Should I join a fraternity?

[iceet]

I am a freshman at the University of Maryland College Park who is a Bio major. My goal is to get into med school. I am in my second semester and I took an easy schedule to accomodate for the fact that I may be pledging. Would it be wise for me to join a frat? Also, if I were to pledge, now would be the best time, since I have the easiest schedule I will ever have. (14 credits and earliest class is at 11 a.m.)

Also, how big of a distraction is a frat AFTER you pledge. How many events are thrown and how often? Are they mandatory? I think I have the willpower to study and fullfil my duties.

I am just looking for some advice. Would it be wise for me to join a frat?

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[iceet]

Also, pledging my sophomore year doesn't seem like a good option because I will have a more difficult schedule (orgo, more advanced bio, etc).

 

[GuyLaroche]

I am a freshman at the University of Maryland College Park who is a Bio major. My goal is to get into med school. I am in my second semester and I took an easy schedule to accomodate for the fact that I may be pledging. Would it be wise for me to join a frat? Also, if I were to pledge, now would be the best time, since I have the easiest schedule I will ever have. (14 credits and earliest class is at 11 a.m.)

Also, how big of a distraction is a frat AFTER you pledge. How many events are thrown and how often? Are they mandatory? I think I have the willpower to study and fullfil my duties.

I am just looking for some advice. Would it be wise for me to join a frat?

It is never wise to join any organization of good, old, white boys, which is based entirely on exclusion, obsession over materialism, reckless disregard for those you deem lower than you, excessive self-indulgence and the ill-advised perception that one is indeed God - with community service loosely thrown in the mix. Hmmm.... Hold on. I forget which is which. Was I talking about medicine or frats?

 

[Long Dong]

Save your money you don't need to buy friends.

 

[VFrank]

Go Greek! It's fun. Don't listen to grumpy people. Yes, now is the best time to pledge.

 

[RaistlinMajere]

Pledge away.

 

[beep]

it probably won't help you get into med school, but it might be fun!

 

[NontradICUdoc]

I love youth. The questions that you youngens ask remind me of the crap I have to deal with as an adult.

To begin with, you are a freshman. Get through your pre-requisites and worry about applying to medical school at the end of your sophmore year. Just do real well in your classes.

As for pledging. You are a freshman in college. Enjoy it NOW. because once you graduate and are in the big bad world, the only thing that you will want to do is go back to college.

Make new friends, enjoy greek life, join clubs, have fun.

nuff sed

 

[iceet]

Thank you guys for your input.

 

[Dr. Donkey]

Speaking of input, do you like the elephant walk?

Thank you guys for your input.

 

[USCTex]

I am a freshman at the University of Maryland College Park who is a Bio major. My goal is to get into med school. I am in my second semester and I took an easy schedule to accomodate for the fact that I may be pledging. Would it be wise for me to join a frat? Also, if I were to pledge, now would be the best time, since I have the easiest schedule I will ever have. (14 credits and earliest class is at 11 a.m.)

Also, how big of a distraction is a frat AFTER you pledge. How many events are thrown and how often? Are they mandatory? I think I have the willpower to study and fullfil my duties.

I am just looking for some advice. Would it be wise for me to join a frat?

Just join. It was a great experience.

A fraternity was a HUGE part of my life, my pledge semester was hard as hell, and yet now I'm going to med school.

- Kappa Sig -

 

[beanbean]

My husband was in a fraternity at MIT and had a great time, although he kinda grew out of the whole party-thing by his Junior year. I think the key to deciding to pledge a frat or sorority is figuring out if you really want to hang out with, live with, study with, and socialize with that group of people. If you like the guys in the frat and have a lot in common with them, you will probably have a great experience. If you are a bit more of a loner and like to have a significant amount of time by yourself, a frat might not be the best choice.

With regards to studying...how much time you study is your choice, no one else's. Don't do anything that will compromise your ability to do well in your classes if your ultimate goal is med school. Pledging a frat is great fun, just remember to keep some balance. There are plenty of fraternity members who balance school and the frat activities without a problem.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Here are some threads to help you out

Search on frats

 

[Mephisto]

Med school admissions committees look down on social fraternities. Everyone knows the purpose of these are to get drunk and pick up girls. If you must join one, make sure its a service fraternity.

