Joining Greek Life: Pros and Cons
With school starting up again, it is time to start thinking about ways to get involved on campus. Maybe there is a club you have been thinking about joining or a sports team you would like to play on. Or maybe you are completely unsure about what you want to be involved with. On top of clubs and sports teams, you should consider looking into Greek Life.
Many students have their own predisposed opinions on Greek Life when they enter college. Greek Life is often given a generalized image based on what we see in the media, in films, and what we hear from friends. People generally know whether or not they would join a Greek organization without looking into it much. If you do not think that Greek Life would interest you in any way, I would suggest that you keep an open mind and reconsider joining.
When coming to college, I did not expect to see myself get involved in Greek Life. I am now going into my senior year and I have been a part of a Greek organization since my second semester of freshman year. It has certainly had a tremendous impact on me as a person and has allowed me to form connections that I will have for life. Greek Life is all about finding the right group of people that is fit for you, and it is worth exploring the possibility of it being part of your college experience. Here are some pros and cons of Greek Life that should help you when considering rushing a fraternity or sorority:
Social benefits
When you join a fraternity or sorority, you will likely be spending a lot of time with the people in your organization throughout your college career. There will be some people you will have closer relationships with than others, however, you will have a group of friends that you can always go to for anything. Many people involved in Greek organizations stay in touch after college and will be life-long friends. Sure, you will have other long-lasting friendships in college, but being a part of Greek Life allows you to have a large network of friendships with people who have similar values.
Joining a Greek organization will also allow you to meet many other people involved in Greek Life and in other organizations on campus. It is a great way to branch out and form connections outside of class. You will meet people in other organizations through on-campus events, philanthropy and service opportunities, and recruitment.
When thinking about the social benefits of Greek Life, you probably almost instantly thought about parties. Greek organizations will have parties and other social events throughout the year, but it is not the only thing that comes with joining a fraternity or sorority. For most organizations, social events are not the priority (or at least should not be). They strive to have a balance between campus and community involvement, building relationships, and social events. Besides, there is not a club on campus that won’t have parties throughout the year so you could experience that no matter what extracurricular activities you join.
Philanthropy and service
Fraternities and sororities frequently participate in philanthropies and service projects around their campus. Some even host their own philanthropy events to raise money for a specific cause. Greek organizations sometimes request that their members obtain a certain amount of volunteer hours and service hours to ensure that they have the most involvement possible. It is helpful to have an easy opportunity to find philanthropy and service projects so you can be involved with giving back to the community.
Job connections
You have probably heard about the potential job connections that come with being apart of Greek Life. It is true that there are more ways to find job opportunities through a large network of people that you would have in a fraternity or sorority. There would likely be multiple people in your organization with similar majors and career aspirations that could help you out once they begin their careers. You may even graduate and help employ people from your organization at your new company.
I have personally witnessed the results of job connections in my fraternity this year. An alumnus who started his own financial advising firm recently employed two of our undergraduate members. This is a small example of the possible career benefits that can come from being in a fraternity (or sorority). The wide range of connections you gain from Greek Life is valuable and can rarely be found elsewhere during your college experience.
You will also have the ability to connect with people in other Greek organizations across the country. According to a report by Monster, “should you decide to pledge a fraternity or sorority, your network will grow to include the 9 million people in the U.S with Greek ties.” Although you may not be in the exact same organization, you will have a connection over shared experiences with others who were involved in Greek Life.
Financial obligations in Greek Life
Greek organizations almost always require membership dues every semester. The price of dues depends on the organization and your campus, but they are going to be pretty pricey regardless. You have to ask around during the recruitment process to find out the cost of joining a Greek organization.
It is up to you to determine if the cost of Greek Life is worth it for what you are looking for in an organization. The funds will cover different specific costs that come with being a member, and you could probably ask about what specifically you are paying for. Keep in mind that other clubs will still cost money too (not quite as much as Greek organizations though). Many students work over summer break, and even in the winter, so it is reasonable to budget some of your earnings for upcoming semester dues each year.
Not for everyone
Greek life is not for everyone. Your college experience should be about what is best for you, and it is your job to find that. Some people are not interested in being in large groups of people and trying to meet others constantly. If you have a solid small group of friends and are comfortable with meeting people here and there, then do that. As someone who is not the most outgoing and introverted person, I have still been able to branch out and have a worthwhile experience in Greek Life.
There are many perspectives on Greek Life. As someone who is a part of a fraternity and didn’t ever expect to join one before I found my fit, I believe that the pros exceed the cons. You will make friends for life, meet tons of new people on campus, give back to the community and people in need, and have a network of job connections. Joining a Greek organization will require a bit of extra money each semester, and it is not for everyone. It is what you make of it though, and worth it if you find an organization that is right for you.