By: Lauren Benters, School Counselor
You’ve seen the college sorority and fraternity houses in movies and on TV, students partying, drinking copious amounts of alcohol, and scantily clad people. Is it really accurate? Just like anything else in movies or on TV, all of that is usually quite a stretch. Let’s explore Greek life, so you can decide if it is right for you.
Greek life was designed to bond students together in “brotherhood” or “sisterhood”, and that really is a great foundation. You go off to college, knowing no one, and it can be one way to make the campus so much smaller. You have people taking the same classes as you to form study groups, and you have older brothers and sisters that can mentor you on this academic and personal journey of learning to be a successful student and adult.
Greek communities house many connections. Under each fraternity and sorority house roof, you have a group of diverse people from many different backgrounds. People with connections in their hometowns you may need. People with family members that work in ________ industry you can score an internship with. Brothers and sisters representing all sorts of majors, in case you are thinking about exploring a new major. While there are fees associated with joining a sorority and fraternity, those endless connections may be worth any dues paid. Heck, you may even be interviewed by someone in the same house as you were in: instant connection.
We need to still be cognizant of the negatives about Greek life (lots of partying, older students asserting power on underclassmen, etc.) however if you think it sounds like something you are interested in, feel free to give it a try. If it doesn’t work, you can always deactivate and stop paying any fees altogether. If it does work, you could end up with some of the best friends you’ve ever met, and land a job you’ve always wanted.