Considering the numerous presidents of the AMA and a large percentage of surgeon generals were former greeks, I don't think that's true. Fraternities aren't just partying, they're a lot of hard work. You have to learn how to run an organization, deal with insurance companies, real estate companies, etc. I would say the most valuable things I learned in college were through my fraternity. This includes general etiquette, how to behave at a corporate party, play golf, how to shoot, and building connections in general. The fact is, the leaders of our country, the leaders of the corporate world, and the leaders of medicine are former greeks.

 

[indo]

Sweet...another frat boy biology major. That'll really make you stand out on the apps.

 

[USCTex]

Sweet...another frat boy biology major. That'll really make you stand out on the apps.

Ouch 🙄

Granted my major made me stand out like a sore thumb for interviews.
But, personally I talked about my fraternity life in my interviews and it got me an acceptance so...
Plenty of your interviewers are likely to have been in the greek system, etc.

Considering the numerous presidents of the AMA and a large percentage of surgeon generals were former greeks, I don't think that's true. Fraternities aren't just partying, they're a lot of hard work. You have to learn how to run an organization, deal with insurance companies, real estate companies, etc. I would say the most valuable things I learned in college were through my fraternity. This includes general etiquette, how to behave at a corporate party, play golf, how to shoot, and building connections in general. The fact is, the leaders of our country, the leaders of the corporate world, and the leaders of medicine are former greeks.

Great points.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Also, how big of a distraction is a frat AFTER you pledge. How many events are thrown and how often? Are they mandatory? I think I have the willpower to study and fullfil my duties.

I am just looking for some advice. Would it be wise for me to join a frat?

Easy semester is a plus to rush. Events depend on how active your frat is and what affiliation it is. I'm not familiar with UMD's structure of frats but I know its a ton of fun down there (so I hear being a Delaware grad). I'd go for it because it will allow you to network and be involved in volunteer activities. Not all frats are just parties ... although that helps 😉

 

[menemotxi]

Med school admissions committees look down on social fraternities. Everyone knows the purpose of these are to get drunk and pick up girls. If you must join one, make sure its a service fraternity.

I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement. I had an interviewer that was in my fraternity and that was a nice ice breaker. Steer clear of generalizations.

To the OP: If you think you can handle the stress and workload during pledging, by all means go for it. Good luck.

 

[GuyLaroche]

Considering the numerous presidents of the AMA and a large percentage of surgeon generals were former greeks.... The fact is, the leaders of our country, the leaders of the corporate world, and the leaders of medicine are former greeks.

Isn't that funny. This is precisely the argument for why the URM class should stay on in med school admissions policies. Wasn't I making some earlier correlation between good, old, white boys' clubs and medicine?

 

[USCTex]

Isn't that funny. This is precisely the argument for why the URM class should stay on in med school admissions policies. Wasn't I making some earlier correlation between good, old, white boys' clubs and medicine?

Pleeeasseeee....and two wrongs make a right the last time I checked... 🙄

 

[EvoDevo]

Med school admissions committees look down on social fraternities. Everyone knows the purpose of these are to get drunk and pick up girls. If you must join one, make sure its a service fraternity.

🙄

Please.

 

[blebl34]

Med school admissions committees look down on social fraternities. Everyone knows the purpose of these are to get drunk and pick up girls. If you must join one, make sure its a service fraternity.

You obviously have no idea what your talking about. A dean of an allopathic med school I talked to told me this about fraternities:

1.) It shows you are sociable and can interact with people well.
2.) It shows you can balance school with pleasure.
3.) It shows you have a life outside of the classroom.

In summary, he said they looked favorable upon Greeks. Just because you had no life in college doesn't mean you should critique those that did.

