why join? (sure already asked)

[hockeydude1234]

why join a frat?

i know freindship obv

connections w.work, etc...

obv the goood parties im guessing, as without being greek....

socials/mixers cool?

easy to meet girls get laid?


what im trying to get at is it worth the lower GPA when you pledge, as everyone i know who pledged is sub 2.5.......so ?

[PeppyGPhiB]

Although your post is somewhat insulting, I'll point out one thing to you: on most campuses, greeks have higher GPAs than the non-greeks. Look into it.

[TSteven]

If you have to rationalize joining a fraternity, then doing so might not be in your best interest.

[tld221]

if youre sure the question has been asked, then why werent you sure enough to look for the answer?

maybe you shouldnt join a fraternity - dont want your GPA going down anymore than it appears to be and all...

[hockeydude1234]

i just dont know whayt frats do besides mixers, etc..

[12dn94dst]

check out a national website or two. or find a fraternity member and ask.

[nwu43]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Although your post is somewhat insulting, I'll point out one thing to you: on most campuses, greeks have higher GPAs than the non-greeks. Look into it.

I didn't even know that (just curious if you have a source? I'd like to show that to some of my high school friends and relatives that I'm trying to convince to go greek )


In any case, Hockeydude, I don't think you can generalize that much and say that pledging lowers GPA just because of some friends/ppl you know. Is *each* one of them from a different fraternity and representative of that fraternity? Greek organizations aren't all the same, and if they're all from one or two of the same frats, it could be just those frats in particular that have issues that you're concerned about (and even that isn't necessarily true because it is doubtful that a handful of people can represent a whole organization)

You also already said in your first post what frats do besides mixers.

IMO, the long lasting friendships and alumni connections alone make it worthwhile to join a fraternity. I also think being Greek in general (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) can improve your resume and help you with getting a job in future especially if you take on leadership positions.

[Tom Earp]

If you do not have enough gumption to check out what Greeks stand for and do, they may not be right for you?

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by hockeydude1234

why join a frat?

i know freindship obv

connections w.work, etc...

obv the goood parties im guessing, as without being greek....

socials/mixers cool?

easy to meet girls get laid?


what im trying to get at is it worth the lower GPA when you pledge, as everyone i know who pledged is sub 2.5.......so ?

Since most of the posts in response you to you are borderline asshole-ish, I figured I'd reply.

To be honest, you named off quite a few of the things that come with joining a solid, good fraternity. I don't find your post insulting at all, and frankly, I don't know why anyone would, maybe the part about getting laid, but who cares.

I don't know where you are in school, but joining a fraternity can open up many doors for you. Good chapters are going to have quite a few powerful alumni, which translates into damn good connections for your post grad years. Everything else, in my opinion, is an added bonus. Again, it all depends on where you are and who you decide to pledge....but the right fraternity will have great parties, good trips, great relationships with good sororities, and lot s of good guys who will be your friends for life. I think the friendships that you make is probably the best part. And with these friends comes even more oppurtunities in the way of entertainment, going places, etc. etc. Trips and getaways with a handful of your fraternity brothers are always a hell of a good time.

As for grades.....most chapters I know of have grade point averages that you have to make in order to get initiated. Usually something in the 2.5-3.0 range. Our pledge class average my freshman year was well above a 3.0.......I had a 3.8........so I wouldn't be too worried about it. Obviously though, if you screw around and don't get your work done, you will have crappy grades.

As for what fraternities do besides mixers and parties.........rush trips, chapter retreats, philanthropy events, golf tournaments, sorority functions......lot of different things, depends where you are, who you join.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Since most of the posts in response you to you are borderline asshole-ish, I figured I'd reply.

To be honest, you named off quite a few of the things that come with joining a solid, good fraternity. I don't find your post insulting at all, and frankly, I don't know why anyone would, maybe the part about getting laid, but who cares.

I don't know where you are in school, but joining a fraternity can open up many doors for you. Good chapters are going to have quite a few powerful alumni, which translates into damn good connections for your post grad years. Everything else, in my opinion, is an added bonus. Again, it all depends on where you are and who you decide to pledge....but the right fraternity will have great parties, good trips, great relationships with good sororities, and lot s of good guys who will be your friends for life. I think the friendships that you make is probably the best part. And with these friends comes even more oppurtunities in the way of entertainment, going places, etc. etc. Trips and getaways with a handful of your fraternity brothers are always a hell of a good time.

