from home.
- Cons of Joining a Fraternity. Fraternities are expensive. ...
- Conclusion. There are many pros and cons to joining a fraternity. ...
Do fraternities look good on a resume?
Do fraternities look good on resumes? Students often want to know if they should add Greek life to their resumes, and if so, how they can highlight such experiences in professional and relevant ways. It is recommended that you always include sorority or fraternity information on your resume, as many components of your membership are selling points.
How colleges could get rid of fraternities?
How Colleges Could Get Rid of Fraternities
- Universities could put their foot down. Perhaps the most obvious way to end fraternities is for universities to simply remove Greek life from their campuses.
- Fight money with money. Fraternity men give more money to their alma maters than their non-fraternity peers. ...
- Get students to boycott fraternities. ...
What are the benefits of joining a fraternity or sorority?
Why join?
- Joining a fraternity or sorority can make a large university feel much smaller.
- Greek members consistently outperform other students in the classroom.
- Leadership opportunities and development are a built-in part of the community.
- Make lifelong friends that will keep you connected to UofSC long after you graduate.
What are fraternities looking for?
How to start a fraternity?
What was the first social fraternity?
What is the dance called when you step in a black fraternity?
Why do Greek fraternities spend so much money on insurance?
What was the first Greek letter society?
Why do fraternities declare themselves dry houses?
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About this website
What do fraternities actually do?
Collectively referred to as "Greek life," fraternities and sororities are value-based, undergraduate organizations that are mainly associated with colleges and universities. At their core, they provide academic support and help young college students develop social and leadership skills.
How are frat houses paid for?
All fraternity members are required to pay dues as set by their chapter. Payment can be monthly, quarterly, each semester or annually. You aren't typically required to live in the fraternity house, so you may not have to pay housing costs, but these costs are often cheaper than living in on-campus dormitories.
How does joining a frat work?
Joining a fraternity is a process that begins with researching the frats that you're interested in to find a right match and then attending rush events in order to make your bids. People decide to join fraternities for any number of reasons from networking and friendship to increased academic and community involvement.
How does pledging a fraternity work?
Pledging is an intensive orientation and probationary period for students pursuing fraternity membership. Over the course of six weeks or more, pledges study all facets of fraternity life and the Greek system. You'll also spend time bonding with your new brothers.
Is it free to join a frat?
The short answer is yes. In fact, even prior to becoming a member, you will have to pay an initiation or registration fee. This is only the first on the long list of fees you will have to pay as a Greek-letter organization affiliate.
Can you leave a fraternity?
When you quit a fraternity, you will essentially be telling the fraternity that you no longer want to be friends. Common protocol is informing the president and giving him your fraternity pin. Many people also give the president a letter indicating that they are quitting.
What do frat dues pay for?
Some typical costs budgeted for with the use of fraternity membership dues include: conference attendance, recruitment (venue, food, marketing, etc.), associate member retreats/education, scholarship, administrative costs, cost of software or other tools, website maintenance, intramural sports fees, Intrafraternity ...
How much do you pay in a frat?
These regular dues can set you back between $20 to more than $200 per month and up to $3000 per semester. Although they can be hefty, often dues help subsidize costs for national and international chapters, operations costs, upkeep of community areas, etc.
Can anyone get into a frat?
Get Good Grades Fraternities and sororities both maintain an academic standard for their members. Some fraternities have a minimum GPA you must maintain to be considered for membership. At Rutgers University, it is 2.25. Each university and each fraternity may set different minimums.
Is it hard to get a frat bid?
It shouldn't be too hard to get a bid if you're a good fit. They're talking to a lot of people so you want them to recognize that you've been coming out. Other than that, make sure you're asking real questions about the fraternity.
Do you pay frat dues while pledging?
Once you've decided to pledge, you'll be responsible for paying new member dues. At many universities, this first round of dues equals two to three times what you'd pay as an active member during a typical semester.
Why do guys join fraternities?
Fraternity and sorority membership helps young men and women cultivate leadership skills, gain a sense of social identity, and learn to play well with others. Fraternity and sorority membership helps young men and women cultivate leadership skills, gain a sense of social identity, and learn to play well with others.
Who pays for a fraternity house?
Fraternity and sorority houses are typically owned either by a corporation of alumni, the sponsoring national organization, or the host college. For this reason, such houses may be subject to the rules of the host college, the national organization, or both.
How much does it cost to live in frat house?
Average costs of living in a fraternity house can range from about $1k to several thousand dollars per semester, but this is a very rough estimate based on only a few examples. Fraternity House Rule #1: Don't Disturb Your Housemates' Chill!
How much is it to stay in a frat house?