(BTW, the dean was a greek himself)

 

[medstylee]

it's probably a bad idea to inquire about this on a pre-medical forum. in any case, i had a great time with my fraternity and i received a lot of opportunities, from being in a fraternity, to do things that i think strengthened my application. of course, all fraternities are different, so i can't really give you advice about this particular one. if you're considering joining one, you must know a bunch of the guys in it by now. i'm sure at least a few of them consider themselves as pre-med, so it'd probably be best just to ask their advice. good luck. have fun.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Isn't that funny. This is precisely the argument for why the URM class should stay on in med school admissions policies. Wasn't I making some earlier correlation between good, old, white boys' clubs and medicine?

I would check your frats again. Obviously you can't make racial distinctions because there are many multi-racial frats. I wonder what the source of this hatred is from. 😕

 

[MizzouDrWannabe]

Pledging is one of the best things I ever did in school because it kept me from focusing TOO much on school, work, EC's...etc. I think it's really great for pre-meds who tend to be a little on the uptight side (like me!). That said, there are downsides to everything....I have been pressured to party etc before tests but if you hold your ground they eventually learn that when you say NO you don't mean "well maybe..." 🙂

 

[Llenroc]

Most of the posts on this thread are too simplistic.

I was not in a frat, but I knew a lot of people who were in them. And I thought about joining a frat freshmen year, but later decided against it.

Frats vary a lot. Some frats are extremely wreckless (like "Animal House") and could screw up your academic life. Others are more docile and/or responsible. It depends upon what kind of frat you are joining.

 

[Mwz1024]

Joining Sigma Chi was the best thing in my life. I met so many people and learned how to interact with them. There was always something going on. If I didn't join a fraternity, I would probably be at home most of the time studying and wasting my time playing videogames (Not productive). Besides, you meet so many hot sorority chicks. 😀 You can't beat that. I honesty believe that you become more well-rounded if you join as long as you become active and do something productive.
Yes, there are some bad Fraternities/Chapters out there but you if you don't like it then find something else thats suits you. It doesn't hurt to at least go throught Rush. Anyways sorry for the randomness, just do it.

 

[GuyLaroche]

I would check your frats again. Obviously you can't make racial distinctions because there are many multi-racial frats. I wonder what the source of this hatred is from. 😕

Hatred? Really, I'd be careful with the use of that word. I am hardly a hateful person nor do I subscribe to the feeling. And, it is a bit disingenuous to act like the frats we are talking about are anything but the traditional beer-drowning white fraternities. The source of the hatred - if you must call it that - is knowing that these previleged persons join these silly organizations in the name of "brotherhood," oblivious to the real social issues that confront others around them. Parting, getting drunk, getting laid are the guiding precepts. And exactly how are these silly persons who join these silly organizations rewarded? They become - as was mentioned earlier - leaders in various fields. I have nothing but disdain for the traditional greek organizations. I am a little more empathetic - and only slightly so - to the other racial frats, as these are usually community service-oriented. Flame away if you must. I'll not change my opinion that traditional frats are nothing more than yet another institution of privileged whiteness -good for absolutely nothing of note.

 

[USCTex]

Hatred? Really, I'd be careful with the use of that word. I am hardly a hateful person nor do I subscribe to the feeling. And, it is a bit disingenuous to act like the frats we are talking about are anything but the traditional beer-drowning white fraternities. The source of the hatred - if you must call it that - is knowing that these previleged persons join these silly organizations in the name of "brotherhood," oblivious to the real social issues that confront others around them. Parting, getting drunk, getting laid are the guiding precepts. And exactly how are these silly persons who join these silly organizations rewarded? They become - as was mentioned earlier - leaders in various fields. I have nothing but disdain for the traditional greek organizations. I am a little more empathetic - and only slightly so - to the other racial frats, as these are usually community service-oriented. Flame away if you must. I'll not change my opinion that traditional frats are nothing more than yet another institution of privileged whiteness -good for absolutely nothing of note.

*edited b/c of clever response*
Thank God you're in the minority with that opinion... 🙂
How exactly do you get along socially with people? Beat them with a stick until they see your point?

 

[GuyLaroche]

Thank God you're in the minority...

