[Tex1899]

YOU PAY DUES TO BELONG TO MOST ORGANIZATIONS. And at the end of the day, you can get a fair amount of the same experiences with an academic-based group that you can from a fraternity: friendships, people to study with, resume builder, leadership training, maybe even some social functions (less organized and parties aren't as big, nor do they follow the rules). You'll probably get connections to job opportunities, too.

But what you won't get are guys who'll come to your aid at the drop of a hat. The guys from the academic group won't be at your wife/child's funeral. And they won't serenade your wife at your wedding, either. And does the academic group tailgate?

You're not paying for your friends, your paying for more opportunities. In 20 years the guy who didn't want to "pay for his friends" will have 3 college buddies he keeps up with. The guy who joined a fraternity will probably have 20; 5 will probably be younger/older than him by several years and 5 will probably not even be from the same chapter.

Joining my fraternity is one of the 3 best things I've ever done. And I've gotten way more out of it as an alum than as an undergrad.