I'd like to add my two cents.
I joined my GLO (the name which does not actually contain Greek letters, but thats a different topic) almost 8 years ago.
I guess I'm somewhere in the middle on the 'what has it done for you' discussion.
First of all: I've had a great time, met fabulous people, met my best friends, learned amazing new things (such as leadership skills. people's skills etc.) and partied a lot (I have to add: this is something 'politically correct' in dutch GLO's)
On the other hand, the reaosn why I joined was that I arrived in a new city, where I did not know anyone and joining seemed like a way to make some friends. it was! I found a home away from home.
Furthermore I'd like to add that joining groups is a human thing to do. Alomst everyone likes hanging out with likeminded people, everbody wants to have friends, so to me it seems pretty logical that students want to join clubs, bands and teams. We're human!
Having said all this, looking back on these years I have to say some of the 'magic' wears off after a couple of years. You start to see that things are almost the same year after year. You realise that those thing you fell for (such as great rush events) are a matter of routine. This however does NOT make them less valuable. Every year during rush I am amazed that 'we' (students, doing all of this voluntarily) can pull it of.
So yes, I am still glad that I joined, I have learned a lot, made friends (hopefully for life). But once you see the inside of the machine some of the magic goes away. I can see now that some of the things that meant the world to me then, were not really that important. You can get a bit carried away every once in a while!
However, I most certainly do not regret joining
! Had the time of my life and I've joked to my friends about starting a GLO for people for those no longer in college who want to meet new people!
love
Dutchgirl