go Greek?

[hoops90]

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I have looked at the websites for the fraternities at my college. They all have great core values, which include leadership, friendship, justice, and other noble attributes. I also understand that being Greek is an excellent networking opportunity. However, I don't want to join a fraternity just because I can have more connections, even if that does help me gain leadership positions on campus and make me a stronger candidate for medical school. I feel like I can display all of the qualities mentioned in these fraternities without having to join them. I understand that you can develop very meaningful and long-lasting friendships if you are in a fraternity. However, I feel like I can do this as well. If someone is truly my friend, they aren't going to not want to be my friend just because I'm not in his or her fraternity.

1. Does being Greek give you an upper hand for getting into medical school? For example, maybe someone on the ADCOM was in the same fraternity as you, so he or she might give you preference.

2. Is it harder for non-Greek pre-med students to get into medical school?

 

[Iliketoytles]

I have looked at the websites for the fraternities at my college. They all have great core values, which include leadership, friendship, justice, and other noble attributes. I also understand that being Greek is an excellent networking opportunity. However, I don't want to join a fraternity just because I can have more connections, even if that does help me gain leadership positions on campus and make me a stronger candidate for medical school. I feel like I can display all of the qualities mentioned in these fraternities without having to join them. I understand that you can develop very meaningful and long-lasting friendships if you are in a fraternity. However, I feel like I can do this as well. If someone is truly my friend, they aren't going to not want to be my friend just because I'm not in his or her fraternity.

1. Does being Greek give you an upper hand for getting into medical school? For example, maybe someone on the ADCOM was in the same fraternity as you, so he or she might give you preference.

2. Is it harder for non-Greek pre-med students to get into medical school?

1. Not at all. Fraternities are great for making lifelong friends ("brothers"), but they are in no way better than non-Greek organizations. Of course, the organization itself may benefit from being a nationally recognized Greek organization, since there are perks involved... especially if it's an old national organization, but it won't look better on med school apps.

2. Nope. But you would be a fool not to like Greek food!!

 

[costales]

No and no. Greek membership by itself is meaningless without accompanying leadership experience, community service or health-related projects.

 

[ManBroDude]

If you're thinking of joining a fraternity just to look good for medical school, you're doing it wrong. Any leadership position looks good on your app, on the other hand. I served as Vice President of a fraternity and served as another member of the board for another year. I helped organize a new philanthropy/service project benefitting victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse. These are the good things they look at. Partying on the weekends with a free pass to hang out with sorority girls are not

 

[hoops90]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Dr SunDai]

I have looked at the websites for the fraternities at my college. They all have great core values, which include leadership, friendship, justice, and other noble attributes. I also understand that being Greek is an excellent networking opportunity. However, I don't want to join a fraternity just because I can have more connections, even if that does help me gain leadership positions on campus and make me a stronger candidate for medical school. I feel like I can display all of the qualities mentioned in these fraternities without having to join them. I understand that you can develop very meaningful and long-lasting friendships if you are in a fraternity. However, I feel like I can do this as well. If someone is truly my friend, they aren't going to not want to be my friend just because I'm not in his or her fraternity.

1. Does being Greek give you an upper hand for getting into medical school? For example, maybe someone on the ADCOM was in the same fraternity as you, so he or she might give you preference.

2. Is it harder for non-Greek pre-med students to get into medical school?

Greek Life may not be for you: You've already stated in your post that you can accomplish all those things without being in a fraternity

As for an upper hand, I'd say no. If you dont have the qualifications it does not matter what Greek organization it is. However, if someone happens to be the member of the same organization of a candidate, they may have a better understanding of the applicant due to the types of individuals gaining membership and what it take to be a part of the organization. BUT BY NO MEANS does membership supercede having competitive qualifications for medical school.

Greek Life is more than just networking, and partying; its for some people but not all (it doesnt make someone more or less, just different).

Best of Luck

 

[Juice9]

I wouldn't say being in a fraternity gives you an upper hand, but if you do take on a leadership role it can give you a lot to talk about in interviews. It honestly came up in about half of mine. Usually it came up with a question about how hard fraternities party, but then you can start talking about the good things you did there. For me I talked about a lot of our philanthropy and community service plus the awards my chapter received at our national leadership school while I was on the executive council.

While I would not advise joining a fraternity for the sake of impressing interviewers, or "getting an upper hand" I would definitely encourage it if it is something you're truly interested in. It can definitely add some leadership, community service, and teamwork to the resume.

 

[hiphopcrates]

While I would not advise joining a fraternity for the sake of impressing interviewers, or "getting an upper hand" I would definitely encourage it if it is something you're truly interested in. It can definitely add some leadership, community service, and teamwork to the resume.

I will second this for any girls who might happen to read this thread, as sororities (particularly smaller ones) have numerous opportunities for you to assume leadership roles every semester.

It's also a nice way of ensuring you make time to have a social life/fun experiences in college. Let's be honest. 😛

 

[dntke1518]

I would suggest it, I am biased though. I also got alot of leadership out of it...

 

[Iliketoytles]

I would suggest it, I am biased though. I also got alot of leadership out of it...

I guess it depends on the person, like someone mentioned above. Frats did not really interest me. But then... I'm not a very exciting person and I like to keep to myself sometimes. I was told yesterday that I'm like a fusion of Leonard and Raj from the Big Bang Theory.

