There are certain stereotypes that everyone is familiar with when it comes to attending a college or university in North America. If your only experience with this continent is taking out cabin rentals in BC for your vacation, the concept of fraternities and sororities may confuse you. So whether you're looking for the truth behind the myth, trying to prepare for your college experience, or just studying North American college culture, this article on sororities and fraternities should be helpful.

So what are sororities and fraternities? They're smaller communities of students within a larger student body. Their names come from the Greek words for "sister" and "brother," so sororities are subcommunities for women and fraternities are subcommunities for men. Even though Pilates in Mississauga is open to both genders, sororities and fraternities remain stubbornly single sex to promote bonding and friendship between students of the same gender. Most fraternities and sororities will have "brother" or "sister" organizations on campus.

Each fraternity or sorority is designated by a collection of Greek letters and may have chapters at different universities around the country. Each fraternity or sorority has its own charter which states the purpose of the group. Some groups might dedicate themselves to mutual appreciation of Andy Warhol paintings while others focus more on improving the college social experience for their members through parties, charitable work, and other activities. Some groups have come under fire by colleges and the media for encouraging excessive alcohol consumption and reckless behavior.

Fraternities and sororities are exclusive social groups, resembling permanent cliques where it is the members who come and go as they graduate. Many a psychologist in Oakville has studied the recruitment and initiation process for these groups, which involves an activity known as pledging where aspiring members are embarrassed and/or made to work hard to prove their worth to the existing members of the group. When these proceedings are taken too far and involve harming or humiliating hopefuls, it is called hazing. Upon being accepted, they receive a pin or badge with the group's coat of arms.

Most members of sororities and fraternities live together in what is called a chapter house to further develop bonds between members. Since membership is only open to undergraduates, most people are members for only four years, until they either graduate and go to work at Massage Mississauga or move on to graduate studies. However, many sororities and fraternities have alumni organizations that organize reunions and/or mentorship arrangements between current and former members.