Fraternities and Sororities

Collectively, fraternities and sororities are referred to as Greek life because they use Greek letters for their names, a tradition that dates back to the 1770s when ancient Greek was popular among American universities.

It was also when the very first fraternity was born at William & Mary: Phi Beta Kappa.

It’s estimated that more than 750,000 college students in the US are members of fraternities and sororities, and over 9 million alumni members of Greek-affiliated organizations.

Greek memberships range anywhere from as little as 5% on some campuses and up to as much as 50% on others.

There are numerous perks that come with partaking in Greek life, including academic support, networking, community service and brotherhood and sisterhood.

But there are also downsides to being a fraternity and sorority member, from expensive dues, academic distraction to hazing- and alcohol-related concerns.

Fraternity vs. Sorority

From governance to structure and from member selection to residency, many things are shared in common by fraternities and sororities.

Traditionally, fraternities are exclusive to men and sororities are exclusive to women.

However, there are also co-educational Greek organizations these days where both men and women are accepted into society.

Gender composition is the most glaring difference between a fraternity and a sorority.

Fraternity comes from the Latin word “frater,” which means “brother,” and “fraternitas,” which means “brotherhood.”

Sorority comes from the Latin word “soror,” which means “sister,” as well as “sororitas,” which means “sisterhood”.

It was in 1776 when the first fraternity came into being.

On the other hand, it was in 1851 when the very first sorority appeared. Back then, sororities were referred to as women’s fraternities.

Given that the word “fraternity” was inappropriate for use by a Greek organization that consisted of female students, they were eventually called sororities.

However, as mentioned earlier, some Greek societies these days are gender inclusive, such as:

• Alpha Delta Phi Society
• Alpha Kappa Psi
• Alpha Mu Omega
• Alpha Phi Omega
• Alpha Theta
• Epsilon Theta
• Kappa Kappa Psi
• Lambda Lambda Lambda
• Phi Delta Phi
• Phi Rho Sigma
• Phi Sigma Pi
• Phi Tau
• Theta Tau
• Zeta Delta Xi

Some colleges and universities require Greek organizations to be co-educational.

In 2014, for instance, Wesleyan University required all on-campus fraternities to admit both men and women within three years, or else they would be shut down by the private liberal arts university located in Middletown, Connecticut.

Greek Life in College

Not all colleges and universities have Greek life.

Similarly, not all degree-seeking students are members of fraternities and sororities, although it’s on a case-to-case basis.

At some institutions where Greek participation is bustling, up to 79% of male students and up to 70% of female students are members of frats and sororities.

On average, though, Greek memberships range anywhere from less than 5% to over 50%.

Many fraternities and sororities are national associations with chapters on various campuses across the US.

But then, certain Greek organizations are campus-specific.

Here are the top 20 of the Best Greek Life Colleges in America by Niche:

Ranking	Institution Name
1	Florida State University
2	University of Alabama
3	Tulane University
4	University of Mississippi
5	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
6	University of Georgia
7	University of Wisconsin
8	University of California, Santa Barbara
9	Florida A&M University
10	Pennsylvania State University
11	University of Southern California
12	Ohio University
13	Syracuse University
14	West Virginia University
15	Howard University
16	Indiana University – Bloomington
17	Miami University
18	University of Colorado Boulder
19	Michigan State University
20	DePauw University

While there are colleges and universities with Greek life, with some having a more bustling kind than others, such as those in the list above, there are also institutions with zero fraternities and sororities on their campuses.

Many of them are Christian schools as well as those that are affiliated with certain religious groups, although there are also numerous non-religious research universities and liberal arts institutions (and even an Ivy League school!) where students have no school-recognized fraternities and sororities to join.

The following are some examples of schools that have no official Greek organizations:

• Amherst College
• Bowdoin College
• Bryn Mawr College
• Bushnell University
• Gonzaga University
• Grinnell College
• Hawaii Pacific University
• Kalamazoo College
• Middlebury College
• Milligan University
• Princeton University
• Rice University
• Swarthmore College
• University of Mary Washington
• University of Sioux Falls
• US Military Academy at West Point
• Vassar College
• Williams College

4 Pros of Greek Life

There’s no denying that frat and sorority parties are quintessential.

