Frat Living
You’ve got a year to step out of the box, and try something new. We aren’t ever going to find fraternity living in Cambridge, and in your time out here it may well be the best decision you make.
Your options: of the 28 fraternities, around 5 regularly take CMEs. All other members of the house will be Brothers who have been rushed and then pledged during their freshman year. Consequently, you’re in a unique position to be able to sample frat life for a year. Whether a frat takes CMEs, and how many, often depends on how much room they have in the house and their past relationship with CMEs.
The character of individual frats is very varied, it may be a gross generalization, but all tend to be more ‘normal’ than most of the living groups found at MIT.
MIT’s fraternities, in general, have between 15 and 40 brothers, most of who will live in the house. The houses are spread out both sides of the river, some in the older buildings along the Boston side of the Charles, some nearer to campus. You’ll never be more than a 10-15min walk from the centre of campus, and all houses are served by Saferide (MIT’s bus service). If you can’t bare life without a bike (most CME’s seem not to be able to), there are several ways to get hold of one (discussed elsewhere)- and they can normally be kept in the house.
FAQ’s:
Are they dirty?
Compared to the stereotyped frat, they’re pretty clean. In general, they’re no messier than you would expect 20 guys living together to be. The brothers will have a weekly clean up, and the house will stay spick and span for a couple of days, but you’ll often hit the other end of the spectrum after most Friday/Saturday nights.
Parties
Most frats will have several parties each term, some open, some more private. Some frats will also hold formals (though nowhere near Cambridge formals) a couple of times each year.
Sharing?
You’re more than likely to be sharing a room (though this is common wherever you might be living at MIT). If there is more than one CME living at your frat, it’s likely you’ll be sharing. As long as you come with an open mind you’ll probably make some good friends, learn lots, and have a great time.
Will I get any work done living in Frat?
Undoubtedly there are more distractions compared to living on your own. Many people in the house will work on campus until quite late
Will I be the only CME?
Possibly. However, if anything, this will mean you get a ‘purer’ frat experience.
How do I choose?
Hopefully you’ll get a chance to talk to some CME alumni before you go. Otherwise, most frats have their own website, or they are helpful if emailed.
Eating
All frats will provide dinner (either cooked by brothers, or have a chef), though some on a more reliable basis than others. There’s normally a limitless supply of breakfast cereal/sugar on hand. The only drawback is that some frats serve dinner as early as 6pm, which means that if you play Varsity sport you may miss dinner with brothers (they will keep a late dinner for you if you ask).
CME Housework
Varies. Some frats will give ‘chores’ to their CME’s, some don’t have get given any. Rarely more than an hour or so on a Sunday.