One has to wonder what you mean by this. I hope this doesn't mean what it appears to suggest.

God bless.

 

[swifteagle43]

Pledging Alpha Chi Rho this semester....

 

[mshheaddoc]

Hatred? Really, I'd be careful with the use of that word. I am hardly a hateful person nor do I subscribe to the feeling. And, it is a bit disingenuous to act like the frats we are talking about are anything but the traditional beer-drowning white fraternities. The source of the hatred - if you must call it that - is knowing that these previleged persons join these silly organizations in the name of "brotherhood," oblivious to the real social issues that confront others around them. Parting, getting drunk, getting laid are the guiding precepts. And exactly how are these silly persons who join these silly organizations rewarded? They become - as was mentioned earlier - leaders in various fields. I have nothing but disdain for the traditional greek organizations. I am a little more empathetic - and only slightly so - to the other racial frats, as these are usually community service-oriented. Flame away if you must. I'll not change my opinion that traditional frats are nothing more than yet another institution of privileged whiteness -good for absolutely nothing of note.

I just think your definition of fraternities is SEVERLY distorted. That is just me though. No flaming, I just didn't understand where you were coming from. Most frats I know were multi-racial ...

 

[VFrank]

Isn't that funny. This is precisely the argument for why the URM class should stay on in med school admissions policies. Wasn't I making some earlier correlation between good, old, white boys' clubs and medicine?

Ok, I'm pretty sure a really recent surgeon general was black (Jocelyn Elders?). Are you saying there aren't any URMs who are big-shots in the medical, political, and corporate worlds?

 

[Mephisto]

Isn't that funny. This is precisely the argument for why the URM class should stay on in med school admissions policies. Wasn't I making some earlier correlation between good, old, white boys' clubs and medicine?

That's ridiculous. First, I'm not white. Second, my point was that fraternities, because they force you to be social and open with others, naturally create social people, and therefore have a very high percentage of world leaders. Over fifty percent of the senate is greek. And that's similar for the fortune 500 companies. There's just no denying it.

 

[synapse lapse]

Frats are the most idiotic organizations around, largely full of imature people who think that getting drunk and having promiscuous sex are cool things to do. Are there any good frats? Yes, of course there are. But the overwhelming majority are just the same stupid thing. That is why the sterotype came about in the first place. The whole idea of hazing and pledging is all so silly. The worst thing is that these frat people think they are so cool because they are in so and so frat with such and such alumni/history. Its like, oh I'm special cause I get wasted with a bunch of guys and screw some girl i don't know, and half of the senate did as well. It's all so stupid most of the time. Anyhow, I'm sure people will flame me, I really don't give a $hit...

 

[GuyLaroche]

Frats are the most idiotic organizations around, largely full of imature people who think that getting drunk and having promiscuous sex are cool things to do. Are there any good frats? Yes, of course there are. But the overwhelming majority are just the same stupid thing. That is why the sterotype came about in the first place. The whole idea of hazing and pledging is all so silly. The worst thing is that these frat people think they are so cool because they are in so and so frat with such and such alumni/history. Its like, oh I'm special cause I get wasted with a bunch of guys and screw some girl i don't know, and half of the senate did as well. It's all so stupid most of the time. Anyhow, I'm sure people will flame me, I really don't give a $hit...

I don't do high-fives, but if I did, this would certainly call for one! The closest I could get to one is a : 👍

 

[GuyLaroche]

I just didn't understand where you were coming from. Most frats I know were multi-racial ...

let me help you complete the sentence:

"Most frats I know were multi-racial before they joined the fraternity, after which they betrayed their roots in favor of pink shorts and bright polos with raised collars".

This is what you meant, yes?

