Greeks more likely to graduate than non-Greeks
When Jamie Suntken first came to the University of Colorado Boulder as a freshman, she was eager to get involved. There were so many options, and she was excited to find something that was right for her.
In the fall of 2014, Suntken decided she would rush the sororities at CU. However, she was worried about whether Greek Life would steer her away from her studies because of the common stereotypes she had seen constantly in movies, and what she had heard from many people in the past. She did not want a life that only consisted of partying and drinking, instead she wanted a life of stability.
When she decided to join the Alpha Phi sorority, Suntken was surprised. She was relieved to discover that academics were taken very seriously in her new sorority.
In fact, according to one study, a student involved in Greek Life is more likely to graduate than a non-Greek student. An average of 70 percent of Greeks graduate compared to 50 percent of non-Greek students.
“Everyone [in my sorority] cares about school. School is very important to me, and I always try to make it a priority. I think it’s really important. Greek life helps reinforce this for me,” Suntken stated.
Suntken is very serious about her studies. She has a 3.8 cumulative GPA, and she is a business major in finance and management. She is also involved in other groups on campus including the business residential academic program, the Leeds business mentoring program, and she is a coordinator for Camp Kesem, which is a program that provides year-round peer support for children ages 6 through 16.
Lacy Bogart, director of member education for the Panhellenic executive board at CU explains how students in Greek life have a lot of connections to other students, which helps with their academic success.
““I think [Greeks are more likely to graduate] because they have a better network of people that can support them. They have hundreds of people they can go to, friends, sisters, brothers, and then also you have to maintain a certain GPA to be in Greek Life, so that’s an added pressure. I also feel like Greek Life is just good for providing more opportunities because they can bring in academic speakers or they can bring in resume building work shops.”
In Alpha Phi, Suntken’s sorority, the minimum GPA requirement is a 2.3. Compared with other sororities on campus, this is slightly higher compared with the average 2.0 GPA requirement. Alpha Phi had the highest GPA on campus last year, so because of this, they were able to raise their standards. If the minimum GPA is not met, girls are put on social probation, which means they are not allowed to participate in any of the activities that revolve around social life, such as “mixers” with other fraternities, or “date dashes”.
In order to encourage girls to get good grades, Suntken explains how Alpha Phi provides opportunities for members to study.
“We have study tables every week, and we have a scholarship luncheon at the end of every semester,
and you get presents and free food if you get good grades, so that always good,” Suntken stated.
Not only do individual sororities provide opportunities, but the Panhellenic council, which oversees all sororities on CU’s campus, provides opportunities as well.
“We bring in speakers, and we make members more aware of opportunities that are out there. When we have our community meetings, we have a person come and speak, and they explain opportunities after graduation or what tutors are available, that kind of stuff. Just making sure people are aware of what’s out there because there’s so much going on, it’s such a big university that it’s easy to like get lost in everything that’s out there,” Bogart stated.
When Suntken finished her freshman year last May, she was excited to move into her sorority house in the fall. However, she was nervous about the distractions that could come with living in. Alpha Phi’s home houses a total of 60 girls, yet that proved to be more of a motivator for Suntken.
“I feel like walking around the house there’s always someone studying or doing homework, so it makes it easier to do the same. It really helps being in a sorority or Greek Life because it makes you more involved, you care more about school and you want to do better and stay in school. I feel like in the dorms you have all the random weird students that literally just didn’t leave their room or do anything. In my sorority I feel like I’m always motivated to go to class,” Suntken stated.
Bogart also explains how Greek Life has been positive in her academic career because of all of the sisters she is able to go to for help.
“If I’m in a class, and I don’t know what’s going on, I can guarantee you I have a sister in that class who I can ask for notes from, or we can study for tests together. Or if a girl has already taken that class she can help me, and you can get recommendations on what classes to take, which professors are really thorough, and I feel like it has given me an incentive and a push to do well because I want to see my chapter do well, and I want to do well because I know that there’s a standard I have to maintain,” Bogart stated.
Not only do Greeks have a higher chance of graduating, but Greeks have proven to be very successful after college. According to USA Today, 85 percent of Fortune 500 executives are Greeks. Also, according to the New Jersey Institute of Technology, since 1910, 40 out of the 47 United States Supreme Court Justices were fraternity men. Of all U.S. Congressmen and Senators, 76 percent belonged to a fraternity, further showing how Greek life can be a motivator to succeed.
In the future, Suntken hopes to go to law school, so her grades are very important for her future. Alpha Phi is able to motivate her to do better, and reinforces her goals.
“School is important to me because I feel like there is a lot that depends on school. I want to go to Law School or grad school after this, and I need to do well in school to do that, so that motivates me to study and get good grades. Mostly just the future. And there’s pressure from the world to go to school and do well, and Greek Life adds more pressure, but it’s good pressure,” Suntken stated.
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