Many people can’t wait to go off to college to start the next chapter of their lives, and a portion of these students will go on to join Greek life. However, despite the popular misconception that Greek life is one of the only organizations on a college campus for people to join, there are many other organizations for students to join during their time at college. As well as to have other opportunities for students, some universities and colleges have decided to no longer house Greek life or to ban it from offering a space for those that do not wish to be surrounded by it. In this article we will get to know how to find the best four years of your life?
It has confused many but makes sense to so many others. Why get rid of Greek life? In recent years as hazing and other violent activities have increased in fraternal and panhellenic organizations, many families that have been affected by these have pushed to end Greek life in more places. Not only has this been cause for an uproar in many locations, but for many people that have initially been involved in Greek life, they have come to realize that it excludes them from the rest of the campus that they could be a part of and they no longer have time for because of Greek life.
With all of this in mind, there are many choices to consider- and for those that don’t want to be surrounded by Greek life- there are colleges and universities that offer the option of no Greek life so they can have the college experience they want. This experience isn’t limited to any specific type of college, and listed below are many different types of colleges across the country for this specific experience.
Liberal Arts Colleges
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts
Undergraduate enrollment of 1,745
Tuition and fees: $61,335
U.S. News Ranking: #2
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Amherst College is based on a semester calendar for its academic year and is known for the impressive nature that the students are studying and completing their academic work. Amherst is one of the colleges that participate in the Five Colleges consortium, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. It allows the students to take courses at any of the universities listed above to take classes where and when works best for them. Their student organizations, not including Greek life, are something they’re proud of while offering more than one hundred for people to participate.
This University has decided to ban Greek life specifically to all students (whether officially or unofficially tied to the school itself) due to conduct between students. With sexual assault charges and students’ lives and well-being put in danger, it has been decided that for a better environment for all who attend, Greek life will no longer be included in their student organizations.
Bates College
Lewiston, Maine
Enrollment of 2,000
Tuition and fees: $57,353
U.S. News Ranking: #25
Acceptance Rate: 14.1%
Bates College provides a diverse atmosphere where students have a balanced environment among peers and have a close learning environment among their teachers. With their professors offering teaching experience that has only been earned from spending countless hours in a learning environment themselves, this is so they can have the highest degree possible to teach to the best of their abilities. Bates also highlights that they want their students to learn and cultivate more than just their academic interests.
As described in the atmosphere that this University wants to provide their students in the classroom- they also want to do so outside. This is why Greek life is not present on this campus so that everyone feels welcome everywhere they go and don’t feel excluded based on stereotypes or social barriers that could be created. Students have even said that partying here isn’t typical- everyone is accepting, and it isn’t like a regular college where Greek life is the norm.
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, Maine
Enrollment of 1,806
Tuition and fees: $56,350
U.S. News Ranking: #6
Acceptance Rate: 9.2%
Bowdoin College also emphasizes the importance of having close-knit relationships between professors and students. As a result, the professors have the highest degree they can achieve in their fields of study. These relationships can develop in their classes because of the number of students they keep in classes. Something else that is also highly emphasized at this college is the amount of research and Honors projects completed by students.
These close-knit relationships can be developed and are making progress as the board hopes in return for the ban that this college made in 1997 on Greek life because of the exclusive nature that fraternal and sorority life came across to prospective students. The school has changed its tune because of the mold that they were trying to fit of white, wealthy males and has tried to work harder to instead work on looking for dedicated students of all kinds. So while the intent behind Greek life, the bonds and relationships that some students were able to make, was what they were looking for, they’ve been able to create it more authentically by abolishing it altogether.
Women’s Liberal Arts Colleges
Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts
Enrollment of more than 2,100
Tuition and fees: $79,108
U.S. News Ranking: #17
Acceptance Rate: 36.5%
Originally opened in 1875, it is now one of the largest women’s colleges in the United States of America. While Smith is proud of its origins and where it started, both men and women can attend Smith for its graduate program. They are also dedicated to making sure that all women striving to get their education at Smith are aided in whatever way the institution can help them. They are also a part of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts.
This college has had the idea of introducing Greek life to its campus come up to its student government and its governing board more recently, and this is not the only college where this has occurred. However, with a history of having students doing so well- and having a community where they can thrive, there has never been a strong enough push to truly lead anyone to want Greek life on this college campus.
Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Enrollment of 2,383
Tuition and fees: $58,448
U.S. News Ranking: #5
Acceptance Rate: 20.4%
Wellesley College is known for the rigorous academic courses that it provides for its students in the classroom and how well prepared the students are once they are sent out into the world. This real-world experience for the women that Wellesley teaches prompts them to be involved in many aspects of the campus, allowing them to voice their opinions on the going ons of campus life. This campus is also well known for its beauty and how that sets it apart from many other college campuses.
Like Smith, Wellesley is unique because it’s an all-female campus, and it does not recognize any Greek life. However, no one seems to be upset by this because no one here is missing Greek life. On the contrary, there are so many opportunities to participate and engage in everything that Greek life could offer at any other University that there has never been a question about why it isn’t here at Wellesley.
National Universities
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
Enrollment of 8,624
Tuition and fees: $57,699
U.S. News Ranking: #19
Acceptance Rate: 19%
This University is a Catholic and private university run by priests until 1967 and is still overseen by some laypeople and a board of religious trustees. This research institution is defined by its Catholic roots, and many of its endeavors stem from a belief system that helps focus research on continuing to help the world and serve those in it. While its beliefs are old, the University of Notre Dame prides itself on its openness to change and how they mix this with its traditional values and faith.
This University prohibits the Greek system and, while open to change- does not seem privy to these changes anytime soon. The University of Notre Dame strongly encourages its students to live on campus and in their residence halls. They spread the message that they are still giving students the best aspects of Greek life without any of the negative side effects. They give students friendships through social activities, physician engagement, and fun through intramurals. There is also a competitive spirit between halls that are known to be present among anyone in Greek life. They are aware that it is something that some students are looking for, but they have accommodated. They show what students are getting in return before they even join any other organization!
Rice University
Houston, Texas
Enrollment of 6,740
Tuition and fees: $51,107
U.S. News Ranking: #17
Acceptance Rate: 10.9%
Taking pride in its innovative research capabilities, Rice University has been making strides and making progress in research in many different fields of study. They also have been ranked highest in quality of life for their students. They offer a wide range of organizations and programs for their students to partake in, and they also work to create a less stressful environment for all students on their campus. While it is a private university, it can also hold the title of number 1 in mixing race and class lines to allow for a more diverse college experience.
Rice University rules similar to the University of Notre Dame as to how it does things; offering students the social aspect of sorority and fraternity life but taking it within the confines of resident life and not making students pay extra to be a part of it. This allows for a more inclusive group of people to be involved, but it also allows students to develop stronger friendships and a deeper sense of community within their school. They may not be involved in Greek life- but they are taking away some of the same things that members of Greek life claim to do (but maybe the only way to get more people to join).
So why attend a college without Greek life?
Maybe there isn’t one, but they’re also might be the perfect school waiting that has every aspect of Greek life- it just isn’t “Greek.” Many colleges are moving away from what the Greek system brings to the table and the issues they have to deal with, even if there are benefits to being in an organization that stands for something good. So whether someone is searching for a place that is inclusive and doesn’t have an organization that they know will leave them feeling isolated, or even if they’re looking for something similar but not exactly Greek life- may be one of these schools (or the many out there) is right for them!
