To Go Greek or Not To Go Greek
To go Greek or Not to go Greek. That is the question.
Many students have known forever whether or not they'd join a sorority or fraternity; others however are a lot less sure. I'm going to try my best to share what it's like on both sides of the spectrum and hopefully dispell a few stereotypes on the way.
First of all, I am personally not in a sorority, but many of my really close friends are so I am around Greek Life all the time. Let's talk about some of the main issues about Greek Life:
- Friendships: Joining a sorority or a fraternity is definitely a great way to meet people and develope strong relationships during college. However, many people think if you're not in one, you will have NO friends. That is just a downright lie! USC offers so many clubs and organizations, so there are many ways to meet other students that you share common interests with.
- Money: Greek Life does cost, and whether you or your parents are paying for it, it can get pretty expensive.
- Social Life: I'm going to be completely honest here. I know Frat boys get the stereotypes of being huge partiers (thanks in large part to the classic movie Animal House). Now, nothing that I've observed is as extreme as that movie, but for the MOST part (I'm sure there are some exceptions) people invovled in Greek Life go out more often, stay up later, drink more, etc. Basically, they probably "party" more than most students. I'm trying not to be biased here, so even though it should be assumed, I'll go ahead and throw it out there. Yes, non-Greek students "party" their fair share too.
- Charity: Greek students do a great job of giving back to the community. Each fraternity and sorority has a special charity that they have events for, and they log in many hours of volunteer work. But, there are also many opportunities for non-Greek students to volunteer too!
What are some more stereotypes about Fraternities and Sororities? We've all heard about them. The guys who wear pink pants, polos, and croakies on their sunglasses; the girls, also sporting their polo shirts with a pearl necklace and their noses up in the air. Yes, I have seen some students that preserve this stereotype, but the majority of Greek students I've met are very, very friendly and just normal people! My best advice to anyone who can't decide on going Greek would be to give it a try! You can always go through Rush without joining. Also, be sure to keep an open mind when thinking about fraternities and sororities. Making the commitment to Greek Life is a huge decision!!! Good Luck!