When one thinks about college parties, they are likely picture parties hosted by on-campus Greek organizations.

However, there’s more to being a fraternity or sorority member than raising a glass on weekends.

As a matter of fact, Greek participation also offers academic and professional perks and even mental health benefits.

It also gives you the opportunity to inspire change through community service and volunteer experience.

Academic Support

Most people assume that Greek life is all about partying and socializing.

Not everyone knows the fact that members of fraternities and sororities can obtain academic support from their respective organizations, allowing them to enjoy related resources.

Studies from Tennessee State University and Niagara University, as a matter of fact, say that Greek members have notably higher four-year graduation rates than non-members — by 4.8% for fraternity members and by 4.7% for sorority members.

At the University of South Florida, for instance, Greek organizations implement an assortment of programs meant to help members with their academic endeavors, including course scheduling advising, tutoring and coursework from certain classes.

It’s also not uncommon for incentives to be given for getting good grades.

Some frats and sororities may also provide some scholarship programs, usually with the help of national chapters and alumni associations, to help members from low-income backgrounds pay for their college.

Networking Opportunities

There are approximately 9 million people in the US who are alumni members of fraternities and sororities — that’s equivalent to about 3% of the entire population of the nation.

And if that didn’t impress you, maybe the following figures will:

• 85% of all Fortune 500 executives belong to a Greek organization
• 76% of all senators and congressmen belong to a Greek organization
• 63% of all cabinet members of the president since 1900 belong to a Greek organization

Being a part of a strong alumni network can be extremely beneficial for your professional life in that it allows you access to career advising, development resources as well as job opportunities and advancement prospects.

Taking part in your campus’ Greek life not only allows you to have access to a network of successful people who are connected to each other but also make friends that can last for a lifetime.

Community Service

Philanthropy and community service are important components of Greek life.

Most fraternities and sororities engage in philanthropic and social service activities to advocate important causes and address some of the needs of the community, thereby allowing their members to serve as agents of change.

Other than offering thousands of volunteer hours, Greek societies also donate thousands of dollars (from member dues, alumni member grants and fundraising events) to the community by means of local and non-profit organizations.

For example, fraternity and sorority groups at the University of Central Florida donated more than a million dollars to charity from 2016 to 2017.

As such, Greeks gain some volunteering experience and partake in leadership and service opportunities.

Sense of Belonging

According to a family therapist, a first-year student’s need to belong to the college community can help reinforce his or her relationship with the institution, which is important for academic success and retention, too.

In the same report, numerous studies were briefly mentioned, each one pointing to the fact that fraternity and sorority members are more likely to stay in school as well as graduate in a timely manner.

Besides, many Greek organizations have programs that help freshmen students set good study habits and instill in them effective goal-setting and time-management skills.

It isn’t surprising, too, that members of frats and sororities report feeling less anxious and depressed.

Cons of Greek Life

Cost

Registration fee, membership fee, housing — fraternity and sorority members have to shell out money for these things, some of which are one-time only, while others are recurring every semester.

There are also prescribed clothes to wear to activities and events as well as fines for violating rules. As a matter of fact, some Greek organizations charge alumni members to remain affiliated with the society.

Just like going to college, joining a fraternity or sorority isn’t cheap.

At Washington and Lee University, which is a small liberal arts college located in Lexington, Virginia, for instance, being a sorority member who lives in the organization’s house costs more than $17,500 per semester.

Exclusivity

Just because you want to join a particular Greek club doesn’t automatically mean you can.

While it’s true that many colleges and universities prohibit on-campus Greek organizations from discriminatory practices, there are certain eligibility requirements that students seeking membership must meet.

For instance, while the institution may set a minimum GPA and academic requirement to meet to be able to participate in Greek life, fraternities and sororities are allowed to employ additional selective standards for membership purposes.

It’s also not uncommon for some societies to prefer legacy members over non-legacy members.

This means that someone whose parent or sibling was a member of the frat or sorority may be picked over you if there’s only one slot remaining — though many organizations explicitly deny such practice.

Time Commitment

Earlier, we talked about various Greek life activities that can benefit members of fraternities and sororities and the community as well.

While it can be rewarding, it can also take up lots of one’s time.

