Did Where You Went To School Play A Part Of Going Greek?

[AGDem]

My school isn't that big, but has a large greek system (about 6,000 students with over 1,000 being greek). I did not want to rush before comming to school, so I didn't go through formal rush. After a semester I wasn't really happy at school, and over winter break I talked to my brother's girlfriend who is an AGD at her school and I decided to go through spring rush, best decision I ever made. The kind of social life I wanted I really couldn't achieve without going greek.

[shinerbock]

I think it absolutely matters for most people. Where I went to school, a large university, I could have had a great time not being greek, but I wanted to experience the southern greek life I'd always heard about. Other examples...If I had went to Georgia Tech (where many of my HS friends went), I'd of absolutely gone greek like they did. It is a school where academics are the main focus, and to be blunt, many students there lack social abilities. Thus, if you're an intelligent kid from the area, and want a great education and to have a good time, you don't have too many other options. On the opposite side, if I went to a school like UCF or FSU, I probably would refuse to rush, as the fraternities there are completely different from what I would like to be a part of. Schools tend to have a greek system which although containing different organizations, share many similarities. Thus, I think its possible to end up at a school where the greek system may be completely wrong for you, despite your ability to fit in well at another school's.

[ADqtPiMel]

I would have gone Greek anywhere, and I only seriously considered schools with strong Greek communities.

[PiPhiGirl2005]

Perhaps I would have gone greek elsewhere, but where I went to school definitely did play a part. I went to a tiny liberal arts college, and greek life is the main thing to do there. You can definitely get involved with other things and keep plenty busy. However, greek life was really THE thing to do when I was a freshman. Anything fun or interesting was going on because a greek house was involved (Derby Days, etc.)

I think that at a large university (especially one without deferred recruitment) I probably wouldn't have bothered. The size of the school (1200 students) and the deferred rush (so I could learn about the greek system and go on coke dates) were a huge factor. No one in my family was greek, and coming into college I was already on the cheerleading team, so I didn't know about greek life or feel a huge need to be involved until I learned about the houses, met the girls, and saw what a huge part greek life played at my school.

[SUTriD86]

It absolutely affected me. I go to a small, Southern, private school. Had I gone to a larger school, I wouldn't have had much of a chance outside of BGLOs. Not to step on any toes, but in all honesty, finding an African American Tri Delta is like looking for an already extinct species. It doesn't happen much. But at my school, we have no BGLOs, and I had no interest in joining a sorority at any point. Until most of my friends in the first semester turned out to be a part of the Greek system, then I became interested in how different it was, as opposed to larger, Greek-dominated schools. It was a slow process, but I went through formal deferred rush and just knew that I was meant to be a Tri D.

[Tom Earp]

Went to My first school and Greek was a big thing.

Underground Pledged a New Group.

Left school and went to another.

Was strong Greek then.

Pledged one, left one, started a local and is still going. 42 years ago to be exact.

Never had any Greek Affiliation as the first one in My whole family to go to college.

Would I ever do it over again, No Way! Just the way it has worked out very well!


Oh Hell Yes I would!

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Originally Posted by SUTriD86

It absolutely affected me. I go to a small, Southern, private school. Had I gone to a larger school, I wouldn't have had much of a chance outside of BGLOs. Not to step on any toes, but in all honesty, finding an African American Tri Delta is like looking for an already extinct species. It doesn't happen much. But at my school, we have no BGLOs, and I had no interest in joining a sorority at any point. Until most of my friends in the first semester turned out to be a part of the Greek system, then I became interested in how different it was, as opposed to larger, Greek-dominated schools. It was a slow process, but I went through formal deferred rush and just knew that I was meant to be a Tri D.

Same thing for me! I so understand. I probably wouldn't have rushed an NPC is I had went to any other state school. I don't know if I would have rushed at all, but I don't think I could have gone NPHC, maybe Multicultural. I'm glad that my school is very different from most schools, otherwise I def. wouldn't have made my first choice. I think I'm the only black collegiate in the state of Florida (if I'm wrong I'd love to see some proof-I'm so serious!)

[AngelPhiSig]

I think I would have rushed no matter where I went. I went through HS wanting to go to Lafayette like my grandfather and uncle (Chi Phi and DTD respectively)... I wanted to be a Chi O or Tri Delt...

Un/Fortunately when my grandfather passed away my junior year of HS, my grades dropped and so did my interest in applying to schools. I applied/got accepted to Clarion quickly and Im glad I did!

I found Phi Sig and it was a great fit!!

[LionTamer]

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have rushed elsewhere if I hadn't gone to Penn State - a high school friend was at UNC Chapel Hill, and she said she didn't feel particularly comfortable in their Greek environment, and I don't think I would have either.

I also wouldn't have rushed at a school where rush was for freshman - since my mom didn't go to college, I hadn't even heard anything about sororities until I watched a new friend go through. Fortunately, very few people rushed until sophomore year back then.

Penn State was SO big that Greek life is a great way to make it a little smaller (maybe too small - by the time I was a Senior, I used to joke, "I wish I had gone to a bigger school") Plus there were BIG Penn State events like the Dance Marathon which were pretty much Greeks-only at the time.

But I don't know if I'd like Greek life as much if I were 19 now. I look at pictures of my sorority, which was (and still is) a good strong sorority on campus, and I see curly hair, straight hair, short, tall, thin, pudgy - all sorts. Plus we had a few girls from families which were struggling financially. I look at pictures on the website now, and every single girl is thin with straight hair, and I'm guessing no one has to hold up paying dues because their dad is on strike. I see a conformity that wasn't there when I was at school. One of the things I loved about my chapter at the time was that everyone could be themselves, there wasn't an "ASA" look or "ASA" way of doing things (I know there was this pressure at other sororities) Don't know if that's still the case.

[Pessimist Null]

I thought rush was dumb so didn't go. I just called the recruitment chair later and told him I wanted to pledge. So him and the marshal interviewed me and I got my bid that way. Rushing is for suckers. You should simply join, like I did.