Questions about Greek Life (from an outsider [UK])
 

Hi,

I'm a British student hoping to commence PhD study in the USA soon. I am 24 and am curious about Greek life, having heard the good and the bad. Can you answer a few of my questions?

Is my age and scholastic level a barrier? (Ie are Frats undergrad institutions)

Secondly, the UK is very multicultural and our student bodies are thoroughly integrated. Can people of any background join a Greek organization?

Are there graduate specific organizations?

I would be grateful if you can help me out with this information. My applications are in process with UCLA and Berkeley, so any institution insights would be great.

Thanks,

Geryon

And the question on integration?

Yes, I would say our groups are integrated.

Many chapters may be less diverse because of their geographical area, but overall, our national organizations are welcoming, regardless of male, female or co-ed groups.

As for the fact that you are pursuing a Ph.D., some undergraduate chapters may not be able to recruit you, but there are a lot of alumni chapters around UCLA/Berkeley who may be able to interest you in joining. Ultimately, I would suggest getting to know the students on your campus and making friends as you get to know your new environment for the next few years.

Knowing guys in the fraternity system at UCLA and UC Berkeley, I am not really sure if a PhD candidate would be admitted to a fraternity even if they were allowed to admit a graduate student (a lot aren't). And to be honest, I am not sure if somebody who is seriously pursuing a PhD would really want to be around a lot of 19 year old guys doing kegstands and dancing with freshmen girls.

That being said, especially at those two schools, Greek life is very integrated. There are some (not many) schools in America where race is still an issue, but in the vast majority of schools (and certainly the two you said you are considering) a student from any race and any socio-economic background would be able to get a bid (pending, of course, that they fit in with the particular chapter).

Yeah, but if he has a cute British accent it might bring girls in. I would check it out.

I am only 24, the PhD objective does not change my age. 24 is young! (I insist on it).

Hypothetically, a 24 y/o dating a 19 year old isnt 'weird'. UK undergrad is 3 years, MA 1 year. Theoretically, one can start a PhD at 22 here. :)

I have researched GL in both schools, UCLA has 1 (?) graduate fraternity, but obviously my distance means I can only get a snapshot of a perspective.

Related questions, can someone not start a BA course in the US in their latter 20's (for instance). When I was 18 and started college, my best mate was 24-a mature student. It wasnt an issue here, is US college life more compartmentalized?

You can start college at any time, but if you start undergrad in your 20s you're more likely to hang out with a "returning students" group than join a fraternity.

A lot of it has to do w/ the drinking age here - in some states you can't even go in a bar until you are legal (21) and in all states, the drinking age is 21. It really does put up a line between underclassmen and seniors, much more now than it used to as the rules are enforced more strictly.

Seriously! ;)

I've known PhD candidates who have socialized with undergraduates. It's not completely uncommon for seniors to be taking graduate-level classes, anyway.

Damn.

We did, and do, grab drinks with our professors. I had a US History lecturer who was 29. He'd join us in the bar periodically.

No first name terms either I take it?

I dont get how the age of consent can be 16, you can join the army at 18, but have to be 21 to have a drink in a bar?

Ask the stupid hookers from MADD who got the law pushed through. There's actually going to be a piece tonight on 60 Minutes about the college professors who are trying to get the law repealed.

As for professors, I think that really depends on school and on what class it is.

Forgive my ignorance, MADD?

Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Be glad you've never heard of it.

Well to be fair drink driving is a big problem.

In grad school my professors would hold classes at bars, or go with students to a bar after a particularly hard test.

If we'd been in undergrad they'd have been fired.

My program was very unique, only 50 students each term and we pretty much had the same 6 professors for the last two years of college. We used first names with them and they socialized with us to some extent. Although, one of them who we had for a 10 am class and then a 4 pm class often came to the 4 pm class totally wasted and he was fired after that semester. He spent from 11-3:30 at the bar every Monday and Wednesday, I think. Another of our professors though often had students over to his house to study. He was in walking distance from campus and his wife was always home. He was also the best instructor overall with the most knowledge and taught "real world" rather than academia.

