8 ms·

Just an anecdote, but joining a fraternity drastically improved my social skills...and I personally believe these skills are fundamental when it comes to being

Just an anecdote, but joining a fraternity drastically improved my social skills...and I personally believe these skills are fundamental when it comes to being successful in the work force. Not because being in a fraternity made me a member of a elite alumni group that excludes others, but because it allows me to be a more effective team member. I have not doubt that I would be far less successful if I was as socially self-isolating as I was in high school. Not just successful as far as career trajectory, but just a less effective contributor. Most jobs require team efforts...which require social skills to navigate politely and effectively. It is from this perspective I find the original conclusion more reserved and purely based on observed correlations, while the second infers much (regarding causation).

cowpig 9y ago
I'm pretty sure most people develop social skills in university regardless of whether they join a fraternity. Having a group of adult friends, freedom, roommates, etc, all prepare you for the real world. Fraternities also prepare you for the ugly parts of the real world, though. The real world is full of elite clubs without meritocratic entrance criteria, and learning how to join one and function within one is certainly an advantage. I would argue that removing this advantage from as many people as possible would make the system of society as a whole run better, though.
- JumpCrisscross 9y ago
  > I'm pretty sure most people develop social skills in university regardless of whether they join a fraternity Being in a frat isn’t the only way to develop these skills. But lots of people coast through college without any non-academic social extracurricular exposure.
  - ghostlygpa 9y ago
    Not to mention your brothers will often push you into situations out of your comfort zone. OF COURSE this means you sometimes get peer pressured into making mistakes, that's part of growing up. However, my social skills went through the roof by constantly being "forced" to socialize and my own self-confidence grew immensely. Net positive for sure
  - lallysingh 9y ago
    And lots of people don't. For the student, it sounds like a useful venue to learn social skills.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- gbacon 9y ago
  Fraternities also prepare you for the ugly parts of the real world, though. Nice stereotype.
gt_ 9y ago
Maybe you are not a "more effective team member" but only a "more team member."

cowpig 9y ago

I'm pretty sure most people develop social skills in university regardless of whether they join a fraternity. Having a group of adult friends, freedom, roommates, etc, all prepare you for the real world. Fraternities also prepare you for the ugly parts of the real world, though. The real world is full of elite clubs without meritocratic entrance criteria, and learning how to join one and function within one is certainly an advantage. I would argue that removing this advantage from as many people as possible would make the system of society as a whole run better, though.

JumpCrisscross 9y ago
> I'm pretty sure most people develop social skills in university regardless of whether they join a fraternity Being in a frat isn’t the only way to develop these skills. But lots of people coast through college without any non-academic social extracurricular exposure.
- ghostlygpa 9y ago
  Not to mention your brothers will often push you into situations out of your comfort zone. OF COURSE this means you sometimes get peer pressured into making mistakes, that's part of growing up. However, my social skills went through the roof by constantly being "forced" to socialize and my own self-confidence grew immensely. Net positive for sure
- lallysingh 9y ago
  And lots of people don't. For the student, it sounds like a useful venue to learn social skills.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
gbacon 9y ago
Fraternities also prepare you for the ugly parts of the real world, though. Nice stereotype.

gt_ 9y ago

Maybe you are not a "more effective team member" but only a "more team member."