In a fraternity--mention on resume/interview?

[str8flexed]

Should I include the fact that I was in a fraternity because of its normally negative connotation? I didn't hold any significant positions. I can definitely say some good things about it, but, I don't know if interviewers would want to hear that, or if admissions officers would like to see it on resumes. I feel like a lot of them may be prejudiced against them...

Any advice?

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[Gerrymandering]

I would definitely include it because it shows your social and less-nerdy personalities! you can make a nice connection with fraternity experience and immense desire to help people...something like that.

 

[PurpleHaze]

I would definitely include it because it shows your social and less-nerdy personalities! you can make a nice connection with fraternity experience and immense desire to help people...something like that.

I agree! Go on ahead and include it!

 

[Zymogen]

I'm in a fraternity. I'm going to include it. It has been a huge part of my experience as an undergrad. I can't imagine not including it.

I agree with the above poster. Also, I would imagine that most competitive pre-meds are not in fraternities which may offer a slight edge (but don't count on it).

Don't try to be what you think adcoms want (because that's not what they want).

 

[snobored18]

Definitely put it down, being greek is nothing to be ashamed of...I know my own frat has produced a ton of docs and that support has been great during the entire process.

 

[91Bravo]

Honestly, it probably won't matter unless you held office(s) or were an instrumental participant in the fraternity. I was in a frat as well. But I left it completely off the application. It's not like it's something that will impress an adcom or make you stand out against the other 1,000 applicants from fraternities/sororities.

Good luck.

 

[MAC12383]

definitely put it down. I didn't hold any positions in mine but I still included it. At the very least it'll show you have a social life and like to do other things besides study. and you never know, your interviewer (or the person who decides if you get an interview) just might be an alum and you're set

 

[jbrice1639]

i put it on my apps, but not on a resume.

and, like some people have said, it's not really going to show much of anything unless you held some kind of an officer position.

i don't really see it having a negative effect either way, although it would look kinda silly on a resume. we get a good chuckle out of the random crap people put on resumes when we're hiring at my office...

 

[KAI1927]

Not only put it down, but also mention your various Beer Pong / Flip Cup championship titles.

 

[forevalwayzz]

put it down (I did it myself) but minus the beer pong and prince of whale championship titles. Remember all the stuff that they told you during rush (about the academic excellence, services, and brotherhood) to your parents and you to join? Well, put it those down.

 

[SuziQ]

I'm Panhellenic president and I put that down and they loved it! I think it's great because it shows a different side to you...a side that is social and knows how to interact with people, which is always a good thing!

 

[8744]

Should I include the fact that I was in a fraternity because of its normally negative connotation? I didn't hold any significant positions. I can definitely say some good things about it, but, I don't know if interviewers would want to hear that, or if admissions officers would like to see it on resumes. I feel like a lot of them may be prejudiced against them...

Any advice?

Yes. Unless it was a Duke fraternity.

 

[UMP]

paying for friends always looks good on an application, shows how social you really are 👍

 

[MAC12383]

i have plenty of friends outside of my frat, that's not what it's about

 

[jbrice1639]

paying for friends always looks good on an application, shows how social you really are 👍

wow. clever and original. 👎

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Should I include the fact that I was in a fraternity because of its normally negative connotation? I didn't hold any significant positions. I can definitely say some good things about it, but, I don't know if interviewers would want to hear that, or if admissions officers would like to see it on resumes. I feel like a lot of them may be prejudiced against them...

Any advice?

I can't speak for ADCOMs, but when I was a hiring manager at my job, someone being in a fraternity was a negative connotation to me. I've read all the other replies about how it makes you look social, etc, but people who weren't in a fraternity probably don't think that. I think people who joined fraternities are bigger social ******s because they had to pay for friends, and show their "authority" over pledges by making them do various embarrassing things. To me, people who are socially adept, and were able to gain friends and influence people without paying for them are better socially adjusted.

I agree that holding an officer's position probably would look good, but I would think that being in a fraternity would have a negative connotation at worst, but would most likely be neutral. In other words, I wouldn't expect it to benefit you very much.

JMHO,

Jota

 

[MAC12383]

I can't speak for ADCOMs, but when I was a hiring manager at my job, someone being in a fraternity was a negative connotation to me. I've read all the other replies about how it makes you look social, etc, but people who weren't in a fraternity probably don't think that. I think people who joined fraternities are bigger social ******s because they had to pay for friends, and show their "authority" over pledges by making them do various embarrassing things. To me, people who are socially adept, and were able to gain friends and influence people without paying for them are better socially adjusted.

I agree that holding an officer's position probably would look good, but I would think that being in a fraternity would have a negative connotation at worst, but would most likely be neutral. In other words, I wouldn't expect it to benefit you very much.

