Did you know that...

• 76% of US Senators are Greek.
• 85% of all US Supreme Court Justices have been Greek.
• 85% of the Fortune 500 executives are members of Greek organizations.
• 48% of all US presidents have been Greek.
• Of the students enrolled in four year institutions of higher education, 17% belong to social Greek Letter societies.
•  Greeks make up only 3% of US population.

Why Go Greek?

Brotherhood
The bond of friendship between brothers is strengthened throughout the college career and continues to remain strong throughout their lifetime. This unity and friendship is not only within the local chapters, but also spreads to chapters across the country. As the bond is not by birth, and rather by choice, the friendship and dedication are even stronger. Fraternities strive to combine the common goals and ideals of brotherhood with the unique experiences of the individual to create a meaningful whole.

Leadership
Fraternities foster the necessary leadership skills to make active and effective leaders. Greeks hold leadership positions in many student organizations; Chapters offer leadership positions within their organizations as well as open doors to other opportunities across campus. This gives Greeks invaluable skills which will continue to be an asset in college and beyond.

Academics
Your first priority as a UMBC student is academics. A common concern of many students is that joining a fraternity may take away from study time. In actuality, fraternities help create academically successful students. Fraternities set strict guidelines for their members and to help make these goals attainable, the organizations offer help in the form of support, personal guidance, and incentives. Fraternities also teach members to act responsibly and to build communication skills which will benefit members for the rest of their lives.

Service
One of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of the Greek life is the aid we bring to the community and school through service projects. Service gives a sense of true satisfaction that can only come from helping others. Greeks raise money and contribute their time to various organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and Special Olympics. In fact, most fraternities have philanthropies that they serve on a continuing basis.

Social
One of the more enjoyable and identifiable parts of fraternity life at UMBC is the social scene. Fraternities regularly sponsor mixers with sororities, informal parties, theme parties, tailgates, and other outdoors activities. This gives us a welcome relief from our academic studies. These events also help to build and maintain meaningful and personal relationships. Even more importantly, Greeks are able to learn the social graces which will benefit them for years to come.