Anyone have a son in a College Fraternity

[KarenMom]

My son started college two weeks ago and has decided that he wants to join a fraternity. This is something I never thought he would be interested in so I am surprised. He says it feels like a good fit for him. He attends a small public college in Colorado so the fraternity is only a group of about 20 guys. He is a very responsible kid so I'm not too worried, I just don't know what to expect. As a freshman he won't be living in the "house", but next year he will be. I think that's what I'm most nervous about. Anyone have any advice or information. I have to admit the only thing I know about fraternities is what I have seen in movies. Oh, the fraternity is Sigma Phi Epsalan.

 

[lynxstch]

he went to Rensellaer Polytech in NY and joined the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity..he lived in the fraternity house his Sophomore, Junior and Senior years..and had no problems..he kept his grades up, was very responsible, and all my visions of ' Animal House' failed to materialize..it's not for everyone, from what I understand..but my son made a lot of friends for life during those years..good luck to you and your son!

 

[KarenMom]

Thanks! The vision of Animal House is what scares me.

 

[TMcDwyer]

My kids are way to young right now, but I used to be a Sorority adviser at University of Colorado in Boulder, CO. Don't believe what you see in the movies or hear on the news. Your son sounds like a good kid and if he feels like he fits in at the house then they are most likely guys like him. He will party and have a good time, but being in a Sorority also taught me time management, conflict resolution, and a number of other lessons that have proven useful over the years. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the Greek system.

 

[TMcDwyer]

Where in Colorado are you? I live NW of Denver.

 

[rie'smom]

Our son was in a fraternity- PKT. He loved it and did live in the fraternity house. It was great for him because he went to school away from home. Our other son decided not to join one because it wasn;t something that he liked. Different strokes

 

[Floridagal23]

Is it a national fraternity? Sigma Phi Epsilon? Go to their website and read all about it. Most nationals (and also, the individual schools) require members to maintain a certain GPA, etc. - so if the grades slip, that's it (my sorority was that way - people with bad grades got extra study hours, probation, etc). Good luck!

 

[TMcDwyer]

Is it a national fraternity? Sigma Phi Epsilon? Go to their website and read all about it. Most nationals (and also, the individual schools) require members to maintain a certain GPA, etc. - so if the grades slip, that's it (my sorority was that way - people with bad grades got extra study hours, probation, etc). Good luck!

It is national.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

OP: The Greek system is actually a really life/business/networking skills builder!! All campuses are different but the Sigma Phi Epsilon ("Sig Ep") chapter on my campus was great!!

My kids are way to young right now, but I used to be a Sorority adviser at University of Colorado in Boulder, CO. Don't believe what you see in the movies or hear on the news. Your son sounds like a good kid and if he feels like he fits in at the house then they are most likely guys like him. He will party and have a good time, but being in a Sorority also taught me time management, conflict resolution, and a number of other lessons that have proven useful over the years. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the Greek system.

Agreed!! Not to mention learning Roberts Rules of Order! LOL!! One of my Sorority sisters moved to Boulder and advised our Alpha Omicron Pi chapter there for a while. Which sorority did you advise?

 

[chesterpdt186]

Even animal house fraternitys are a good experience for college students. Providing the individual goes to class and gets their learning in. Parting your heart out the rest of the time is no problem. In one year of alot of parting we produced 4 crime justice , 4 enginers, and few other assorted lots. The ones that did not make it were destined to fail college from the outset. For your son, just make sure he knows why he is at college, to get the degree.

 

[TMcDwyer]

Agreed!! Not to mention learning Roberts Rules of Order! LOL!! One of my Sorority sisters moved to Boulder and advised our Alpha Omicron Pi chapter there for a while. Which sorority did you advise?

Alpha Omicron Pi! What is your friends name? I was there from 2005-2007.

 

[KarenMom]

Thanks All! My son attends Colorado School of Mines in Golden so it's a much smaller school than say CU or CSU. I've done some reseach and of course the bad stuff is what makes the news, a house burning down, a chapter being closed down for hazing violations. I know there is more good than bad so I'm just going to trust my level headed son. By the way, TMcDwyer I live in Longmont, north of Denver too.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

DH is a Sig Ep! His brothers are brother for life, its really an amazing bond that they share Sig Eps are about the balanced man, I believe they are currently the largest (in number of undergrads) in the Greek system. Dave Thomas (the Wendy's guy), Dr. Seuss and John Goodman are all Sig Eps!

If you have any questions at all just send me a PM and I will have DH answer the questions for you.

And here is the link to the parents info on the website

http://www.sigep.org/parents/default.asp

 

[mamacatnv]

Sig Ep has a better reputation than most. My DS received an invite his Freshman year but decided to wait and see. He is now a Sophomore and still contemplating. Sig Ep is big on GPA's etc.

There are a couple of Mom's here on the Dis whose sons have joined, hopefully they can come along and give you some personal experience.
I too immediately thought of Animal House but colleges have really cracked down on the Greek System and heavily monitor their behavior.

 

[powellrj]

My DS has been thinking about it. He has been invited to several houses since school started and has shown an interest in one. I think he is taking a wait and see attitude with it for now. I was the same way, everything I knew came from movies, but since talking to others who attended his school, I am starting to get the feeling its not a bad thing!

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Alpha Omicron Pi! What is your friends name? I was there from 2005-2007.

Hey there sister! LOL! Her name is Veronica Luna Kentish. I was an adviser for my chapter (Lambda Beta @ Cal State Long Beach) while she was in the chapter. I'm currently the Recruitment Adviser for Lambda Alpha, our new chapter at the University of LaVerne, here in So. CA!!

It really IS a small world, after all!!

 

[Uuaww]

While each fraternity has core beliefs nationwide, you can't judge a chapter on one campus and presume it is the same somewhere else. Fraternity life in West is very different from the Northeast, Midwest and South. My only advice is join a national fraternity, it allows you to network, understand how the organization works on a national level and you can be as committed as you want to be. Non-national fraternities (ones unique to a campus) are just glorified clubs. They often don't have the academic acheivements, haze much more and all it is is a group of guys from your college who do it.

Joining a fraternity was the best decision I made in college. I made some great friends, great connections and really learned a lot. Yes we had "hazing" (ever wonder how a fraternity house stays so clean?), but it was mild and didn't involve drinking. If I had the chance, I would do it again. My fraternity had about 25 members while I was there. I graduated just last year.