Social Effects Of Fraternity

In today’s modern time, college and universities are competitive and impacted; a lot of students work hard and compete to attend the best. Nowadays, high GPA and grades are not the only important factor that college and universities look for, but being an all-around student who is involved with volunteer work, campus clubs, and sports. Many students take the easy route and turn to clubs or bigger social organizations such as the Greek life. Unlike the average clubs or student organizations participating in a fraternity and sorority is a lifetime affiliation and students are only allowed to be committed to one. These social/cultural groups are filled with members who share similar values and interests that can also offer a college life experience, good or bad.

The commitment and dedication of members within sorority’s and fraternities overtakes a majority of student’s life.

In the article, “The Effects of Fraternity/Sorority Membership on College Experiences and Outcomes,” authors Ashley M. Asel, Ernest T. Pascerella and Tricia A. Seifret, provides the explanation of a Greek’s life experience and the outcome of it. Studies have shown that the number of students in the greek life spend more hours per week participating in extracurricular activities and volunteer work than other students (Asel, Pascerella& Seifret

3). With the amount of time devoted to the club, it can limit their time in putting as much effort into studying. The academic performance in joining the social/cultural organizations has been proven in a positive or negative aspect of a student’s education. Although the groups are organized to benefit the community, the school, and promote students learning, studies show the performance of critical thinking skills has reduced after the first year of college (Asel, Pascerella & Seifret 4). It states that fraternity and sorority member’s educational performance ratings have gone down ever compared to entering as an freshman in college. While the article has provided good facts on one’s performance on being a member of a fraternity or sorority, there were some things that would be a setback for example, including an extensive survey with a 36.5 response rate. The survey “employed questions that have been empirically shown to have the greatest impact on undergraduate student learning and persistence (Pascarella 3). The survey portrayed an analyses containing fraternity/sorority membership from first year to 4th year on the hours that were participated in college engagement and the outcome. It was split into sections and was explained very detailed, but the rate would be too low to make it seem reliable to the readers. As college itself, is already a serious time commitment being involved with outside activities can become stressful.