Many international students may not be aware, or know much about, “Greek Life” at US Universities. Greek Life is the term used for the participation in fraternities and sororities on US university campuses. The existence of these student groups dates back to 1776 and have long been a part of college life. Whether you have your heart set on joining a fraternity/sorority, or you don’t know anything about them, Vela Education is here to demystify this aspect of US uni life.

Fraternities and Sororities are social organisations that are overseen by a Greek Life office. These organisations usually focus on leadership, philanthropy, community service, and social engagements. Certain fraternities and sororities may also have a more specific focus, for instance an interest in a shared subject like law. Freshman are invited to participate in “rush” when they start their first term; this is the application process. Students will be invited to attend official recruitment events and go through a series of interviews.

Greek life can introduce you to a range of students you might not have met and develop links with students across different year groups. Greek life does have a strong reputation for a heavy focus on social life. Many sororities and fraternities provide a social calendar for their members. These events can be open to the rest of the university or might be exclusive to just the members of those organisations. This emphasis on social life has come under scrutiny and there is a long history of discussing the pros and cons of Greek life on college campuses.

However, students should remember that most Greek organisations have a minimum GPA requirement which members are expected to maintain. Students will also be expected to complete a minimum number of hours of community service per term. Many Greek organisations are affiliated with a charity, another way to choose which fraternity or sorority a student might be interested in joining if they decide that Greek life is for them. These organisations can be a great way to develop leadership skills, tap into the alumni network, and branch out into community service.

It is important to keep in mind that joining a Greek organisation comes with an added financial component. All members will be expected to pay a joining fee and then membership dues each term. These dues can vary between organisations and between campuses. We recommend this article on the US News and World Report about the costs of Greek life. Students should also be aware of the risks involved and make an informed decision about the organisation they are joining. Most fraternities and sororities are affiliated with the university which means that they operate under university rules. If a Greek organisation has decided to operate outside of the college structure or are not recognised by the college, it might have done something to lose recognition for the university.

Participating in Greek life is not for everyone. Students applying to the US should make sure to research the existence of Greek life on campus for each university to which they are applying. Most universities have participation rates of under 50%, and some universities (such as Middlebury College) have banned Greek organisations. This means that the influence of Greek organisations on social life can vary across campuses. Brown estimates that only 11% of its student body participates in Greek life. However, Dartmouth has a participation rate of 60% of the eligible student body (at Dartmouth, students are only eligible to join after their freshman year). It is important to note that universities may have developed other types of social clubs. For example, Princeton does not have a college sanctioned Greek life, but over 68% of the eligible student body participate in “Eating Clubs”, independently run social clubs.

At Vela Education, we encourage students to research all aspects of university life when compiling their list of schools. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.