University of Michigan Greek Life-How Important?

[Anonymous]

I attended a long time ago. I rushed as a sophomore and joined a top sorority. After living in the house my junior year, I had had enough and thought it all very silly. I deactivated my senior year. I thought the coolest and most interesting people were those outside the Greek system. It can seem like a big thing when you are in your first and second year but so many people were totally over it by senior year. It really didn’t make a difference in the end. People in the Greek system seemed more one-dimensional than those outside the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So my son was accepted to Michigan and is likely to attend. Very social kid but is not interested in Greek life. He has spoken with friends there now who are not in fraternities, and they are having a great time socially. They do have other activities that provide a social base, which seems very important.

I have a daughter so it isn’t the same situation in attending Greek parties but my understanding is that guys have to be affiliated with the fraternity to get into the parties other than maybe the beginning of the school year. However, there are also other avenues to having a social life outside of Greek life, but it can often be through other activities. There are activities/clubs that have social aspect to them with events and parties. Also people become close friends thru some of those activities and get housing with each other off campus etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my son was accepted to Michigan and is likely to attend. Very social kid but is not interested in Greek life. He has spoken with friends there now who are not in fraternities, and they are having a great time socially. They do have other activities that provide a social base, which seems very important.

I have a daughter so it isn’t the same situation in attending Greek parties but my understanding is that guys have to be affiliated with the fraternity to get into the parties other than maybe the beginning of the school year. However, there are also other avenues to having a social life outside of Greek life, but it can often be through other activities. There are activities/clubs that have social aspect to them with events and parties. Also people become close friends thru some of those activities and get housing with each other off campus etc.

Yes this is all true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my son was accepted to Michigan and is likely to attend. Very social kid but is not interested in Greek life. He has spoken with friends there now who are not in fraternities, and they are having a great time socially. They do have other activities that provide a social base, which seems very important.

I have a daughter so it isn’t the same situation in attending Greek parties but my understanding is that guys have to be affiliated with the fraternity to get into the parties other than maybe the beginning of the school year. However, there are also other avenues to having a social life outside of Greek life, but it can often be through other activities. There are activities/clubs that have social aspect to them with events and parties. Also people become close friends thru some of those activities and get housing with each other off campus etc.

.

Yes, sounds like club sports teams, for example, have parties and mixers.

[Anonymous]

Totally unnecessary.