Pledging in Secondaries?

[Str8Baller]

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In an attempt to convey that I am a team player, I am considering citing an example that occurred during a pledging event. The event did not consist of explicit hazing or drinking or anything obviously inappropriate, but it did put me in the position of being on a "survival" trip in which I had to sacrifice myself in some way to help another pledge (my self sacrifice was completely voluntary, I did not have to do it because of the fraternity's expectations, rather I did it to make another kid's life easier). So my question is...

Is mentioning pledging in this context appropriate? If I want to give an honest context to the situation, it is probably necessary.

If not, do you guys think it's OK to lie about the situation and say it was part of a wilderness trip or camping trip or something.

Thanks for any feedback

 

[trs88]

How exactly did you sacrifice yourself? Seeing as how you are able to post, I'm going to assume it wasn't a human sacrifice (or a failed one at least).

I can't think of a med school that doesn't have honesty, integrity, and ethics in its mission statement. By lying about the trip, you failed all three of those.

 

[Str8Baller]

Yea haha didn't mean that, more along the lines of me carrying someone a distance because they were sick and tired.

I wouldn't lie about what I did...I would simply leave out or distort the fact that this occurred during a pledging event, which I think is reasonably important to note.

 

[trs88]

I kinda think sacrifice is too strong of a word then. It might be better if you describe it more along the lines of: you're a team player, you care about your fellow man, no man left behind, etc.

Gotcha, I see where you're coming from now. I was never in a sorority so I don't know/understand why it's a thing. I don't mean to trivialize it to those who were, I just haven't a clue. I guess I could put the thought into your head is that, what is the reputation of your frat?

 

[Str8Baller]

Yeah exactly. Sacrifice is probably too strong of a word. I would be careful about wording it truthfully and well if I actually write about it. The main point of this thread, however, is to ask if you guys think discussing pledging is wrong, as hazing/forced events/the like are illegal. I think I'm going to write about it, just wanted to get a second opinion.

 

[neekzg]

Ahhh I probably wouldn't.. having been through pledging myself, I know that there's actually plenty of great opportunities where your leadership has shone through and a lot of moments that tested your integrity, etc. but unfortunately it's kind of inappropriate to bring up in a professional setting like med school secondaries. I wouldn't really suggest fabricating the details and say you were on a wilderness trip either, I don't even know how that would play out. Pledging teaches you a lot of valuable lessons (which if you haven't been through, you wouldn't really understand) but it kinda does so in weird ways that aren't good to talk about in professional settings hahaha; I do hope you find something interesting to update with your secondaries though. Good luck!

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

I think the adcoms will question your decision to pay for drinking buddies in college.


Inb4 "Greek life is so much more than that, man!"

 

[Str8Baller]

They will know that I am in a fraternity regardless of whether I talk about pledging because I listed it in my extracurriculars. Geed

 

[Wait For It]

From what I've read, the event you will describe can/likely will be (depending on how prejudiced the reader is towards the Greek community) interpreted as part of hazing. This is a risk you do not want to take. Applications can be read by many people and if any one of them feel strongly against your application, that by itself can kill it. These adcoms review thousands - sometimes over ten thousand - applications to narrow down to <1000 interviews. They are LOOKING for any excuse to throw out your application in the early screenings. I'm sure you've made other contributions in your time in your fraternity that didn't involve a pledge event. You should write about that instead.

 

[plumhill]

I know that there are benefits of Greek life, but unfortunately there are stereotypes and stigmas in the professional world, and being a part of Greek life is not looked upon favorably (although there are plenty of doctors/lawyers/businesspeople who were active in Greek life). Even if the way you describe your activity is completely professional and shows you in a good light, adcoms' imaginations might run wild as to why you were going through this event and if it involved hazing, underage drinking, or other inappropriate actions.

 

[Str8Baller]

Thanks for the advice guys. I will probably avoid this topic.

 

[cerno]

Agree with above. Still sounds like and can be construed as hazing. Not to mention, the topic (in my opinion) is completely unprofessional. They're called social fraternities for a reason.

 

[Blackballed]

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