The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition

TEEN CENTER :: COLLEGE CENTER :: FRESHMAN JOURNAL

January 2003

Fraternities
And Sororities

By Caitlin Noris
Special to The Wall Street Journal

With the beginning of the new semester in full swing, I find myself very busy with my classes. I also have lots of new things I want to do this semester. I am applying to study abroad for two weeks during the summer. I am still searching for a job that doesn’t involve food or retail. I started looking for a place to live next year with three of my friends. I have also decided that I want to try to join one of the business fraternities at my school.

I have decided to rush (the word for seeking entrance into a private organization) for a business fraternity, which is a co-ed social and profession organization. Before I got to college, I thought there was only one type of fraternity, like the one I saw in Animal House and all those other great college movies. But there are actually professional fraternities and academic fraternities as well, which are both usually co-ed.

Part of why I’m rushing for the business fraternity is I really want to meet new people. By starting college, I automatically met lots of people, but I want to have more close friends. I figured one of the best places to start looking is the business fraternity, where there are people with my major that have already taken classes I have to take. I hope that by joining the fraternity, I’ll find help in getting internships, become more involved in community service, and hopefully have a chance to be in a leadership position.

I guess this leads me to my opinion on social fraternities and sororities. Joining a sorority is definitely not my kind of thing, so I never rushed when I got to college. I think it’s fair to say that I don’t get along with a lot of girls, especially large groups of girls. Some people think sorority girls are snobby. I have known some snobby sorority girls, but I’ve also known some nice ones. Same goes for "frat boys"—though I must admit I know more nice frat brothers than sorority sisters. With all the plusses of joining a fraternity or sorority, there is always the chance of being stereotyped as something you aren’t.

There are lots of opportunities to join organizations when you get to college. Many people find the idea of a close-knit, private organization appealing. My advice is to try it out. I know rushing for the business fraternity is going to take up a lot of my time, and just because I rush doesn’t mean I'll get in. If I were to get in, I would have to be a pledge for a semester, and that is even more time- consuming. Social fraternities and sororities usually have the same process. I know lots of people who put in the time and effort only to be rejected. On the other hand, some of the best friendships I have seen while at college were between "brothers" or "sisters." So try it out, and see if it’s for you. Even if it isn’t, there are lots of other chances to get involved and make great friends.

Caitlin Noris, originally from Miami, Fla., is a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh. Her Freshman Journal will be updated periodically on the Classroom Edition Web site.