Explain about American colleges please?

Question

I live in the UK and just curious, if someone could explain the following please?

What is a sorority/fraternity?
Whats the deal with the greek letters?
How long do you spend in college?
What age do you start college?
What is a pledge?

Cheers!

Answer 1

Sororities and fraternities are social organizations which exist on the campuses of some American colleges and universities. Some of these groups are also professional or charitable, but not usually in relation to colleges and universities. Sororities are for women and fraternities are for men. Normally fraternities and sororities are named after some greek letters. A pledge is a name for someone who is in a trial period with the fraternity or sorority. These groups are optional...some students join them and some do not.

Most people start college or uni when they're 18 (after graduating from high school) and spend 4 years there for a typical liberal arts degree. More specialized courses might require more or less time, but that is the standard for most majors.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

In the US, we use the words college and university interchangeably. We mean what you would call a university.

A sorority or fraternity is a little bit like what you would call a college. Your sorority or fraternity is your "house". You can live there. You generally spend most of your time with your brothers/sisters for your college career. You don't apply like you would to a UK college though. You rush. Rush is basically going to parties. If they like you, you will get a bid. If you like them, you accept the bid, and you become a pledge. A pledge is just a new member. You will be a pledge until you go through initiation, at which time you are a full member. Based on the party thing, I think you can figure out that these are social institutions, not academic like a UK college. The only way they are the same is that you can live in, and they are your friends and support system. Joining one is completely optional, unlike a UK college.

99% of fraternities and sororities have names consisting of Greek letters. It's just tradition. It dates back to Phi Beta Kappa. The founders of Phi Beta Kappa chose Greek letters to name themselves, and everyone else followed suit.

It traditionally takes four years to earn a bachelor's degree. Most people go to college immediately after high school. (Not sure what you call high school over there.) Around age 18.

Answer 3

Sorority= Female group dedicated to a certain goal, basically a social group.

Fraternity= Same thing as a Sorority, but male instead of female

The greek letters are the names of the fraternities and sororities, i.e alpha phi omega, alpha beta...

Depends on your degree
Associate's: 2 years
Bachelor's: 4 years
Master's: 6 years
Doctorate/PhD: 8 years

Age: Usually 18/19, though any older age is acceptable

A pledge is a new recruit to a frat/sorority

Answer 4

Sororities and fraternities are college social clubs for women and men (sororities = women, fraternities = men). These clubs have Greek letter names out of tradition. Oftentimes, a family will have a long history of belonging to a particular club. They have some social advantages, such as a place of belonging, and long term friends. They also have some negatives as they are perceived as being snooty, and limit their members to supporting only their functions.

To join a sorority or fraternity you have to apply (called a "rush"), then if they extend membership to you, you will undergo some ordeal before you make your "pledge" to support the organization.

Students typically start college when they are approximately 18 years old and most degree programs are for 4 years. If a student changes majors (and many do) then expect to spend another year in college.

Answer 5

Cheers!!