 

[coomassie]

Join the frat only and only if you know you can stay focused on your objective (med school).


party away!
-coomassie

 

[Mephisto]

I don't do high-fives, but if I did, this would certainly call for one! The closest I could get to one is a : 👍

I always find it funny when people feel like they are educated enough to comment self-righteously on things with which they have no experience whatsoever. You're not a former Greek or anything and yet you still feel like you know all about it. Those of us who have beeen in the Greek system understand what it's all about. ALL fraternities have committees that plan social events, philanthropy events, and community service. Even the "bad" fraternities are required to do it. If they don't, they get shut down and lose their funding from their alumni and national offices. That's another thing...colleges SUPPORT fraternities. They pay people to run an office of fraternity affairs. This office's job is to advocate for the fraternities. It also helps that the largest alumni donations to colleges come from fromer Greeks 😎 and they keep us around. Further, most college presidents are former greeks.

Either way, to give the OP a definitive answer, I think you should pledge and see if it's for you. If it isn't, you can de pledge or deactivate. I loved pledging because it gave me events to look forward to. Oh, and pledging is very misunderstood too.

 

[40oz2freedom]

first of all I personally am a big fan of the polo button up not so much the popped coller. Second the pink shorts i think you are talking about went out in the early to mid 80's. Third we(Fraturnal organizations) are no longer all "white" or if you would like to just come out and use the term WASP's we are broken down into 12 different catagoies if you just reference the link i have here it will give the break down of each and a small discription
(oh and the pink short and and popped coller guy would fall under Metrosexual)

http://modifiedliving.com/fratfiles.htm

second don't bash greek life based on you perconcived notions. because you will never no what its like if you didn't pledge and become a part of one.
that would be like me talking about how great or bad med school was even though I haven't even applied yet

To the OP i would tell you to do it cause pledging takes up alot of time and is a rewarding experence. once you get though pledging you feel as though you can conquer the world.

Those on the outside can't undersand and those on the inside can't discribe

 

[GuyLaroche]

Those on the outside can't undersand and those on the inside can't discribe

Perhaps you can't describe it because there is nothing there to describe. It's like air. All fluff no substance. You are certainly right about outsiders. We can't understand it because how can otherwise intelligent people forfeit their intellect in favor of beer, unruly behavior and just unscholarly disposition? Stop arguing for the decent frats that form such a small proportion as to be negligible part of all greek societies. Frats suck. It's okay - healthy even - for you to feel ashamed you were ever part of one.

 

[Mephisto]

Perhaps you can't describe it because there is nothing there to describe. It's like air. All fluff no substance. You are certainly right about outsiders. We can't understand it because how can otherwise intelligent people forfeit their intellect in favor of beer, unruly behavior and just unscholarly disposition? Stop arguing for the decent frats that form such a small proportion as to be negligible part of all greek societies. Frats suck. It's okay - healthy even - for you to feel ashamed you were ever part of one.

Ok, any respect I had for your ability to argue your point vanished with that last post. I understood most of your concerns before, where you thought most frats were WASPy and exclusive (they very much can be and most fraternities are trying to change that). You're the uptight type who is so in his head that any counter argument can't be seen. Look, your misconceptions lead you to not like frats, that's your business. But I'm telling you. Being in a fraternity is VERY hard work. It can be financially taxing, emotionally exhausting and overall, it can take up a lot of time. It's difficult to run an organization, and the fact that we learn to do it correctly in college is a good thing. Frankly, I feel more prepared to run my own business/practice due to my experiences with my fraternity than I do with all the business and econ classes I've taken. My shadowing opportunities through college came from me contacting the doctors through our national office. My community service opportunities came through the fraternity. And we're just your regular social fraternity. We have parties and have fun. We also have tons of premeds in my fraternity, ALL of whom were accepted to medical school. And we help the younger premeds in our fraternity with their classes and homework. We work hard and we play hard, and that's probably true of a LOT of fraternities, not a minority.

It's no use explaining to you because you just have no idea and are set in your view. Your closed-mindedness and immaturity are only going to hurt you in the future if and when you become a doctor. Now, more than ever, medicine is about connections and networking. Medicine is about business, and I think fraternities teach you to be savvy in these types of environments. It's okay - healthy even - for you to feel jealous you were never part of one.

 

[Kiroro]

Definitely don't join a Fraternity because many girls hate Frat boys.