Cost of Sororities and Fraternities: Room and Board Charges The cost of room and board generally ranges from $1,000 to $7,000 per semester. For some chapters, the cost of room and board isn't much more than what you'd pay to live in on-campus housing.
How much do you pay for a frat?
These regular dues can set you back between $20 to more than $200 per month and up to $3000 per semester. Although they can be hefty, often dues help subsidize costs for national and international chapters, operations costs, upkeep of community areas, etc.
What do fraternities do other than partying? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): a lot of gay sex amongst themselves (so I was secretly told by my good buddy that is sigma chi.
What Are The Benefits of Joining a Fraternity or Sorority? Is ... - NSHSS
Some students attend college with a definite plan to join a fraternity or sorority. Maybe they’ve heard about the benefits from their parents or older friends; or maybe they already know that the social activities and philanthropy events of the Greek system will allow them to have a vibrant social life as an undergraduate.
ELI5: What is a college fraternity? : r/explainlikeimfive - reddit
No problem. Looking back on it, the whole thing was a really strange, unique experience, but I can't imagine having done college differently. The movies portray one type of fraternity stereotype, which admittedly does exist, but it's usually confined to the smaller, less rigorous universities, in my experience at least.
Why do people join fraternities?
People decide to join fraternities for any number of reasons from networking and friendship to increased academic and community involvement.
What do fraternities want?
Fraternities want to be well represented at campus functions, athletic events, and other social venues, and pledges may be expected to engage in quite a few of these events. Pledges may even be tasked with helping do the legwork in getting the word out about the fraternity’s events. Above all, prepare to be active.
How to get into a fraternity early in the semester?
Attend events at several different fraternities. Each fraternity will hold several events early in the semester during what is most often referred to as “rush week” to drum up interest in potential recruits. Spend the first night or two of rush week sampling events at as many fraternities as possible to determine which one best suits your personality and goals for life on campus.
What to expect when you accept a fraternity bid?
You can expect to dedicate a large portion of time organizing frat events, representing the frat at school-related events such as sports, and giving time to the frat’s chosen charitable organizations.
How to get rid of fraternity harassment?
If you ever feel as though you’re being harassed by the brothers of your fraternity as you pledge, then take it to someone higher up. If you feel the actions go beyond anything that the higher ranking brothers of the fraternity would allow, take it to them. If you don’t feel like you can take it to other frat brothers, then talk to someone at the student affairs office at your college. The student affairs office will allow you to remain anonymous if you so choose. They will then take up the issue with the fraternity and even law enforcement if necessary. Never feel as though you’re snitching or simply can’t hack it in the face of unacceptable behavior.
How to meet with fraternities?
This is dependent upon how many fraternities are on your list, but spend an extra day of rush week meeting with as many brothers of each fraternity on your list as possible. You may learn that your initial impression of a fraternity wasn’t quite what you thought or that while you like the focus of a certain fraternity, you’re unsure of how well you fit with the brothers with whom you will be in constant interaction.
How to maintain a good GPA in fraternity?
Keep up with your academics. Many fraternities require keeping your GPA above a certain threshold in order to maintain your involvement. Develop good study habits early on, so that you’re never stuck in a bad situation when grades roll around. While pledging, the frat will likely advise you to familiarize yourself with study halls and other academic support that they offer.
Why is fraternity important?
Fraternity and sorority membership helps young men and women cultivate leadership skills, gain a sense of social identity, and learn to play well with others. Fraternity and sorority membership helps young men and women cultivate leadership skills, gain a sense of social identity, and learn to play well with others.
What are the risks of Greek sororities?
But the risks of excessive alcohol consumption are not limited to new members, nor do they stop once pledging is over. Fraternities and sororities are social organizations and all social circles have cultures and sub-cultures.
What is the best thing about Greek life?
Perhaps one of the better kept secrets about Greek life is all the good that fraternities and sororities do . Many work hard to instill a culture of service and philanthropy. Involvement in philanthropic activities varies from one organization to the next, and even from one chapter to the next.
What is the importance of networking in college?
Networking is an integral part of the college experience and Greek life provides one of the strongest foundations for social interfacing with a network of peers. The connections gained through your organization, both within your university and at the national level, can have serious long-term benefits.
Why is Greek life important?
Networking is an integral part of the college experience and Greek life provides one of the strongest foundations for social interfacing with a network of peers. Greek organizations help build networks that often prove beneficial to students when looking for internships, employment, recommendations, or employees.
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Is it good to be a fraternity?
But it’s also a lot of opportunity. There are real benefits to being part of a college fraternity or sorority, and not just because you’re pretty much guaranteed to master the Greek alphabet. There’s also all the social, professional and recreational stuff that you get to do.