JMHO,

Jota

I dunno why everyone thinks that people in frats are only friends with the guys in their frat and no one else. We didn't pay for friends bc we couldn't make any on our own. I still interact with plenty of other people and have other friends outside of it.

 

[notdeadyet]

If you didn't hold a leadership position or anything impressive, I'd leave it off. It DOES have a negative connotation to people (deserved or not) and I just don't see the upside.

 

[Zymogen]

paying for friends always looks good on an application, shows how social you really are 👍

I know U Mich is a pretty fratty school. Sounds like you had some bad run-ins.

 

[drmota]

i was in a fraternity (and as for jota's post i never paid a dime, nor did i live there, and my friends in the fraternity made up probably ~20% of my social group, so chill on the discrimination thanks). i listed it on my AMCAS because i was the philanthropy coordinator for 2 semesters. it came up at my Tulane interview and my interviewer was really happy to talk about it (he had been in a fraternity back in his day too). i would put it down if you had a position or something. they definitely can't hold anything against you for it.
-mota

 

[QuantumMechanic]

paying for friends always looks good on an application, shows how social you really are 👍

First, I hate some guys in my fraternity, it has no impact on my attitude on the fraternity as a whole, but that's just the way it is.

The way I look at, we pay to throw parties and to have a house that can be used as a gathering place. Girls tend to like guys that throw parties and have places for them to drink on a Friday night with people around. My fraternity's dues are lower than every other frat on campus because we have the greatest membership, allowing us to distribute those costs more evenly amongst our members. Thus, some other fraternities are "paying more" to have "less friends"

I am debating whether to put my fraternity membership on the amcas. It is one of the few commitments I have had each year, and I do put alot of work into the fraternity despite the fact that I did not get elected to an officer position. I am worried that someone might look at it wrong, but I think my other parts of my record demonstrate that I'm not the typical frat boy, at least during the week

 

[Chinorean]

How about....put it down if you have good grades, don't put it down if your grades are poor? Adcoms don't deliberate over your application with open minds, they glance at them and form snap judgements. So if your grades are bad and you're in a frat, they might make negative connections about study and drinking habits, etc. etc.

 

[SuziQ]

Ok I think that if people have negative things to say about Greek life, especially if it's totally unconstructive, they should refrain from posting about it. That's just your opinion...tons of people have had great Greek experiences and have benefitted a lot from it. I honestly think that you should put down your fraternity membership. It's something that you have dedicated a decent amount of time to in college and something that has helped define you, and I honestly can't see any reasonable person holding that against you. Also, in regards to not having an officer postion, you said that you have done a lot in your frat despite not holding a position. I would just be prepared to talk about everything you've done, and it could sound really great (like, did all this work for an organization you're devoted to without the need for recognition of a title). Just my opinion! 😳

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

i was in a fraternity (and as for jota's post i never paid a dime, nor did i live there, and my friends in the fraternity made up probably ~20% of my social group, so chill on the discrimination thanks). i listed it on my AMCAS because i was the philanthropy coordinator for 2 semesters. it came up at my Tulane interview and my interviewer was really happy to talk about it (he had been in a fraternity back in his day too). i would put it down if you had a position or something. they definitely can't hold anything against you for it.
-mota

That's the flip side -- that your application might pass over someone's desk that was also in a fraternity, and, in that case, my experience has been that you will probably be looked at more favorably by that person.

It could go either way -- but most people AREN'T members of a fraternity/sorority in school, so the numbers are against you.

Again, it probably doesn't matter either way.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

It could go either way -- but most people AREN'T members of a fraternity/sorority in school, so the numbers are against you.

yet, time after time on these forums, we see that "you should do things that not everybody else is doing" ...pretty interesting...

 

[Hercules022]

I'd definitely put it down..... I mentioned it on my AMCAS and it never came up in a negative way during any interviews. Shows you're a social person, and if your fraternity did any community service, you can mention that as well. I actually prepared answers to any tough questions I might get about being in one (did the fraternity encourage drinking, etc.) and never got asked anything remotely like that. I think only one or two interviews even mentioned it, and it was just in passing. Overall, it's a quick and easy way to show you have an interest in being social before they even meet you.

 

[Depakote]

I would put it down, don't dwell on it, but it shows you were well rounded. Plus do not for a second think that the "old boy's club" has 100% abandoned this process. If your application happens to cross the desk of someone that was in your same fraternity, that might just help. (not saying it will make or break, I had an interview with someone in my fraternity and still got rejected but it was a very nice interview, I just think I couldn't overcome the committee vote). Bare minimum it will be a conversation topic.