Parents and Family

Sending a child to college can be a challenging and stressful time in a parent's or family's life. While at Ohio State, your child will encounter many opportunities to become involved outside of their classroom experience. It is important that you, the parent or family, be educated about the enriching experience that your child will find being involved in a fraternity or sorority at Ohio State.

What is being involved in a fraternity or sorority all about? 

The media often shares stories of the extreme cases of fraternity and sorority life. Often, you are not told of the many life-long benefits to membership in a fraternity and sorority. At such a large university like Ohio State, membership in a fraternity or sorority offers a small community of friends away from home. Additionally, national research has shown that involvement in fraternities and sororities increases students' chances of graduating from college and their success after college. As a life-long member of a fraternity or sorority, students are offered the opportunity to develop as leaders, serve the local community and focus on academics, as well as their careers, by connecting with local alumni members of Greek organizations.

My child is considering joining a fraternity or sorority, what advice should I give them? 

Since joining a fraternity or sorority is a lifelong commitment, and there is an expense associated with membership, it should be a joint decision between student and parent. Consider sitting down with your son or daughter and researching all of the organizations that are available to join. Utilizing local chapter and national websites is a great, convenient way to gather information. Feel free to contact students who are currently involved, and their parents or families, and ask them about their experience. In most cases, both students and families will speak candidly about their Greek involvement.

Sorority and Fraternity Housing

Fraternity and sorority facilities have the option to be approved as a second year living facility. This approval allows for second year students to have an automatic exemption from the two year live on requirement. Fraternity and sorority facilities are not university housing. For additional information please click here.  

As an educated consumer, consider asking the following questions before your child joins a fraternity or sorority:

• What is expected of fraternity/sorority members?

• What leadership opportunities are available to students as both new members and active members?

• Does the chapter perform hands-on community service? If so, how often? 

• Does the fraternity or sorority require members to live in the facility (if housing is available)? If so, for how long?

• What is the semester/annual expense associated with membership? How does this vary as a new member?

• What type of member is the chapter looking for?

• What values does this organization promote?

• Is the organization officially recognized by the university? If not, why is this the case?

• What is the time commitment?

• If I view the chapter website, what does it say about the chapter?