What is fraternity rush?
Fraternity Rush. Fraternity rush is usually less formal than that of sororities. During rush, prospective candidates get to know the brothers in the house and vice versa to determine compatibility. The frat may host some type of informal event, such as a touch football game, a barbeque, or a party.
Why is mentoring important in fraternities?
That mentorship proves to be important as students who join fraternities and sororities have a 20 percent higher graduation rate than those who don't. Fraternities and sororities can also have an impact after students graduate and are moving on to the career phase of their lives.
What Is Greek Life Like?
Greek life is portrayed as one big party in the movies, but in truth, there's much more to it than that. Fraternities and sororities that participate in philanthropic work have raised more than $7 million annually for a number of charities since 2011. They're also very focused on education and often require members to maintain a minimum GPA to remain in good standing.
How many sororities are there in the Panhellenic Conference?
The National Panhellenic Conference has 26 sororities and 69 fraternities belong to the North American Interfraternity Council. Along with these larger groups, there are a number of smaller fraternities and sororities that are not affiliated with these organizations.
Why do women go to sorority rush?
Women are usually expected to visit each sorority in order to meet its members so that sisters in the house can get a feel for their personality and determine if they are a compatible fit. Sorority sisters may sing or put on the show to welcome potential members when they visit.
What is the ritual of Greek life?
College kids who are interested in Greek life typically go through a ritual known as rush, which consists of a series of social events and gatherings that allow prospective and current fraternity or sorority members to get to know each other. Each institution has its own particular style for conducting rush.
Can you bid for a sorority house?
If you're a good fit for the sorority, they will likely offer you a bid to become a member of the house. Unfortunately, some women who really want bids don’t get them and wind up with hurt feelings instead. You can always go through rush again, or if the process feels too formal, informal rush usually takes place throughout the year so you can have the opportunity to meet the sorority sisters and get to know them in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Why do people rush fraternities?
Decide why you are rushing. This is the most important part, because if you don't know why you are there, then you will most likely be very unhappy with your decision down the road. People rush for many different reasons; some want a resume booster, some want to find a family, some do it because their parents want them to. Don't rush a fraternity for other people, do it because you want to rush. Find a few good reasons, and stick to that. You don't want to tell one fraternity one reason and tell another reason to another fraternity; despite the rivalries, fraternities still cross-reference potentials with each other. And above all, don't say you want to join a fraternity "to party and meet girls".
How to commit to a fraternity?
Realize the commitment a fraternity involves. Most fraternities still have a pledge system (there are a few that have done away with it and created a whole new system) and pledging is a major commitment. Usually, pledging involves mandatory study hours, weekly meetings, projects, maybe even a group trip. It's a drain on a college student's time, so make sure you have enough time to commit. It may also drain your bank account, because depending on which fraternity you join, parties, projects, house gifts, etc., will be paid for out of the pledge class' pockets, not to mention the fraternity dues that are standard. How much you spend depends on which fraternity you join, and most are willing to help you find a job or a low-interest loan to help you in tight financial situations, so don't turn away from a fraternity just because the fees are the highest on Greek row.
How to pick a fraternity house?
Make a quick character judgment when you're picking up rush fliers, and decide on which ones you would most likely get along with. Don't pick a fraternity because they hold the best parties or pull the most girls or because they dress the best, pick a fraternity because you like their character.
What to do if you don't like a fraternity?
Talk to everyone. Not everyone in a fraternity is the same. There are many different personalities in every fraternity, and if you don't like one person's personality, find another person. If it turns out you don't like anyone in a particular fraternity, then that fraternity is likely not right for you.
What are some good questions to ask a fraternity?
Find out the time commitment, the financial commitment, the perks, the downsides--whatever. Good questions are, "What was your favorite memory in the chapter?" and "Why did you join this fraternity?".
Is a fraternity a positive or negative?
Some people may refer to a certain fraternity in a positive light, some may refer to it in a negative light; the point is, people are unreliable and there is no better source than your own judgment. Do your research. Find the place on your campus where fraternities advertise for their rush events.
Is a fraternity a frat?
Never ever refer to a Fraternity as a Frat. The term "frat" holds negative connotations, and most fraternities are extremely offended. Some individuals may not care, so be sure to get to know the person you are talking to first. But in general, the term "frat" is taboo, so just play it safe.
How many graduation parties do high school graduates attend?
The time when most high school graduates spend every weekend attending three to four different graduation parties of kids you really thought you’d miss, and many that you knew you wouldn’t, but still went for the cheesy potatoes and the chance at there being a party afterwards, where you got to practice your beer pong abilities to get ready for college frat parties.
What to do if you didn't get a bid from the Greek chapter?
