You have made one of the biggest decisions of your life to go to college. Congratulations! However, that’s not the only decision that you’ll have to make when it comes to college life. Another important decision that you’ll probably make is the decision to go Greek in college.
Greek life has lots of benefits to offer to its members – opportunities to build a network, social/community activities to participate in, a strong brotherhood bond to maintain, and many more! However, one of the biggest challenges college guys face at the beginning of their Greek life is choosing the right fraternity for themselves.
We get it – finding the perfect fit is not always easy. In this blog post, we’ve compiled some practical tips that will help you pick an ideal fraternity so that you can build longstanding friendships and strong professional networks.
Tips to Choose the Right Fraternity for Yourself
1.Do Your Research
Different colleges have different Greek chapters, and it is unlikely that you’ll know about all the different fraternities out there. Therefore, you must carry out your research. Visit the official website of each fraternity and look into their history, ideology, aims, objectives, etc.Find out the kind of culture they promote – do they allow frequent partying or socializing? Or do they prefer that students focus more on their studies and extracurricular activities? Thorough research will help you figure out these things.
2.Consider a Fraternity with the Most Like-Minded Members
All fraternities rely on a common theme of brotherhood. Fraternity life gives you a chance to build a long-lasting bond with other members of your frat - whom you call your brothers for life.It is important to be a part of the brotherhood you enjoy and love. That’s only possible if you come across brothers with similar interests. Make a list of qualities you want the most in your friends-to-be. It could be loyalty, honesty, trustworthiness, or a sense of humor. Once you have prepared the list, see which of the fraternities can come closest to your preferred traits.
3.Check Fraternity Fee
Every fraternity has a different fee structure, so you’ll have to see which one you can easily afford. Keep in mind that living in a frat house costs more than living off-campus. If money is not an issue, you can make the most of frat life by finding accommodation in a frat house.Before you make any commitment, it is best to look into the fee structure of your short-listed fraternities.
4. Choose a Fraternity that Allows You to Grow
Fraternity life is much more than crazy parties, drinking games, and fun hangouts. If you choose the right fraternity, you can make a positive impact on your society and be a more empathetic and responsible individual.Every fraternity backs a philanthropic cause. Go for a fraternity that supports the philanthropic values you believe in. For example, if you are all for animal care, then join a fraternity that also supports animal welfare activities.
During your search for the right fraternity, you will come across many campus stereotypes. Make sure you don’t fall for these stereotypes as they are nothing but people’s opinions. A more trustworthy source is your own judgment, so trust that.