Question for fraternity members: What is your routine for balancing...?

Autobahnkid · #1 09-30-2008, 06:04 PM

...fraternity obligations with stuff outside the fraternity (i.e., school, sports, etc)? j/w, and thankssss =)

EDIT: What i mean is time constraints, im considering rushing a fraternity but i feel sometimes like i dont have enough time for the stuff im already doing (like mentioned abouve) and im not even greek yet. so i simply want input on how u guys handle it all. and if its not much trouble, whats yer GPAs, and extra curricular activities? thanks again =)

AOEforme · #2 09-30-2008, 09:12 PM

If you don't have time to balance school now, you won't have time for your fraternity.

While a GLO helps with time management skills, you shouldn't already feel stressed.

I handle my sorority by having a planner: I schedule EVERYTHING, from study time to chapter to socials to "me" time, etc. It's on the anal side, but it's how I get by.

CrackerBarrel · #3 09-30-2008, 09:37 PM

I've got a 3.7 and do some IFC and SG stuff (not hugely involved with them though) and play on intramural football and softball teams. I go to every social event plus go to the bar 2-4 times a week depending on the schedule. Pledgeship makes you better at managing your time, but if you already have trouble managing your time and getting everything in it's going to be hell and won't work.

The best advice I can give you is to not sleep till 1 PM, if you actually get up you can get a lot of the work you need to do done in the day and not be too busy to do anything at night or be one of the guys going to the bar every night but doing none of their school shit.

knight_shadow · #4 10-01-2008, 01:37 AM

If you're already busy, throwing a fraternity in the mix will probably overwhelm you. It's been my experience that the pledge semester is equivalent to adding another 3 hour course to your schedule. If you can't do that, I'd wait.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOEforme

I handle my sorority by having a planner: I schedule EVERYTHING, from study time to chapter to socials to "me" time, etc. It's on the anal side, but it's how I get by.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrackerBarrel

The best advice I can give you is to not sleep till 1 PM, if you actually get up you can get a lot of the work you need to do done in the day and not be too busy to do anything at night or be one of the guys going to the bar every night but doing none of their school shit.

I agree with both of these. Make sure you plan your days and actually stick with the plan. Also, if you do end up pledging, be sure to have a life outside of your organization. While Greek life is fun, if it's ALL you do, you'll burn out and other things will be impacted.

sopranology · #5 10-01-2008, 04:52 PM

Granted, sorority pledging is generally less involved than fraternity pledging (based on stories I've heard from my campus and others), but unless you want to be that guy in the back who isn't involved in his fraternity at all, it's only going to get worse once you're initiated. With the social activities (trust me, it's a weird feeling having a full social calendar), the recruitment activities, the preparation for the meetings, the actual meetings, your classes, your homework, your extra-curriculars, sports, etc. almost every moment of your day will be full.

I don't mean to be discouraging, though ... while it's stressful and I basically live 19 hour days, I wouldn't give up my time in AXiD for anything. Just be absolutely sure that you're willing to put in the time it takes. I'd say to go through pledging, but if you feel even the slightest inkling that your schoolwork is suffering, depledge immediately. My chapter once had a girl in a similar situation who was initiated and then decided that she just didn't have the time. Don't be like her. Deactivation is no fun at all.

Autobahnkid · #6 10-01-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopranology

Granted, sorority pledging is generally less involved than fraternity pledging (based on stories I've heard from my campus and others), but unless you want to be that guy in the back who isn't involved in his fraternity at all, it's only going to get worse once you're initiated. With the social activities (trust me, it's a weird feeling having a full social calendar), the recruitment activities, the preparation for the meetings, the actual meetings, your classes, your homework, your extra-curriculars, sports, etc. almost every moment of your day will be full.

I don't mean to be discouraging, though ... while it's stressful and I basically live 19 hour days, I wouldn't give up my time in AXiD for anything. Just be absolutely sure that you're willing to put in the time it takes. I'd say to go through pledging, but if you feel even the slightest inkling that your schoolwork is suffering, depledge immediately. My chapter once had a girl in a similar situation who was initiated and then decided that she just didn't have the time. Don't be like her. Deactivation is no fun at all.

thanks, thats all good advice, and yea for the reasons you mention i might just wait another year and use this year to make sure im fully organised (something im still trying to get in order), that way if i decide to rush i'll be ready for it

CrackerBarrel · #7 10-01-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autobahnkid

thanks, thats all good advice, and yea for the reasons you mention i might just wait another year and use this year to make sure im fully organised (something im still trying to get in order), that way if i decide to rush i'll be ready for it

I disagree. Pledging is a bigger time commitment for fraternities than being a brother is. Why? When you're a brother you don't always have to be at the house meeting guys, you don't have to clean the house up, you don't have to drive people around, etc. My advice would be that if you want to pledge to do it as soon as you can while you're taking easy classes. As you get older your classes get harder and your workload gets heavier, then you really have a hard time pledging.

DS_Castro · #8 10-01-2008, 11:56 PM

Personally, I think your pledge semester is the most intense. So i agree it's like adding another 3hr course to your time table with homework.

However, like I tell some guys. It is all about balancing. If you can't balance some sports, school and a frat now. How are you going to balance a wife, kids and work later? It's kinda the same in my mind.

I play rugby and intramurals. I don't know my GPA, but I do fairly well in school, and I'm the newly elected President of my fraternity. It's all about scheduling, it's true.