The age of consent varies by state..... But thats a whole other ball of wax!:rolleyes:

So tell me, if GL anything like its portrayed as in the movies?

Are Grey's Anatomy and ER accurate portrayals of how it's like in a hospital?

Point taken, but there is some resemblance.

What frat are you in?

You know I remember when the law was phased in for all states. In the mid-80's, in California the law already change to 21. But in Hawaii, the law had not switched yet...

I was only in the first grade when that happened, so I don't know too much about it, but I was able to find this: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...55C0A960948260

I didn't know that the DOT threatened to withdraw highway funds if we didn't raise the drinking age. We were in the beginning stages of building the H-3 back then, so I'm not surprised Ariyoshi gave in.

It was interesting because the group I was with at that time found out they could purchase liquor from the ABC stores and go to bars and order drinks. Since I was 17 years old, I could not do that...

Let's just say we ummmm we did a lot of McLovin... :rolleyes:

LOL.:D This joker knows damn well what MADD is.:rolleyes:

ETA: Y'all, this "British dude" was probably born/raised and still lives in Harlem...Now that I think about it this joker might be Tom Earp on the rebound.http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/24.gif

^

Who is this clown?

Troll?

Check my IP if you wish. 110% legit.

I haven't seen anything on this thread to warrant being called a troll...he's not done anything inflammatory.

Unfortunately for the OP, I don't really see this happening, just thinking about my own chapter, there's no way it would work. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I'd be shocked. That said, when you do make it to the States, sign up for rush, see what happens. At the worst you waste a weekend or two and realize it's not going to happen, and who knows, maybe something works out.

I havent acted like a troll as I'm simply not. I'm too mature to 'troll' for kicks. And if I did pick a forum for that purpose, it'd be the PETA ones.

I appreciate all the advice, and apart from the guy above, you have all been helpful.

Let's all play nice. kthx

Fun! They'd totally deserve it! :)

Tell me about it. I am not an animal rights man. I mean undue torture is wrong, but when it comes to dietary reasons, kill it, cook it and put it on my plate.

Alright! (depending on which animal it is)

It's the return of PIP!

Blech! I've gotten to the point where I can't mentally stomach eating flesh. I was reduced to eating canned salmon and tuna, but since canned salmon has bone fragments, I can't even handle that now. I used to LOVE me some meat too. :(

I can go weeks without eating meat and months without eating red meat. I don't like chicken that much. My favorite food is seafood (whole crabs, lobster, shrimp, fish, shell fish).

I say all of that to say, I like the choice of being a vegetarian most of the time but eating meat when I feel like it. :) I want PETA to fight for the ethical treatment of animals without beating ME over the head.

OK, I can make this analogy.

MADD is to alcohol as PETA is to meat. :)

Completely agree. I've tried to buy free range/wild caught everything whenever possible because I know the animals have a better life before they end up in my tummy.

I have a thing for hamburgers, so maybe if I go a couple months without beef, I'll actually have a taste for a burger now and then.

Right now, I'm drowning in beans for my protein. But there are some lovely things I've discovered such as quinoa flavored with curry. I also like black beans with hot sauce. I'll eat just about any vegetable/legume/etc if it has hot sauce on it.

I get a weekly shipment of farm-fresh organic fruits and vegetables which my husband and I supplement with beans, rice, legumes, whole grains, a little cheese and homemade bread. My food expenses have been slashed in half and I actually feel better physically.

We made roasted radishes (who knew you could do that!!) and they were delicious.

I'm hungry and it's way past my lunch time. I have sandwich with homemade herb and cheese bread and some tuna. Yummmm!

Yummy! Freshness is the way to go. I've tried to give Whole Foods less money and find more fresh options in the produce section of the highend grocery stores.

I don't want animals to be tortured but I wonder how much it matters if they die anyway. At the same time, I imagine torturous conditions breed unsanitary conditions for our food. Yummy, but this time sarcastically! :(