Anonymous wrote:Anyone have knowledge about fraternity pledging at UVA? Is hazing real?

Some fraternities are worse than others. My DSs was totally fine and he was never asked to do anything bad or that he was not ok with. I do know others who had terrible hazing in their houses and one who dropped his fraternity because it.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have knowledge about fraternity pledging at UVA? Is hazing real?

Absolutely

Anyone have knowledge about fraternity pledging at UVA? Is hazing real?

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Anonymous wrote:and how is it that a group comes to be known as "top tier"? What characteristics do the individuals have, above others?

$, parents in prominent job positions, athletes (lacrosse, tennis, squash)

D1 athletes join Greek life? How? Can’t imagine doing GL & college swimming or XCTF.

Many do at UVA. From my kids and their friends, it sounds like Greek life is somewhat different than when I was at UVA in the early 90s, in that you can commit as much or as little time to the Greek orgs as you want. Even pledging (at least sorority pledging) sounds a lot less time intensive and many activities are optional.

sorority pledging is a breeze, rush on the other hand

fraternity pledging is still very time consuming, some places more so than others. The athletes get a pass.

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Anonymous wrote:it is really a shame that girls at UVA get sucked into only being interested in certain houses. They all have so much to offer but it becomes a popularity contest with the rushees.

What are the top tier sororities at UVA today? Wondering if it is the same as it used to be?

Im sure it is because it's impossible to change these stereotypes. Kappa, Tri Delt and Theta being the "top".

Are these still top tier?

I have a DD there now and yes they are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and how is it that a group comes to be known as "top tier"? What characteristics do the individuals have, above others?

$, parents in prominent job positions, athletes (lacrosse, tennis, squash)

D1 athletes join Greek life? How? Can’t imagine doing GL & college swimming or XCTF.

Many do at UVA. From my kids and their friends, it sounds like Greek life is somewhat different than when I was at UVA in the early 90s, in that you can commit as much or as little time to the Greek orgs as you want. Even pledging (at least sorority pledging) sounds a lot less time intensive and many activities are optional.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it is really a shame that girls at UVA get sucked into only being interested in certain houses. They all have so much to offer but it becomes a popularity contest with the rushees.

What are the top tier sororities at UVA today? Wondering if it is the same as it used to be?

Im sure it is because it's impossible to change these stereotypes. Kappa, Tri Delt and Theta being the "top".

Are these still top tier?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it is really a shame that girls at UVA get sucked into only being interested in certain houses. They all have so much to offer but it becomes a popularity contest with the rushees.

What are the top tier sororities at UVA today? Wondering if it is the same as it used to be?

Im sure it is because it's impossible to change these stereotypes. Kappa, Tri Delt and Theta being the "top".

Anonymous wrote:it is really a shame that girls at UVA get sucked into only being interested in certain houses. They all have so much to offer but it becomes a popularity contest with the rushees.

What are the top tier sororities at UVA today? Wondering if it is the same as it used to be?

Anonymous wrote:Lots of comment about sorority on this thread but what about fraternity? DS will be attending in the fall. I grew up in DMV and when I was in HS, UVA was the preppy, study hard/party hard school with frats running the social life. It does seem like the school have gotten much harder to get into than when I was in HS, so I'm wondering if the vibe has changed. To maybe more nerdy?

There are 30 frats and they are mostly pretty healthy and yes a lot of social life CAN happen there. There are enough options that most kids can find a fit if they want to but it is certainly possible to have fun if they don’t rush. My DS rushed - neither he nor I could have ever thought he would have - but he wanted to meet more people so he gave it a shot. He joined a “lower tier” frat and loves it, now serving on the executive leadership team. It’s been great for him. This frat is very diverse, in fact their pledge class this is mostly non-white.

That said, while yes it is harder to get in, it is very much a work hard/party hard environment. Thursday through Saturday involve a lot of partying which you can participate in or not. My DS usually has one party per weekend at his frat and that’s often all he does, routinely spending Saturday night with his roommates watching TV or sports and doing home work.

Which URM? If she’s black id try to join AKA or the Delta one, two black sororities. I’m white but I have friends in those and the networking is amazing! My friends have helped me make professional connections thru the AKA network. I wouldn’t join a white sorority if I was black and could join AKA.

Lots of comment about sorority on this thread but what about fraternity? DS will be attending in the fall. I grew up in DMV and when I was in HS, UVA was the preppy, study hard/party hard school with frats running the social life. It does seem like the school have gotten much harder to get into than when I was in HS, so I'm wondering if the vibe has changed. To maybe more nerdy?

Anonymous wrote:But it is not “normal” to join an official organization that excludes other students because they are not pretty enough.

Really, if that is true I am not sure how you can defend it.

Well they don’t actually admit to it.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and how is it that a group comes to be known as "top tier"? What characteristics do the individuals have, above others?

$, parents in prominent job positions, athletes (lacrosse, tennis, squash)

D1 athletes join Greek life? How? Can’t imagine doing GL & college swimming or XCTF.

Yes, a lot of them.