Well first off, I am a sophomore at Clemson University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Its the time of year to join a frat, if you so wish. I have been thinking about joing one myself, and I am already interested in a particular Fraternity.
I didn't rush/pledge last year because my main priority was to keep my scholarship. (Which I did) I now know what I need to do to keep my grades up, and I am now looking for a little more excitement during these college years.

So what do you think about fraternities? Where/are you in one? If so, was it all that you expected?

Just trying to get a feel of what everyone has to say about them.

 

I was in one and it definitely enhanced the college experience. Certainly didn't help my grades though, but I could have been more disciplined.

 

Ya, that grades are the only thing that has me worried. I really need to keep my scholarship, because thats money thats not coming out of my pocket. Since I already have a year under my belt, I know how much effort I need to put in to get the grades I want. I think I have my head on straight enough that I can maintain my GPA and still have some fun.

 

Which fraternity, if you don't mind me asking?

 

I was in a Fraternity and it was really really fun. It sucked up a lot of time though. My grades suffered. I was immature though and didn't study much becasue I wanted to drink and chase girls. If you are diciplined enough you should be fine. It does take study dicipline though, and the understanding that you'll miss out on some stuff because of school, but your education should be priority one anyway.

my fraternity

wiki

 

I never joined the frat, but knew all the dudes and went to all of the parties, so much so that most would swear that I was rushed ( I didn't even actually go to their school either). Basically, just show up to the parties, the dudes are usually cool guys and will keep inviting you. I still hang with them 10 years later.

 

That's the way I did it. You pretty much get to do all of the normal frat things, with the exception of exclusive meetings and parties...which are retarded anyway. Plus, your grades probably won't suffer as much and I have yet to see a frat house where I wouldn't hang myself if I were forced to live there.

 

I went to the biggest greek school on the west coast and I did not pledge... I thought frat guys were stupid in the same way I think kids who shop at Abercrombie are generic... HOWEVER... looking back I really wish I would have pledged... the comraderie (sp?) and networking potential are huge... Hopefully, you'll also be surrounded by individuals who are also intelligent and can assist you with your school work and provide a sounding board for any issues you're having, both academically and socially. I think you have nothing to lose by joining a frat.

 

I'm glad I joined a fraternity (TKE). I made lots of good friends and got to party hearty. We had a lot in common and helped each other in any way we could.

Here's what we did the first night after pledging: stole the religious fraternity's neon sign and hung it from the campus clock tower; chained a rival fraternity member to his bed and put him, his bed, and his VW Beetle in the campus reflecting pool.

 

I was in a fraternity (Phi Sigma Kappa) and it was a blast. Your rush class is usually your closest group of friends as you go through college.

Brotherhood definitely has its privileges --> girls, past tests, socials, mixers, etc. definitely enhance the college experience that you really only get to do once in your life.

Oh and one more thing, usually when you're rushing/pledging, you don't want to use the word "Frat" for fraternity.