It is impossible to deny the growing (and merited) stigma against Greek life that has spread over the past decade. From wild parties to hazing, many chapters have cast a dark shadow over Greek life as a whole. For incoming freshmen, this begs the question: is Greek life still worth it?
As a Greek life alumni who is currently benefiting from my sisterhood, I want to shed a little light on the elusive Greek system.
What is Greek life?
“Greek life” refers to value-based organizations (fraternities for men, sororities for women) that are designed to provide academic support and help young college students develop social and leadership skills. Many chapters are over a hundred years old and were designed with this goal top of mind. Obviously, things have somewhat changed over the past several decades, but let us examine why Greek life might still be beneficial, and in what circumstance it could just be the right move to “go Greek.”
Some Quick Stats
A 2018 study from IFC (the Inter-Fraternal Council) showed a very interesting correlation between Greek life membership and university-retention.
“Findings support that membership has a dramatic, positive impact on retention and persistence to graduation. For example, first-to-second year retention rates among sorority members hit 93%, compared to 82% for non-members. Similar studies show fraternity members are 20% more likely to graduate, which is critical as men are attending college and graduating with less frequency than in the past.”
So, how is the Greek system encouraging students to academically excel?
Resources
Whether you’re studying in a heavily female- or male-dominated field, a sorority or fraternity means you may very well know someone (or many people) in your classes, and you can study in groups at the house. Some houses also have spaces dedicated to studying when libraries on campus are crowded. In this regard, Greek life can give you a space to thrive – not to mention, guaranteed housing following the dorms. At schools that do not guarantee housing, this can be a huge plus.
Structurally, Greek life rewards academic excellence. During quarterly meetings, our sorority would give Amazon gift cards to whichever woman achieved the highest GPA, as well as most improved from the previous semester. These structures are in place nationally and are a wonderful way to encourage academic excellence and support within a group of like-minded women.
Network
It’s one thing to go to a tight-knit school (like USC) with a strong network, but it’s entirely another thing to join a sorority on top of that and have a network within a network.
Some fun fast facts on Greek alumni networks:
- Over 85% of the student leaders on some 730 campuses are involved in the Greek community
- 1st Female Senator was Greek
- 1st Female Astronaut was Greek
- Over $7 million is raised each year by Greeks nationally
- The Greek system is the largest network of volunteers in the US, with members donating over 10 million hours of volunteer service each year
- 85% of the Fortune 500 executives belong to Greek life
When alumni employers are choosing among applicants, they may favor those associated with Greek organizations that they themselves were a part of. Never under-estimate the power of the Greek network.
Of course, the financial barrier to Greek life must be mentioned, as it is a deterrent for many aspiring freshmen. The cost of Greek life varies greatly, depending on school and level of involvement (living in the house vs. just paying membership dues). While dues may be hundreds of dollars per semester, it could cost several thousand to live in the house. Granted, it may be cheaper than local rent and perhaps even include perks like meal plans or live-in chefs!
Ultimately, the decision (“to Greek or not to Greek”) will be different for everyone. Especially in larger state schools, it can be a great option to find a smaller community and feel more at home. It can make a huge difference in finding friendships while still supporting academic goals. As a counselor, I always recommend that students (if they have the financial means) at least go through the recruitment process and just see what comes of it. If you don’t like any of the houses, no harm done (and you have good stories to tell). But I find that, like anything, you gain from Greek life what you put into it, and you will likely end up finding the right community for you.