In most instances, frat and sorority members are required to take part in various social and service events to project the Greek organization’s desired image — officers have additional leadership roles to take on.

Numerous societies require new members to partake in activities for up to eight hours every week.

Freshmen students, who typically study about 15 hours per week, with bad time-management, organizational and prioritizing skills may find themselves having too much on their plates, which could cause their academic performance to suffer.

Alcohol and Hazing

Drinking is far more common among fraternity and sorority members than those who are affiliated with non-Greek organizations.

As a matter of fact, four in every five Greeks are binge drinkers.

Overall, meanwhile, only two out of five college students have the same problem.

It’s worth pointing out that men are more likely than women to engage in risky activities, such as excessive drinking and substance abuse, which is why binge drinking and drug use are higher in fraternities than in sororities.

Currently, 44 out of the 50 states have anti-hazing laws, although the strength and breadth of each can vary significantly from one state to the next.

But despite this, hazing continues to occur among Greek societies and other collegiate groups.

Greek Life Terms

Like computer science or chemistry majors, members of fraternities and sororities use a lot of specific terminologies and even acronyms that may sound obscure and mysterious to individuals outside of Greek life.

Knowing most or all of them is important if you are looking to be recruited so that you won’t sound clueless and like a complete outsider.

Without further ado, below are some of the most important Greek terms you might want to get familiar with.

Active – a fraternity or sorority member who has been initiated into the association and participates in activities.

Associate member – someone who has accepted a bid but has not been fully initiated into the group.

Badge – a pin that initiated members wear, which carries the frat or sororities official insignia.

Bid – an invitation to be a member of a fraternity or sorority.

Big – a term used to refer to mentors assigned to new members; short for big brother or big sister.

Call/Chant – sounds used by members in order to gain or acknowledge the attention of other members.

Campus total – the maximum number of members a Greek organization can have.

Chapter – a local unit of a national or international fraternity or sorority.

Crossing – a ceremony where new members become active and life-long members of the group.

Deactivate/DA – a member who removes himself or herself from the organization.

Depledge – a student who withdraws from the group after accepting a bid but before initiation into it.

Dry – a fraternity or sorority that does not allow alcohol on the premises and even at parties.

Dues – the monetary cost of being a member of the Greek organization.

Founder’s day – an event that celebrates the association’s founding and history.

Formal recruitment – a period where events are organized by frats and sororities to recruit new members.

Informal recruitment – new members are recruited outside of the formal recruitment period.

Initiation – the ceremony where new members are introduced to the group as a life-long member.

Interest – the term used to refer to a potential member who the association knows is interested.

Lavaliere – a pendant that bears the Greek letters of the group.

Legacy – a family member, like a sibling, child or grandchild, of a fraternity or sorority member.

Line name/number – the name given to a prospective or new member that represents them.

Little – a new member of the group that’s being mentored by an older member; short for little brother or little sister.

Nationals – what members of national or international Greek organizations use to refer to their headquarters.

Neophyte/neo – a new member of the fraternity or sorority.

Officers – members of the association who currently hold leadership positions.

Para – the various clothing or accessories that Greeks wear or use; short for paraphernalia.

Pinning – a ceremony that signifies the start of the new member process, where initiates wear a pin.

Pledge – someone who has accepted a bid but is not yet initiated into the organization.

Prophyte/old head – an older brother or sister in the group.

Quota – the maximum number of potential members to which the group may extend a bid.

Ritual – traditional rites and ceremonies of a fraternity or sorority, usually known only to members.

Rush – attending recruitments held by fraternity or sorority houses; some groups no longer use the term.

Yard – a term used to refer to the campus where the chapter is located.

Should You Join a Fraternity or Sorority

Whether or not it’s a good idea for you to be a member of an on-campus fraternity or sorority is purely a personal choice — it will depend on the college experience you are after as well as your interests and values.

But it’s also important to take into account aspects such as the cost and time investment.

Of course, it’s a must, too, that you consider your safety and your top priority as a college student: earning a degree.

Above, we talked about a lot of things about Greek life.

Remember to keep everything in mind, especially the pros and cons of Greek participation, when deciding if you should join a frat or sorority so that you can make a more informed decision and be happy with your choice.