<p>URI is probably fourth on my list of top schools… first being Marist, then Quinnipiac, and then West Chester University of Pennsylvania. The reason why URI isn’t higher up on my list is because i’ve heard a lot of rumors about the importance of the greek life there, basically that if you aren’t in a sorority or a fraternity you’re pretty much nobody. I’m a girl and I’m used to having that big group of friends and I won’t lie I want to be apart of the party scene when i go to school…but my question is, if I go to URI will I have to join a sorority in order to have that lifestyle? Please tell me anything that you’ve heard about URI or if you go there and you have any insight at all, it will really help me out.</p>
<p>Why not just join a sorority if you go to URI?</p>
<p>
According to its Common Data Set, only 12% of men and 15% of women participate in Greek life at URI. </p>
<p>While that does not necessarily mean that Greek life does not dominate the campus, it seems that the vast majority of students are content without joining a frat/sorority.</p>
<p>I would join a sorority just to have that network of friends, but what if I change my mind later on? I just don’t want to feel like if I don’t join one I won’t have fun…plus I’ve heard the pledging is pretty rough</p>
<p>My niece went to URI and did fine by not joining a sorority.</p>
<p>Greek Life is certainly VERY visible on campus and around town. I don’t agree that in order to have a life one has to go Greek at URI, though. I know plenty of kids who go there who are not a part of a sorority or fraternity and have plenty of fun.
That being said, there’s really not much to do in the surrounding community. You’re about 40 minutes from Providence, an hour and a half from Boston.</p>
<p>Pledging a sorority is not rough. However, if you don’t want to pledge…no big deal.</p>