15 Overlooked Benefits of Fraternity and Sorority Life

Just in time for the fall term, BestCollegesOnline.com recently published an article entitled “15 Oft-Overlooked Benefits of Greek Life.” It recognizes the positives of built-in friendships and an active social life, but also mentions many more benefits of fraternity/sorority life worth noting that are often overlooked. Below you’ll find an edited list:

1. Leadership Opportunities - Greek organizations provide opportunities for students to be leaders. Elected positions include president, treasurer, social chair, and many more and these positions look good on a resume.
2. Greater Hazing Awareness Than the Average Student - A recent survey by the NASPA Assessment and Knowledge Consortium found nearly 40% of Greeks discuss hazing prevention multiple times each semester, while 93% said they were ” extremely knowledgeable” about what qualifies as hazing.
3. Higher GPAs - Greeks often have higher GPAs than non-Greeks. Many fraternity and sorority chapters require a minimum GPA for joining. Greek students also have access to older brothers or sisters who have taken the same classes and can help them with their studies.
4. Community Service - Greek organizations overall bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. Compared with the average student, Greeks are much more involved in bettering their communities.
5. Greeks Are More Likely to Graduate - Surveys and studies have consistently shown that Greeks have better retention rates, are more likely to graduate, and are more likely to graduate on time than non-Greeks.
6. Career Networking - Because they’re so focused on making friends right now, new Greek pledges are prone to overlook the fact that the friends they’re making and people they’re meeting through the chapter could one day be important business contacts.
7. More Interaction With Faculty - One of the benefits Greek organizations promote is the increased levels of interaction with faculty members, whether through working with Greek advisors or organizing campus events with administrators. These faculty can be great influences on young people.
8. Improved Interpersonal Skills - Speaking and interacting with people has always been an integral part of the Greek experience. In living and working together, students learn interpersonal skills like conflict resolution and how to meet and work with others.
9. Housing Opportunities - Some fraternities and sororities have nice houses. They can be a great way to get yourself out of the constrictions of dorm living and into a house that may have a pool, pool room, widescreen TV, ample kitchen, and other nice perks.
10. Rushing Can Help Increase Overall Commitment - If you can make it through the membership process without quitting you can learn an important lesson about your own character.
11. Built-In Sports Team - A very popular activity in Greek organizations is intramurals, which promote good health (and healthy competition) and help members stay fit.
12. Prevents Feelings of Isolation - Even on a campus full of people, many students struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness in their new collegiate environment. While it is theoretically possible to continue to have those feelings after a student joins a Greek organization, the likelihood could be decreased once one finds a fraternity or a sorority with members with similar interests, values, and personalities.
13. Connected People Are Happier People - Crafting strong friendships is probably Greek life’s No. 1 selling point, but an ancillary benefit of those friendships that may be overlooked is those good relationships are a vital factor in determining happiness.
14. Practice Your Interview Skills - Rushing a fraternity or sorority is a lot like interviewing for a job. It requires the same ability to relate to people, to sell yourself, and to do your research on an organization beforehand. If you can learn how to relax and be yourself while going through the process of choosing and being chosen by a fraternity or sorority, landing a job will be a piece of cake.
15. Some of the Most Successful People Are Greek - Some of the most prominent people in America are members of fraternities or sororities. Thirty percent of Fortune 500 CEOs, 40% of U.S. Supreme Court justices, and 48% of U.S. presidents were Greek. For making up only 3% of the population in America, clearly, the fraternity/sorority system is doing something right.