Fraternity life or sorority life, some of the main expectations of the college experience. When Thursday comes, most people can be expected to be seen partying at the end of the night; one of the most frequented parties might be a frat party. To Clarify, not all Greek life organizations are synonymous with the typical drinking and drugs facade. I'm speaking in respect of the social fraternities, whereas some are completely typical, others emphasize more on community service or fundraising for charities. Altogether there are not only social fraternities, there are also academic fraternities, ethnic fraternities, and community service based fraternities, some of which may or may not be co-ed. On a scale from one to terrible, what are the best and worst of greek life?
Pros:
1. What do the symbols stand for?
Freshmen, and maybe even surprisingly uninformed upperclassmen (sophomores and up) unless they've taken advanced math classes, don't know what the symbols stand for. "Alpha Beta Gamma Delta Epsilon Zeta Eta...". A Theta or an Omega may look like an American alphabetic "O" and "U", after joining a fraternity, one will learn the real names of the Greek letters.
2. The Alcohol
The older brothers are of the legal age to drink. Older brothers can legally get alcohol and illegally share their alcohol...
3. Where are the parties?
Fraternities have two kinds of parties, to my recollection: 1. Fraternity-Sorority only parties, and 2. Public parties. At chapter meetings the brothers discuss when the parties will be, and what the expenses will be. After chapter meetings, we might randomly discuss public party options. Also, fraternity brothers are more likely to hang out with other fraternities or sororities or clubs and know where all of the other parties are.
4. Second Family?
Once a brother, always a brother, they're life long best friends. Although not from the same mom, they're who you go to for homework help or tell secrets to. It's because of this bond that hanging out and partying might be that much more fun. Whereas if you're at a random party, you may know a few people, but if it's your fraternity's party, you know everyone, have memories with everyone and it's just that next level of fun. Think of it as Remy from "Ratatouille" tasting food but with parties.
5. The Secret Handshake
You know the secret stuff no one else knows. And if the opportunity comes, you get to test the other brother to see if thy're a brother.
6. Free Stuff
Alcohol isn't the only things fraternity brothers get, they also get free food, free friends, free shirts, almost free jobs, free off-the hooks with the cops.
7. Resume Enhancer
If the HR manager happens to be from your greek organization, the job may be in the bag.
8. Guilty By Association
Some girls like it when you're in a fraternity, especially if they like partying on the weekends. "I heard you're from that fraternity! Can you introduce me to... Are you guys having a party this weekend? Can you bring me to a party sometime?" Depending on who's asking, people might be that much more likely to talk to you too because they might want to join.
Cons:
1. The Price
Membership fees: $400+ per year (differs per organization)
Frat Party fees: $5 to $15 per party attended
Formal/Semi-Formal Dance fees: $10 to $100 per person (depending on venue, entrees, DJ, etc)
2. The Alcohol
If one doesn't watch out alcohol can be more accessible in fraternities. Because some of the brothers are of age, they can provide younger brothers with alcohol, and if one isn't careful, getting blackout drunk is a big possibility.
3. Unlimited Liability
Once a brother always a brother. When the frat party gets busted all brothers get busted.
4. Don't be out of the loop.
When I didn't hang out with my brothers all the time, I didn't know where the parties were or any other critical, rather organizational information discussed outside of the chapter meeting. One has to have social capital, the accumulated relationships and connections accrued from socializing.
5. Secrecy
We all have people we want to tell everything to. Another downside, although manageable, is the withholding of fraternity information from best friends, siblings, girlfriends, and parents. Even when problems within the fraternity arise, you still need to keep your mouth shut.
6. Friends, Sarcasm, Jokes
Frat brothers are like your friends back home. In any friend group, we all have that one friend we pick on. Fraternities are like giant friend groups, yet everyone is that one person we pick on. To some this might be undesirable.
7. Initiation
You'd expect it to be terrible but hazing is increasingly being banned from most campuses: to some, the worst thing may be studying fraternity's history or the all-nighters you could use for studying. In reality, initiation is what bonds us together, plus if need be, the chapters may be lenient an let you out early to study.
