Can International Exchange Students Join Frats/Sororities ?
 

Hey,
I'm currently studying in Melbourne Australia and looking to go to a College in USA in Fall 2012 as an International Exchange Student. At the moment I'm really considering applying for Cornell University since they have a very strong Architectural program.

Just wondering if many international students join Frats as the Greek life seems to be a huge part of Student Life at many of the Universities in the USA.

It would be great to get any feedback on the general idea of international students in Frats/Sororities or at Cornell in particular, and how International student would go about applying (im sure many other International Students would be interested too)


Cheers,
Mitch:)

Any student who is enrolled at full time status can go through recruitment for FRATERNITIES or Sororities. DO NOT go in and call a Fraternity a Frat. Each chapter has different was of selecting members.

Best of luck in your school choice.

Bear in mind, eli, that the OP comes from a country where university is commonly called "Uni," and his exposure to "frats" likely comes mainly from Hollywood.

Before we go the direction of stupid analogies, whether it is acceptable to call a fraternity a "frat" varies from campus culture to campus culture and from fraternity culture to fraternity culture. On some campuses or in some fraternities, it's no big deal; just a three or four decades ago few people would have given it a second thought, and phrases like the "Dear Old Frat" were common. On other campuses and in other fraternities, it is considered very disrespectful or unacceptable, largely because of the "Animal House" connotations associated with the word "frat."

So, best to err on the side of caution and use fraternity unless and until it's made clear that "frat" is acceptable.

aussie91, there are lots of threads here about international exchange students and joining GLOs. A quick search would probably turn up some very helpful information for you. Good luck!

Thanks heaps for your input... didn't mean to offend by calling Fraternities 'Frats' but ill definitely keep that in mind for when i'm there. I'd rather here that on a forum than offend someone while I'm there.
Ill check out some other threads as recommended

Cheers

Good luck :)

I know this is not the same because it is a service fraternity, but I have been surprised that my Alpha Phi Omega chapter has pledged exchange students recently. The most recent from Morocco, last year Qatar.

My fraternity has pledged several international students and they have been great additions to the brotherhood. It is true most people in a fraternity hate to be called frats but I think most people in the house are just going to gently correct the error. Best of luck to you aussie91.