To go Greek or not to go Greek: That is the question

Greek life can be all about parties, paying for your friends and scandal. Greek life can be synonymous with the most worrisome evils of college. And Greek life can be your parents’ worst nightmare.

However, Greek life at Hopkins doesn’t have to mean these things to you.

Fraternity and sorority culture is a world portrayed in a largely negative light by our media and our concerned adults. You’ve seen reruns of Greek and watched Animal House with you dad. Reports of scandals involving Greek students at campuses across the country have been headline material for decades. To much of the public, fraternity and sorority life encompasses everything you don’t want in a college experience – but as a sorority member at Hopkins, I can say that taking the plunge into this unfamiliar world of letters, parties, cultures and traditions is worth it, even if I didn’t originally think so. Emerging from my strange and imperfect recruitment experience, I’m here to explain the pros and cons of rushing at Hopkins.

I’m a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, and I will in no way try to endorse my sorority or deflate any others. The advantages and detriments of Greek life do not depend on the organization you join as long as you avoid the voices in your head that might be relying too heavily on ultimately empty stereotypes.

If you want to rush, go in with an open mind, and the best parts of the Greek community will reveal themselves to you no matter which fraternity or sorority you join. That I can promise.

PRO: Greek life allows you to meet new people.

I can’t tell you how my social circles have expanded since joining Theta. I didn’t gain 150 sisters in total;–I gained connections to their friends in other sororities and made friends with frat guys through our philanthropy events, socials and formals.

Before I rushed, I had my group of friends, and we’re all still extremely close. But my connections have expanded and unfolded across Hopkins, and my friends now include incredible, influential peers I would not have met without Theta.

CON: Greek life is a time and financial commitment.

Being part of any fraternity or sorority on campus will require attending chapter meetings and specific philanthropy events – and that’s at the bare minimum, without any of the extra commitments required of being an officer. It’s a definite time commitment at any level and balancing this with your schoolwork and other activities can be challenging.

Your specific organization might have a points system in place that makes missing mandatory events a problem. For example, not achieving a particular chapter attendance percentage means I can’t go to formal. When you go through recruitment, be aware of the time you’ll need to devote to your frat or srat. Also pay attention to the financial commitment of going Greek. Each organization has different dues, and most offer payment plans to make affording membership easier.

CON: Greek life isn’t for 

everyone.

There’s a reason the characters in Greek are so crazy. There’s a reason your dad still quotes Animal House occasionally. There’s a reason joining a frat or srat could be considered mom and dad’s worst nightmare. Being in Greek life could make it easier for you to place yourself in unsafe situations that could be life-altering. I’ve never experienced something like this solely because I’m involved in a sorority, but the Greek environment at any school could lend itself to danger.

This is not unique to Hopkins and not a result of anyone’s specific letters. It’s a result of cultural malpractice (and, in some cases, unfair stereotyping) that organizations across the country are working to change. Before joining the Greek community, be aware of what you’re comfortable with and whether you want to potentially take that risk.

PRO: Greek life changes you.

At Hopkins, we have what’s considered “Greek life lite.” With only five Panhellenic sororities and less fraternities than at larger schools, a lot of people in Greek life know each other. A lot of people, including me, can tell you that no matter their organization, going Greek is one of the best things to happen to them at Hopkins!