Just take this as an honest advice from a college girl.
I'd rather date a geek than a greek.
I mean they (frat boys) are trying way too hard to make themselves look good and it really disgusts me. In my opinion, guys should not put so much money into their clothing, hair, and perfume. Also many of them are trying way too hard to be pumped up. I mean having some muscle is sure nice but spending so much time in the gym for body building just makes them look that much more desperate to get girls.
I'm sure many girls have same opinion with me....

 

[GuyLaroche]

Your closed-mindedness and immaturity are only going to hurt you in the future if and when you become a doctor.

Immature? Close-mindedness? Them are big words, eh?
Listen, you don't have to worry about me. I am doing quite nicely - and I will become a doctor. No "if" about it.

Now, more than ever, medicine is about connections and networking. Medicine is about business, and I think fraternities teach you to be savvy in these types of environments. It's okay - healthy even - for you to feel jealous you were never part of one.

Hahaha! Jealous? Hardly. You sound like wounded and defeated snake that is just spraying venom ever-which-way. I'm sure there are more contructive, sensible and respectable ways to learn about the business of medicine than beer-guzzling gatherings of privileged and clueless persons. Well, good luck with your frat-inspired life in medicine. I've made my contributions to this thread. I've no desire to insult anyone in particular.

 

[40oz2freedom]

Mephisto i couldn't have said it better

GuyLaroche as you prob. see i dont post much but your comments are so wrong. that i had to say something

also if you do become or are a Dr I am willing to bet that a majority of your collegues sp? were once part of a greek org. and if you were to say half the things you said in this forum to there face they would "rip you a new one" or make your life a living hell. because these orgs. are things people invest a lot of time into. so you can go ahead and try to get the last word in and continue to show everyone how narrow minded you are or you can just take some advise and let it be.

 

[40oz2freedom]

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1261997.html?menu

being able to drink saved this mans life. he must have been in a frat hahah

 

[GuyLaroche]

You criticize greeks for drinking a lot and trying to sleep with women. Those are flaws of charisma...which is why so many historical leaders suffered from them. I mean, my god, how many "great" leaders can you name who weren't alcoholics or womanizers or both?

And this is the reason to be a leader? Wow. I guess I am wrong.



PS: I wonder what school you go to.

 

[USCTex]

And this is the reason to be a leader? Wow. I guess I am wrong.



PS: I wonder what school you go to.

What?? What are you talking about??

These people are leaders because they're charismatic. These people are alcoholics and womanizers because...they're charismatic.

I go to USC. I had some fine options (Hopkins, Wash and Lee, UT) and I wanted to go to film school...so that's what I did.

*edited b/c it was rude*

This is stupid...I got nothing against you. I don't even know you. I was just saying you're being as closed minded as you accuse fraternities of being and there are plenty of good things about being a member of a fraternity (of which I'm proud). But, it ain't a big deal...you keep your opinion and I'll keep mine...

 

[GuyLaroche]

also if you do become or are a Dr I am willing to bet that a majority of your collegues sp? were once part of a greek org. and if you were to say half the things you said in this forum to there face they would "rip you a new one" or make your life a living hell. because these orgs. are things people invest a lot of time into. so you can go ahead and try to get the last word in and continue to show everyone how narrow minded you are or you can just take some advise and let it be.

Anyone who will make another person's life a living hell for exercising their right to free, un-bigoted speech is probably not someone I'd like to associate with anyway. "Rip me a new one" is a phrase I am unfamiliar with but I am only guessing it alludes to something crude and lewd or both. This will probably be more evidence of the unruly behavior of the frat class.

This idea that to be a leader, you must be in a frat is simply laughable. George Bush is hardly the standard to live by. Frats - especially as represented by you -are really quite insipid. The argument that I am narrow minded for pointing out the silliness of a silly institution that exists only for the indulgence of a privileged few is just not a good one. I am fairly certain that the smart folks on SDN will not buy into such a lame argument.

 

[GuyLaroche]

What did you do with your life? Get a Biology degree?

This is a very interesting question. Conceit is not a virtue and as such, I'll decline to answer it.