Does Greek life scare you? Is it better off in a greek-free college?

[Anonymous]

For parents having daughters, what's their experience in a heavy greek life campus? How did they avoid frat boys?

[Anonymous]

Just keep them locked in the basement. Problem solved

[Anonymous]

Yep, less drama and trauma w/o the Greeks

[Anonymous]

Odd question. It's a big wide world out there. I trust my DCs will make ordinary, appropriate decisions. Not a fan of Greek life. Afraid is an odd take.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in a sorority in a high Greek life school. She is happy, has plenty of activities at all times, and is focused on her education. This board is strange with its anti-Greek stance. Most sorority members are grounded and love the sisterhood and socializing- they are living a balanced life.

It sounds like you don't trust your daughter which is a completely different issue.

[Anonymous]

For us it’s not a case of scared, it’s a case of social fit. DD isn’t interested (fairly introverted, in HS is in the artsy, theater, music, geeky crowd). So she always checks percentages of students in Greek life and asks questions about how big it is at any school she looks at, and no Greek at all is a bonus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep, less drama and trauma w/o the Greeks

+1
Seems silly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in a sorority in a high Greek life school. She is happy, has plenty of activities at all times, and is focused on her education. This board is strange with its anti-Greek stance. Most sorority members are grounded and love the sisterhood and socializing- they are living a balanced life.

It sounds like you don't trust your daughter which is a completely different issue.

Neither dh nor I were in the Greek life, so all I know about it are that you’re more likely to get accepted if you are: good looking, fit, outgoing, have enough money for good clothes, and enjoy the party scene. The fact that these people also have advantages in life later from the “brotherhood” of getting each other jobs is just another way of rich people getting richer. Then you add in the ludicrous hazing that has occasionally resulted in DEATH…and you wonder why some people don’t see the appeal?

[Anonymous]

Why are Greek life fans so defensive here? People are entitled to their opinions. Move on.

[Anonymous]

Yes and yes. The herd mentality is pretty scary. Let’s all look alike, sound alike, just fall in.

[Anonymous]

My kid preferred schools that have this rule:

No clubs that are not open to everyone.

(The opposite of drama)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in a sorority in a high Greek life school. She is happy, has plenty of activities at all times, and is focused on her education. This board is strange with its anti-Greek stance. Most sorority members are grounded and love the sisterhood and socializing- they are living a balanced life.

It sounds like you don't trust your daughter which is a completely different issue.

Neither dh nor I were in the Greek life, so all I know about it are that you’re more likely to get accepted if you are: good looking, fit, outgoing, have enough money for good clothes, and enjoy the party scene. The fact that these people also have advantages in life later from the “brotherhood” of getting each other jobs is just another way of rich people getting richer. Then you add in the ludicrous hazing that has occasionally resulted in DEATH…and you wonder why some people don’t see the appeal?

Well stated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in a sorority in a high Greek life school. She is happy, has plenty of activities at all times, and is focused on her education. This board is strange with its anti-Greek stance. Most sorority members are grounded and love the sisterhood and socializing- they are living a balanced life.

It sounds like you don't trust your daughter which is a completely different issue.

Neither dh nor I were in the Greek life, so all I know about it are that you’re more likely to get accepted if you are: good looking, fit, outgoing, have enough money for good clothes, and enjoy the party scene. The fact that these people also have advantages in life later from the “brotherhood” of getting each other jobs is just another way of rich people getting richer. Then you add in the ludicrous hazing that has occasionally resulted in DEATH…and you wonder why some people don’t see the appeal?

Again, it sounds like you don't trust your adult child to make a choice. Even at high Greek-life schools, under 25% of students are involved so not sending your child to one of those schools where 75% are not Greek is crazy. Second, "rich" people have always had advantages. Sororities and fraternities do not change that. Country clubs are the adult version. Third, I can't speak for other houses, but I can tell you there was ZERO hazing at my child's school. It is not allowed and did not happen at her sorority. We were actually expecting some minor stuff, but it was all about keeping your grades up, learning the history of the sorority, and making friendships. Ooh, the horror!

That said, I am not trying to convince anyone to join a sorority or fraternity. But barring your child from going to school with a healthy system is taking it too far.

[Anonymous]

Scare me? No. Interest me? Nah.

But more important than my own opinion is my kid’s.

DD is at a “light” Greek school now, says that the girls she knows who are planning on rushing are genuinely sweet, and also very different kinds of kids. But she feels like going Greek would be too much of a commitment to something she doesn’t especially care about. Seems fair.

[Anonymous]

Just let your kids decide. Why do people post questions about this? When did this become so parent involved?