The day you have been waiting for since you first stepped foot in that party the first day on campus. That piece of paper that was filled out 20 minutes before you got it by a few brothers that frantically tried to get the bids out before the chapter that seems to bid everybody gets theirs handed. Some chapters hand bids out like trick or treat candy, so if you didn’t get a bid from the chapter you really wanted, don’t worry, just knock on their door and Greek life awaits you.
What is the term for fraternity recruitment?
Recruitment, or “rush,” is the term used to describe the process of fraternities recruiting new members to join their organization. The IFC has three main periods of recruitment:
How many chapters participate in spring recruitment?
Note that not all chapters will participate in spring recruitment – on average, 15/26 chapters participate.
What is the IFC recruitment?
Fall Formal Recruitment: This is the IFC’s primary recruitment period. It consists of a structured week of events that include an orientation meeting, visitation of chapter facilities, and fraternity specific events. Should you not have the ability to attend summer recruitment events and/or do not receive bid, you will have the opportunity to participate in this full week of structured events.This primarily occurs the week prior the start of Fall semester classes.
How is paternity determined?
By looking for similar patterns in the digested fragments between the individual and the potential father, paternity is determined (Figure 2). Since each restriction enzyme has a unique sequence it recognizes, small differences in the DNA will result in cutting at different sites. By comparing the pattern of the DNA fragments cut by the restriction enzyme, paternity can be confirmed. Although this technique has been used for paternity testing and forensics, it can be a very slow process.
How to test for paternity?
DNA paternity testing involves collection of a DNA sample from a child and the potential father. The DNA sample may be collected using multiple methods. The most common methods are collecting a blood sample or a swab from the inside of the cheek. The DNA is fragmented using one of multiple approaches and the fragments are run on a gel that separates them by size creating a distinct banding pattern (Figure 2). The patterns of these bands provide information about the biological relationships, as described below.
What is the most accepted method of proof of biological relationship?
Paternity testing based on DNA has become the most accepted method for proof of biological relationship. Since half a person’s DNA is inherited from the mother and the other half from the father, comparison of DNA sequences can identify parentage.
What are fraternities looking for?
Recruitment is a time for a potential new member to get to know the brothers and see if the organization is something he might like to join. In turn, it's a time for the brothers to get to know the rushees and see if they'd fit in.
How to start a fraternity?
To start a fraternity, you first have to decide if you want to start a chapter of an existing fraternity (which would be called a colony until it is a recognized chapter) or an entirely new Greek letter organization (GLO). National fraternities have their own rules about starting a chapter, but will usually send a representative to a campus to help with the process. Universities also have guidelines about how an organization becomes a recognized campus fraternity. The process of starting a fraternity begins with a core group of students who want to found it (and who maintain a certain grade point average). There's also quite a bit of paperwork, including a lengthy application detailing the scholarship and philanthropy goals of the organization, as well a constitution and bylaws. National fraternities already have these documents, but new fraternities have to create them from scratch.
What was the first social fraternity?
Social fraternities overtook literary ones as more colleges incorporated a liberal arts education. [source: Encarta ]. Kappa Alpha became the first social fraternity in 1825. The first black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, was founded in 1906 as a support group for minority students at Cornell University. Today, the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) represents the interests of 69 fraternities. The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) oversees traditionally black sororities and fraternities.
What is the dance called when you step in a black fraternity?
Pledges in black fraternities and some other fraternities spend much of their pledge period learning how to step. Stepping is a highly choreographed dance that involves stomping, clapping and chanting. The tradition rose out of the white fraternities' history of singing in glee club-style competitions. Each fraternity has a unique way of stepping , and many sororities now step as well. An initiated member's first step show is called a probate show.
Why do Greek fraternities spend so much money on insurance?
Because of lawsuits against fraternities for allegations of hazing, sexual assault and alcohol- and drug-related incidents at fraternity-sponsored parties , fraternities spend quite a bit of money on insurance. Most Greek organizations are familiar with Fraternal Information and Programming Group's (FIPG) risk-management policy, a document outlining how, when and where alcohol can be served and consumed. You can view their guidelines at their Web site.
What was the first Greek letter society?
Phi Beta Kappa was the first Greek-letter society, founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary. Phi Beta Kappa was (and still is) a literary society, a place for intellectual debate. The secrecy and rituals of modern social fraternities began with Phi Beta Kappa [source: Encarta ].
Why do fraternities declare themselves dry houses?
More and more fraternities are declaring themselves dry houses, which means that no alcohol can be served or consumed in the house -- not even for parties. Some fraternities have chosen to do so because of insurance liability, while others do so in order to avoid raucous behavior that might result in property damage. Sororities are usually dry houses.
