Grad student in fraternity
 

Hi,

I'm 24, and I'd like to join a fraternity. I will be doing a PhD, and I wonder if I wouldn't be too old to be accepted.

I'm also not worried about "hazing" because I believe it is mostly antics blown out of proportion by the media, but this may get me in trouble if I teach while I do my PhD.

I do not regard running errands or doing the cleaning/laundry as hazing, and I'd be happy to do that.

Anyway. Would you recommend any fraternities that would accept me?

Thanks!

Different campuses and fraternities have different rules and expectations. If anything, I'd be more concerned about cultural differences between grad/undergrad rather than age.

However, if you are still up for it, check out the fraternities on your campus and be yourself. If you click with them, ask if there will be problems with you being a grad student.

As for hazing: it's illegal and should not be tolerated. You should not tolerate hazing, and if a fraternity you're considering joining insists on hazing, you should drop.

We've had professors join fraternities later on when they began teaching. The fraternities love them and when they guys go "alumni status" they stay on as advisors. Depending on the college's environment, it can be a really cool experience.

At the same time, when I went through rush a woman in her late 30s participated because she'd never gotten a chance. She joined the marines and never went to college and she had recently retired. One sorority didn't cut her at first, to be kind, but by the end of day 2 she was gone. I think the sororities were conscious of social events - like would the guys be freaked out at date parties and formals. My thoughts on her were --> yes. They would have. On the other hand, the fraternities at my university love drinking with alumni, uncles, dads, and grandpas and all but 2 houses would not think twice about an older member going through recruitment.