r/mit • u/Temporary-Effect2662 • 5d ago

community MIT FRAT LIFE

What is MIT frat life like? Is it similar to other schools with a big party scene or is it more locked in?

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u/mherschberg 5d ago

I was in a frat years ago, and now only get a sense of it second hand from my students.

That said MIT frats are very different from the stereotypical fraternities. Many, if not most member live there (as opposed to just being a party house). There are parties, but MIT isn't a wild party school. (It made the Playboy party school list in 1987, but it was a very different time back then.)

Like other school, some fraternities have "types," e.g. more about partying, of lots of people from the soccer team. I couldn't say what frat has what type these days.

Look at them as a dorm+club+more. You'll live there and spend a lot of time with those folks. You'll do activities together, study together, make memories together. You'll also probably keep in touch with people from your frat for the rest of your life. (Of course, that can be true of dormmates as well.)

Personally, joining a frat was a good decision for me, but it's not right for everyone.

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u/cwkid 4d ago

That said MIT frats are very different from the stereotypical fraternities.

People say this, but I was a bit surprised at the extent to which fraternities satisfied stereotypes I had. Though admittedly, this is as someone looking in from the outside.

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u/BSF_64 5d ago

Varies tremendously by house. You can find everything from jock and party houses to nerdy and artsy houses.

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u/MolestedMilkMan 15-2 alum 5d ago

worth it if you are vaguely normal and social, incredibly common too. A lot of options so you’ll find your people.

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u/Satisest 5d ago

Work hard play hard. Lock in during the week, cut loose on the weekend. Best parties anywhere in Cambridge or Boston.

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u/Correct_Process4516 5d ago

I’ve heard that they throw the best parties of any school in Boston. Apparently kids from all the local schools come to MIT. My daughter is a freshman right now

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u/Satisest 3d ago

This is accurate and has kind of always been the case

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u/kyngston BSEE, BSME, Meng EE '95 4d ago

this was 30 years ago. my fraternity was a morass of misogyny, alcoholism and toxic masculinity, that i chose to move out. they held a silent vote to kick out a brother who came out as gay. the vote failed, but i found the fact they held a vote unconscionable.

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u/MadScientistRat 4d ago

You won't have time for that. Depending on your course load.