Hey ERW!
One of the many questions I have (had) about college is about the Greek System. I'm sure all of us are familiar with sororities and fraternities (along with their stereotypes) and I always wondered why someone would pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars to dress up and throw parties.
While researching the topic, I came across an article titled “7 Considerations When Thinking About Greek Life” by Julie and Lindsey Mayfield which lays out the pros and cons. Their three main cons were the cost, the stereotypes, and the time consumption. Despite the cons, they were able to list clear benefits, the first of which being connections. People involved in the Greek system are able to make connections with others, including alumni, who may be able to help them in the future, mostly with employment. Another benefit is community; Many consider sororities and fraternities as a built-in group of friends which can be a great help, especially in freshman year, because it can be difficult to make friends in an entirely new place. The Greek system also participates in many events which help students connect with the community and in turn can help with networking as well as giving resumes a boost.
My second question is : What are the pros and cons of studying abroad? Are any of you planning on studying abroad and if so, why? Feel free to answer this or leave your opinion on the Greek System!
-Taylor Spencer
Hey Taylor! I wanted to start off by saying thanks for getting the blog going. I want to spend a semester studying abroad. It seems like an interesting experience and traveling is something I love to do. However, some of the cons might be paying for the trip, getting homesick, or having trouble communicating if English is not the main language. Overall though, I think studying abroad is a good opportunity if you can afford it.
ReplyDeleteHey Tiffany, thanks for your comment! I would definitely have to agree with your statement, especially the cons. Two of the biggest concerns I would have about studying abroad are the cost and the language barrier (assuming one would be traveling to a non-English speaking country). It seems like it would be the most beneficial to people who are majoring in a language so that they are able to have some cultural immersion but financially, in addition to the normal college debts, it seems kind of extravagant to spend a semester in Europe for students who are majoring in Biochemistry or something. Although, people do say that college is the time to travel because you don't have that many responsibilities. Anyway, I wish you luck studying abroad in the future!!
DeleteStudying abroad sounds so fun! I think it's a great way to see other cultures while still getting your education. If I had the money to do so I would totally study abroad. I think it would be just a good experience to have in my life. As for the Greek life, yes they are very time consuming but I'd have to agree that the connections you make while in the sorority make joining one totally worth it! Also they always seem to have a sense of family so nobody ever feels like they're alone in the sorority. If whatever college I go to has Greek life I'll definitely join to make those connections that'll help later in life and to make friends that I can still keep in touch with after college.
ReplyDelete