The fact I took it as a compliment shows how pathetic I am. 🙄

From what I've heard from others, being in a frat takes a lot of time. You get lots of community service/leadership opportunities, but there are also other commitments that you may or may not want to be a part of. lol.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I was in a fraternity and can tell you all that core values stuff and what not is bullcrap. The leadership is also unsupervised and largely just the product of popularity. That being said, anything you do in a fraternity will not be seen as more or less than any other club, but there is the potential of having more fun and less stress in your leadership positions at a fraternity.

 

[Juice9]

I was in a fraternity and can tell you all that core values stuff and what not is bullcrap. The leadership is also unsupervised and largely just the product of popularity. That being said, anything you do in a fraternity will not be seen as more or less than any other club, but there is the potential of having more fun and less stress in your leadership positions at a fraternity.

Definitely depends upon the person and the fraternity. I was part of one of the largest national fraternities, we spent a lot of time in communication with our alumni officers. I have a lot of leadership experiences from other school clubs as well as being a four year college athlete and team captain. The fraternity came up more than any other experience which is a good thing in my opinion, especially when you have as much to talk about as I did. As with everyhing in life you get out what you put in. You want to be proactive in the fraternity and university you'll have great things to talk about. You want to join a fraternity just to drink and party, well then you' re probably better off not putting it on your app. Not all fraternities are created equal some will provide you with oppurtunities to get very involved in the house and your school, others won't. If you' re seriously interested in joining find one that fits you. Joining mine was one of the best decisions I've ever made

 

[TriagePreMed]

Definitely depends upon the person and the fraternity. I was part of one of the largest national fraternities, we spent a lot of time in communication with our alumni officers. I have a lot of leadership experiences from other school clubs as well as being a four year college athlete and team captain. The fraternity came up more than any other experience which is a good thing in my opinion, especially when you have as much to talk about as I did. As with everyhing in life you get out what you put in. You want to be proactive in the fraternity and university you'll have great things to talk about. You want to join a fraternity just to drink and party, well then you' re probably better off not putting it on your app. Not all fraternities are created equal some will provide you with oppurtunities to get very involved in the house and your school, others won't. If you' re seriously interested in joining find one that fits you. Joining mine was one of the best decisions I've ever made

What you comment is true as well. I should have clarified that my thoughts are very much swayed by my subjective experience.

 

[Juice9]

What you comment is true as well. I should have clarified that my thoughts are very much swayed by my subjective experience.

As are mine I'm sure. It is very dependant upon the individual and the fraternity

 

[lacrosse87]

Join the fraternity. I was in one, tons of fun, few of my best friends were in the house. Plus, now you'll have somewhere to go when you go back to your undergrad for homecoming

Just make sure you keep up the high GPA, especially during pledging. Being locked in a deep dark smelly basement with heavy metal playing on repeat at 3-4AM on a weeknight makes juggling tough courseloads like engineering/pre-med a bit difficult. It gets even worse during hell week

Ah fun times, I miss it

 

[Juice9]

Thats why you gotta go to house that puts hell week at the first week of a term, so you don;t have to worry about falling far behind 😀

 

[lacrosse87]

Thats why you gotta go to house that puts hell week at the first week of a term, so you don;t have to worry about falling far behind 😀

Yeah, my hell week was right around finals. Pretty bad timing haha. Although we did have 3 hrs daily during weekdays where we'd have to be in the library studying together

 

[Juice9]

Yeah, my hell week was right around finals. Pretty bad timing haha. Although we did have 3 hrs daily during weekdays where we'd have to be in the library studying together

Ouch! that's rough.

 

[Goro]

No and no. When i look over ECs, I see the frat stuff, but look for more important things, like shadowing, patient contact, etc. Personally, a frat is a place to get drunk and then vomit on your friend's Nikes

I have looked at the websites for the fraternities at my college. They all have great core values, which include leadership, friendship, justice, and other noble attributes. I also understand that being Greek is an excellent networking opportunity. However, I don't want to join a fraternity just because I can have more connections, even if that does help me gain leadership positions on campus and make me a stronger candidate for medical school. I feel like I can display all of the qualities mentioned in these fraternities without having to join them. I understand that you can develop very meaningful and long-lasting friendships if you are in a fraternity. However, I feel like I can do this as well. If someone is truly my friend, they aren't going to not want to be my friend just because I'm not in his or her fraternity.

1. Does being Greek give you an upper hand for getting into medical school? For example, maybe someone on the ADCOM was in the same fraternity as you, so he or she might give you preference.

2. Is it harder for non-Greek pre-med students to get into medical school?

 

[Juice9]

No and no. When i look over ECs, I see the frat stuff, but look for more important things, like shadowing, patient contact, etc. Personally, a frat is a place to get drunk and then vomit on your friend's Nikes

oh ignorance.... I'm glad you weren't one of my interviewers

 

[dbizzy]

oh ignorance.... I'm glad you weren't one of my interviewers

agreed

Haters.

 

[lacrosse87]

No and no. When i look over ECs, I see the frat stuff, but look for more important things, like shadowing, patient contact, etc. Personally, a frat is a place to get drunk and then vomit on your friend's Nikes

oh ignorance.... I'm glad you weren't one of my interviewers

Ignorance indeed! Frat bro's like us don't wear nike's...we wear boat shoes. Duh

 

[TheU12]

TFM!!

Oh GDI's

Ignorance indeed! Frat bro's like us don't wear nike's...we wear boat shoes. Duh