What is a Fraternity & How To Join One?

19 Aug 2024, by Danielle Slauter, min. read

Your guide to everything about Greek life while you’re at college.

Navigating college is a challenge in and of itself, especially as a new student. Regardless of if you’re a freshman leaving home for the first time or a transfer student looking for a fresh start, there’s a never ending list of things to juggle. Things like academics, extracurriculars, and social events to name a few. Not to mention if you decide to join the Greek life system on campus, especially fraternities.

We’re here to give you the rundown on what exactly a fraternity is, how to join one, the recruitment process, and everything in between. If you’re planning on rushing during your time in college, this is the place to start. Got questions? We’ve got answers.

What is a fraternity & how do they work?

While you might have a vague idea of what a fraternity is and what they do, you probably don’t know the full scope of how Greek life works on campus. Not to worry—we’re here to help you out.

We’re going to break down the essentials of fraternities and Greek life on campus and exactly how they work. Joining a fraternity doesn’t have to be a daunting process, promise.

What is a fraternity?

Also known as a frat, fraternities are social organizations at colleges that are a part of the Greek life system on campus. Sororities are also included in the college Greek life system.

Fraternities are primarily made up of men, but do occasionally include women. They are built around shared goals and values. Members are committed to each other for life, working together to learn, improve, and strengthen the fraternity.

As a whole, fraternities foster a common goal of brotherhood with a focus on social, academic, and community activities. The first fraternity was established in 1776 when students decided they needed to discuss events outside of the classroom. Since then, they have evolved and grown into multifaceted organizations, possessing a set of principles that guide their members.

How do you join a fraternity?

Joining a fraternity is a multi-step process known as recruitment. This usually takes place at the beginning of the school year during the fall semester, but some fraternities also take potential new recruits midway through the year during the spring semester.

Fall is the bigger recruitment event, while spring recruiting is generally more relaxed. It varies between campuses and chapters, so be sure to check with your Greek life office on campus to see when recruiting events will be happening.

What is the recruitment process?

The recruitment process takes places across multiple steps, which are as follows:

Rush week: Students will visit the fraternities on campus to learn about their values and goals to help determine if they are a good fit for each other.
Bid day: Prospective recruits receive bids from fraternities on campus inviting them to become pledges.
Pledging: Recruits “pledge” to join one specific fraternity and are unofficial members until they are formally initiated.
Initiation: Pledges are officially initiated into the fraternity through various traditions and processes, swearing into the brotherhood for life.

What is rush week?

Rush week is a huge chunk of the recruitment process. This allows potential new members to learn about the different fraternities on campus. During this time, you will also see which fraternity best matches up with your personal values and goals. Both the fraternities and new recruits get to know each other to see if they are a good fit for each other.

During rush week, the recruits engage in a variety of social activities at each fraternity on campus. If you’re rushing, you’re required to visit every fraternity on campus. After the initial round of visits, potential new members may be invited to pledge at certain fraternities. Regardless of where you end up pledging, there are initiation rituals to create a sense of bonding and brotherhood among the members.

Thankfully, most fraternities and Greek life organizations no longer engage in hazing rituals anymore. However, it’s important to note that some, unfortunately, still haze their members. Stay informed and, for both your own and the safety of others, do not participate in any hazing practices. The consequences could be as sever as expulsion, so it’s not worth it.

What is pledging?

Once you decide which fraternity you want to join on campus and are accepted (congratulations!), you are a pledge. Pledges participate in more exclusive events to dig in to their prospective future fraternity.

Selection processes vary across schools and chapters. During this time, pledges are given the opportunity to learn about the fraternity chapter’s specific history, values, and traditions. Pledges also get to know the current members (their future brothers) even more than during the initial rush week intake process.

Pledges will eventually become full-time brothers of the fraternity after a designated period of time that varies from chapter to chapter. Before that, however, is the initiation ritual. These serve as a rite of passage for new members to symbolize their commitment and dedication to the brotherhood. These rituals usually involve symbolic gestures that reinforce the fraternity’s shared values.

How much do fraternities cost?

While the idea of joining a fraternity while you’re an undergrad may sound like the perfect idea, it’s important to note that it does come with a cost.

Each fraternity’s cost varies by chapter and campus, but the average amount to expect to spend per year is about $3,000. Others can cost much more or less depending on the school and if you opt to stay in the fraternity house on campus or not.

For example, at a school like the University of Alabama (which has one of the most prestigious and well-known Greek life systems in the United States), expect to spend close to $4,000 on new member fees alone. Once initiated, dues that include housing cost nearly $7,000 per year.

Other schools are more reasonable. Oregon State doesn’t have new member fees, and the average cost for members who live in the fraternity house is a little less than $2,500. For those who opt for living somewhere else only pay a little over $400. Be sure to check with your on-campus chapter to get an estimate of how much your specific dues will cost.

There are financial aid and scholarship opportunities for those interested in joining the Greek life system. More than 700 campuses across the country are addressing the accessibility and affordability of both fraternities and sororities. To see if your chapters offer any kind of financial aid for prospective pledges, check with your Greek life office on campus.

What are the benefits?

Joining a fraternity has many benefits for its members. They include:

Personal growth & leadership opportunities: Members have many opportunities to develop communication, teamwork, and organizational skills.
Social events: Frats are most known for their parties, mixers, and philanthropic events held on and off campus. Aside from being fun, they also help to establish and sense of belonging and unity. Fraternities will often host events with the sororities on campus, as well. All of this fosters a lifelong connection among members.
Service projects: Many fraternities volunteer within the community or with a specific charity or nonprofit. Creating a positive impact on society on both large and small scale is a cornerstone of Greek life on campus.
Recruitment: As you continue your journey as a fraternity brother, you will eventually help recruit new members. Since growing the brotherhood is a huge part of creating community, assisting with these events and ushering in the next class of pledges will become part of your responsibility.
Intramural sports: Plenty of fraternities on campus also participate in intramural as a way to bond. Aside from just being a fun way to create community, it also keeps you active while keeping you plugged into on-campus events.
Networking: Since the fraternity network and brotherhood extends all over the country, it can potentially help you finding jobs, internships, and other opportunities post-graduation.
Lifelong community: As mentioned, joining a fraternity is a lifelong brotherhood. You’re creating bonds that will last a lifetime. Many chapters also invite previous alumni back to campus for various events, fostering an even bigger sense of community among current and previous members.