PROS and CONS ...

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Deeko
people outside the fraternity system tend to think we're all assholes who do nothing but drink and rape girls.

:shocked: you mean you don't?

Pros: The leaders will get you play and booze

Cons: They will want you to conform, pay dues and be subserviant

Basically, if you need surrogate parents, join a frat. If you need to be told how to think, join a frat. If the idea of having a good job while you're in college and living well while you are in college is something that turns you on, this lifestyle is not for you. You can get all of the booze and ass in the world without a frat.

 

[Deeko]

hahaha acemcmac....are you serious? What world are you living in?

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: Deeko
It always amazes me to find people in the greek system that still call them "frats". We were taught on our first day about how that is considered disrespectful.

Agreed. We also never call ourselves a "frat"; the term has become--as you said--negative and disrespectful.

Basically, just rush and see how it works out for you. Every organization is different. The fraternity that I joined is VERY different from anything else out there, and so it really just depends on what matches your interests and personality.

And no, joining a fraternity does not mean you will become a conformist, and it does not mean that you are attempting to buy friends. Anyone saying otherwise speaks from ignorance and/or lack of exposure.

 

[glen]

Originally posted by: Deeko
It always amazes me to find people in the greek system that still call them "frats". We were taught on our first day about how that is considered disrespectful.

Anyway, I am in Pi Kappa Alpha at Drexel. The experience has been almost all positive. The only negatives are dues, but even they come back to you, for example, we have two formals a year, a dance hall, open bar, transportation, etc, and we only pay $30/person, $60/couple. We also get a beach house for a week in the summer, all we have to pay is $20 additional, and that covers the house, food, etc. Not a bad deal. The other negative is the stereotype you have to deal with...people outside the fraternity system tend to think we're all assholes who do nothing but drink and rape girls.

The dork fraternities call themselves frats.
I don't understand it either myself.

 

[cheezy321]

Whoever says they are in a fraternity and call it a frat are a joke. I accidentally let it slip every once in a while when im lazy, but I try to never say that word.

Anyways, im in Phi Kappa Psi at ASU.

Pros
it was the best thing i have done in college yet. My pledge class and I are all best friends. I have 26 guys that would drop everything to back me up. It owns. Also, people on this thread have said that you can get just as much ass and party just as much without being in a fraternity. That could be true, but a fraternity opens up those doors by tenfold compared to what they are before you get in one. Basically, you could be partying and getting some action as much as you would outside of being in a fraternity, but being in one brings it to your doorstep. Think about that

Cons
Dues. I pay 725 a semester, but it all comes back to us in parties, so I dont mind too much

 

[austin316]

definetely join. best move I've made. as for dues/fees/ect.

at my school it was cheaper to live in the house with a meal plan at the frat house and all of the associated dues, than to live in the dorms and pay room and board.

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: Nik
Why the hell is Anandtech Off Topic the place that everyone asks every goddamn question that pops into their head instead of looking into it on their own, or finding a more appropriate channel to ask their stupid questions?

You = :thumbsdown:

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Nik
Why the hell is Anandtech Off Topic the place that everyone asks every goddamn question that pops into their head instead of looking into it on their own, or finding a more appropriate channel to ask their stupid questions?

Maybe because there are a lot of people here with different life experiences, and it's a good way to get information. This is Anandtech OFF TOPIC, and this question doesn't belong in any of the other Anandtech forums, so wouldn't this be an appropriate place to ask? Stop being such an ass.

OP - how'd that whole sexual harrassment thing at Alfred State College work out for you?

 

[PoPPeR]

well quite a few people have mentioned the fact that calling it a frat is disrespectful, but no one has said why yet...

so um yeah, why is it disrespectful?

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: jtusa4

Originally posted by: Nik
Why the hell is Anandtech Off Topic the place that everyone asks every goddamn question that pops into their head instead of looking into it on their own, or finding a more appropriate channel to ask their stupid questions?

You = :thumbsdown:

Nik is pretty much a total asshole and reinforces it with nearly every post.

 

[nageov3t]

I was president of a frat in college.

for me, it was a really great experience. my brothers (and sisters... it was coed) were all really great people, and at the very least, it gives you a group of people to party with if you're bored and there's nothing else going on.

on the other hand, a lot of the other greeks on campus were total douchebags. I lucked out when I chose to join a frat that focused more on community service and academics, as opposed to keg parties.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Deeko
It always amazes me to find people in the greek system that still call them "frats". We were taught on our first day about how that is considered disrespectful.