As for grades.....most chapters I know of have grade point averages that you have to make in order to get initiated. Usually something in the 2.5-3.0 range. Our pledge class average my freshman year was well above a 3.0.......I had a 3.8........so I wouldn't be too worried about it. Obviously though, if you screw around and don't get your work done, you will have crappy grades.

As for what fraternities do besides mixers and parties.........rush trips, chapter retreats, philanthropy events, golf tournaments, sorority functions......lot of different things, depends where you are, who you join.

ok if you pledged your freshman and you had a 3.8, then either youre talking about your HS GPA (which clearly doesnt count cause umm... we're in college now) or you're using your GPA from your FIRST SEMESTER. which means you what got 3 A's and maybe like a B+?

well by all means then, applause all around!!!![/sarcasm]

[FSUZeta]

don't forget formals, greek week, intramurals, sorority formals.

many times when ushers, hosts or hostesses are needed for school functions, the administration looks to the greek organizations to supply the needed man(or woman) power. you are then rubbing elbows with many of the area's movers and shakers, not to mention board of trustees, elected officials, and other influential people.

as to looking up gpas, i would say go to some of the larger university websites, go to greek life and see if they post any statistics-several post #of rushees who signed up for recruitment and continue the data thru those that received bids. i am not sure if they track on the fraternity side. BUT, in addition to the rush statistics, often the fraternity and sorority overall gpas
are posted and compared with the all campus mens and womens gpa. usually the fraternity overall gpa is higher than the all campus mens and the sorority overall gpa is higher than the all campus womens.

i saw one recently, but cannot remember which university it was-try auburn, u of alabama, u of illinois, u of maryland, u of georgia or just come up with one on your own.

[hockeydude1234]

thanks for all the recent posts not bein a lil to brash.......


but yeah i shuld be good im transferin so i figured it'd be good way to meet people and i had a 3.57 and as long as I dont drop below 3 i shuld be set.

[KyleMcGuire1983]

Originally Posted by hockeydude1234

thanks for all the recent posts not bein a lil to brash.......


but yeah i shuld be good im transferin so i figured it'd be good way to meet people and i had a 3.57 and as long as I dont drop below 3 i shuld be set.

If you're transferring then rushing is a great way to meet people. I rushed the first day of classes and met all kinds of people I'd otherwise not know (I'd just be another lonely commuter). Considering you're Hockeydude I'll assume you've been on sports teams....

The best way I think you could relate to us would be to think of a Fraternity as a sports team only:

1) they live together...almost all of them
2) they swear loyalty to each other, usually on a Bible
3) they get in huge trouble if they backstab each other
4) they do much more work than just physical training....expect having to work to set up, organize, and execute: socials, philanthropies, chapter meetings, etc etc
5) they pay dues....not to have friends but to keep the house functional (where do you think the money for those formals, socials, t-shirts, and great parties comes from?)
6) they get more negative press than the Duke Laccrosse team!

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by tld221

ok if you pledged your freshman and you had a 3.8, then either youre talking about your HS GPA (which clearly doesnt count cause umm... we're in college now) or you're using your GPA from your FIRST SEMESTER. which means you what got 3 A's and maybe like a B+?

well by all means then, applause all around!!!![/sarcasm]

I had a 3.8 my first semester and a 3.8 my second semester. I mean, that's what my transcript says......mabye they are playing a joke on me. As far as I know 4 As and a B, 15 hour course load...........is a 3.8.

Furthermore, I wasn't trying to brag. Didn't realize it was "let's be a tremendous dick head" day.

I'm glad you know how to be sarcastic though. [/sarcasm]

[dgdramadawg]

Originally Posted by nwu43

I didn't even know that (just curious if you have a source? I'd like to show that to some of my high school friends and relatives that I'm trying to convince to go greek )

Example from UGA as of Fall 2006 (It's on the Panhel website):
All Men's Average: 3.01
All Fraternity Average: 3.10 (Fraternity men are .09 higher than other guys)

All Women's Average: 3.23
All Sorority Average: 3.29 (Sorority women are .06 higher than other girls)

All Undergraduate Average: 3.12
All Greek Average: 3.23 (Greeks are .11 higher than other undergrads)

Some other statistics from the IFC's Spring 2006 Report:
All Men's Average: 3.04
All Fraternity Average: 3.17 (Fraternity men are .13 higher than other guys)
Fraternity New Member Average: 3.00 (Yes, this is certainly lower than the 3.04 men's average... but this certainly doesn't indicate a massive number of guys with below a 2.5 as the OP suggested)

A lot of schools have similar reports available.

To the OP: If you have several friends who pledged, why not ask them why they think you should join?