I would beg to differ. Anybody who knows anyone who went to a school with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter knows about it. My Sabbath School teacher couldn't form a sentence without saying, "my son, the Phi Beta Kappa...."!

JessSigKap is right - there is no one GLO that everyone's going to know! I've taken abuse for not knowing about KD before college ("What, you know the other Farmville Four but not KD? What's the matter with you?" Hello, I was 15 at the time!); I'm sure others had the same experience. Just as I had heard of Pi Beta Phi, DG & ZTA, but there were none on my street.

I only knew tri-delta and that's because my first roommate pledged and became a sister, and if I'd stayed at UVM, I probably (emphasis on probably, I'm not presumptuous enough to believe it was definite) would have gone tri-delt too. They were my introduction to the greek system.
Before college, I knew none.
And no, I knew NOTHING about phi beta kappa. Nothing. I'll double check my new member's manual and see if there's anything in there OTW.

I know zilch about Phi Beta Kappa too. I have no idea if they were on my campus or not.

I knew of Pike, Sigma Nu, Sig Tau, and Sig Ep purely because they're on the campus of my hometown.

it's hard to say-- i would say delta sigma theta but that could just be because i'm a black female from ohio. :) but yeah phi beta kappa is pretty much a household name.

Phi Beta Kappa.

What about I Felta Thigh?

http://www.helix-bbs.net/images/avat...wieprofile.jpg

Chaos..
 

Stop attacking me girl. Cut it!!! You are always starting chaos.

this should be a poll thread so we can keep track.

im gonna put my bid for "depends on insert whatever factor that affects what youre exposed to." the first greek org i ever heard up going to college was... (thinking of the first greek orgs i saw as a freshman)

TKE
Zeta Psi
DPhiE (i think theyre founded at NYU so they have somewhat of a big presence here. then, anyway)
AST
AEPhi (i believe theyre a jewish sorority?)
Pike
SigEp

funny, cause i see these letters least on GC. the big ones i see on this site i'd never heard of until GC (tho i do remember seeing Chi Omega on Price is Right a few times)
As for BGLO, i would say Delta. I'll easily admit that they have a big household name when it comes to greek life. BGLO fraternities... i have no idea, i learned about them all the same time.

I only heard of Phi Beta Kappa when learning about greek life, but didnt know they had a name like that.

Phi Beta Kappa
 

Since some people still don't seem to know what Phi Beta Kappa is: it is the most prestigious national academic honor society. Many universities do not have chapters, so if you haven't heard of it, that may be why, although my school didn't have a chapter and I certainly know of it. Although it is an academic society now, I don't think it was founded as one originally (someone correct me if I'm wrong). As others have said, it was the first GLO, and since it is a highly respected national honor society, its reputation is known by those inside and outside of the social GLO world.

Most familiar - Phi Beta Kappa
First GLO I knew - Alpha Xi Delta

Yes, AEPhi was founded by seven Jewish women. AEPhi welcomes women of all backgrounds to our sisterhood.

So silly. :)

I grew up in an extended family full of DEKES among the men and Thetas, Pi Phis, Kappas, and DZs among the ladies. My Grand Dad is Phi Beta Kappa as is my Uncle and my cousin Jeremy. So, from a very early age I was familiar with a number of Greek letter organizations. I would have to agree that Phi Beta Kappa is probably the most widely known nationally. Among social greek organizations I think it varies regionally. I rather doubt that any one social greek org could really claim to be the most widely known on a nation-wide basis. I wonder if being best known is relevant? I wonder if size of organization is relevant? There are lots of SAEs and they are generally good solid guys, there are very few ADGs and they likewise are generally good solid guys. Some orgs have reputations for being good dependable guys who party hearty but stay reasonable, and some are known primarily as hell raisers who would consider the mythical Delta Tau Chi as being tame and lame. I suppose it is really more about what you are known for rather than how well you are known.

Best answer to the original post I've read so far.

Before going to college and becoming Greek myself, the only GLOs I had heard of were Phi Beta Kappa (my dad is one), Beta Theta Pi (one of my best friends from high school was a year older than me and the first of my friends to go greek, so that's how I heard of them), and Tri Delt. Other than that, I had heard nothing, but that's not surprising considering I grew up in Omaha, NE. Not exactly a hotbed of greek activity. ;)

I would have to agree with others though who've said that Phi Beta Kappa is the most well-known nationally.