Anyway, I am in Pi Kappa Alpha at Drexel. The experience has been almost all positive. The only negatives are dues, but even they come back to you, for example, we have two formals a year, a dance hall, open bar, transportation, etc, and we only pay $30/person, $60/couple. We also get a beach house for a week in the summer, all we have to pay is $20 additional, and that covers the house, food, etc. Not a bad deal. The other negative is the stereotype you have to deal with...people outside the fraternity system tend to think we're all assholes who do nothing but drink and rape girls.

Two of my suitemates are pledging Pi Kappa Alpha right now.

 

[Mo0o]

Pro:
Meet people
Have fun
Connections after college

Cons:
Pledging can kill your grade
Being a frat boy can kill your grade
Dues.

 

[brunswickite]

Originally posted by: Nik
Why the hell is Anandtech Off Topic the place that everyone asks every goddamn question that pops into their head instead of looking into it on their own, or finding a more appropriate channel to ask their stupid questions?

You need midol.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I was president of a frat in college.

for me, it was a really great experience. my brothers (and sisters... it was coed) were all really great people, and at the very least, it gives you a group of people to party with if you're bored and there's nothing else going on.

on the other hand, a lot of the other greeks on campus were total douchebags. I lucked out when I chose to join a frat that focused more on community service and academics, as opposed to keg parties.

Hey man, Frats and Keg parties go hand in hand

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: Deeko
people outside the fraternity system tend to think we're all assholes who do nothing but drink and rape girls.

:shocked: you mean you don't?

Pros: The leaders will get you play and booze

Cons: They will want you to conform, pay dues and be subserviant

Basically, if you need surrogate parents, join a frat. If you need to be told how to think, join a frat. If the idea of having a good job while you're in college and living well while you are in college is something that turns you on, this lifestyle is not for you. You can get all of the booze and ass in the world without a frat.

maybe that's what fraternities were like at whatever school you went to but overall it's a pretty ignorant generalization. like Deeko, I am a member of Pi Kappa Alpha (RPI). joining was one of the best decisions I made during college. one of the coolest things for me was road trips to chapters at other schools. you drive up, introduce yourself, and all of a sudden you have another hundred friends who are totally welcoming.

oh yeah I will add that I was treasurer during my sophomore year, it was pretty helpful to put on my resume that I was responsible for a $200,000 budget.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: loki8481
I was president of a frat in college.

for me, it was a really great experience. my brothers (and sisters... it was coed) were all really great people, and at the very least, it gives you a group of people to party with if you're bored and there's nothing else going on.

on the other hand, a lot of the other greeks on campus were total douchebags. I lucked out when I chose to join a frat that focused more on community service and academics, as opposed to keg parties.

Hey man, Frats and Keg parties go hand in hand

Not coed ones. Those are the frats geeks join so they can feel like they're in a frat.

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
well quite a few people have mentioned the fact that calling it a frat is disrespectful, but no one has said why yet...

so um yeah, why is it disrespectful?

it reinforces negative stereotypes.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: loki8481
on the other hand, a lot of the other greeks on campus were total douchebags.

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Those are the frats geeks join so they can feel like they're in a frat.

point in case

 

[Apathetic]

Joining a fraternity has been one of the best things I've ever done. You'll make friends for life. The only BIG disadvantage is that once you put on greek letters, you become a target. You'll meet LOTS of non-greeks who think that just because you joined a fraternity you're a moronic beer-guzzling rapist.

I've been a member of Pi Kappa Phi for 18 years.

Dave

 

[Deeko]

Yossarian, we won a smythe this year! In just our 3rd year since being chartered. 2 Chapter Excellence awards and now a Smythe Cup

loki...that just bothers me...you're the president and you still use that term...

popper, the phrase i've heard commonly is "you don't call you country a wise and beautiful woman, so dont call your fraternity a frat"...whatever that means...but basically, the term "frat" is associated with all the negative stereotypes. In soceity, being called a "frat boy" is a bad thing...girls who go to "frat parties" are gonna get raped...and so on.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: Nik
Why the hell is Anandtech Off Topic the place that everyone asks every goddamn question that pops into their head instead of looking into it on their own, or finding a more appropriate channel to ask their stupid questions?

...says the guy with almost 33,000 posts.

I'm sure each and every one of them was topical and relevant

This is why its called "Off Topic", pal

 

[PoPPeR]

oh ic. That's very interesting, being a college kid now, I have a lot of friends that either joined some or thought about them, and this has never come up before. Must ask them about it next time

 

[n0cmonkey]

Less frat, more English.

 

[erikiksaz]

it reinforces negative stereotypes.

What negative stereotypes?