Comparable Schools'
Greek Life Grades:
Quick Stats
% of Undergrad Men in Fraternities
0 %
% of Undergrad Women in Sororities
0 %
College Prowler Take
The Greek system hasn’t existed at Bowdoin in any form since 2000. Greek Row was replaced by a college house system—an eight-house system that is matched with first-year housing to assist the proctors in transitioning first-years to the social life on campus. The houses existed as fraternities before Bowdoin believed that the fraternity system hindered Admissions from attracting the best student body possible. Less than 20 percent of the student body participates in this housing option. Unlike the Greek system, the social house system is controlled by the Residential Life Office, which plays a role in who lives in the house. However, they give each house a budget to plan its own programming for themselves, their affiliated first-years, and the community.
The house system is most popular with sophomores trying to avoid the housing lottery. Each house offers laundry facilities, common areas, and social areas, and some include elevators and prime parking spaces. Social house parties tend to only attract first-years and sophomores, but parties like Halloween at MacMillan, Graffiti at Baxter, and the 80s Party at Ladd do attract some upperclassmen. Howell House gets a very bad reputation for attracting the odd ones in the Bowdoin student body who do not fit into the mold. They registered four of the possible six kegs that Residential Life permits on campus at a time so students would attend their alcohol-free party. Overall, the social house system plays a visible role on campus with their programming for first-years and, at times, entertaining parties.
Students Speak Out
Student at Bowdoin College?
Post your own reviews or take a survey on your school.
BowC says: Bowdoin College 2015 Communication and Journalism February 26, 2009  |
There is absolutely no Greek life. |
Anonymous says: |
Social houses are a lot of fun to...
Social houses are a lot of fun to live in sophomore year, and it’s great to not have to go through the housing lottery. |
Anonymous says: |
Social houses are a really great...
Social houses are a really great way to socially integrate the freshmen into the college. |
Anonymous says: |
It’s great to live in social...
It’s great to live in social houses with a lot of your friends in a great atmosphere. |
Anonymous says: |
Instead of Greek life, we’ve...
Instead of Greek life, we’ve got the house system. It’s kind of like having only eight frats on campus, except there is no rush, everyone belongs to at least one of them, and the school plays a role in your programming. It’s actually really nice having no Greek life here because there is no pressure on you to rush, where to rush, or any of that. There are tons of ways to meet people here—we just don’t need frats. |
Facts
Other Greek Organizations
- Inter-house Council
- Peucinian Society
- Phi Beta Kappa
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