The science of getting into a frat party

Every freshman has a certain vision of what their first college party will be like.

Walking right into a huge frat house full of cool older people, and have the night of their lives. All these things may very well await us hopeful, wide-eyed freshmen at these parties — if only we could get into them.

My first frat party, during move-in weekend, was very easy to get into. I was with three of my girl friends and two guys, and the bouncer at the door let the group of us in without question.

We made it into the party!

It was a packed, hot, sweaty basement full of strangers pressed against each other because it was the only option other than being smushed into the wall. But it was our first real frat party, and we had gotten in successfully, so we had a good time.

After the ease of this experience, I thought going to parties the rest of the year would be no big deal. You can just wander right into any frat, right?

Wrong.

As the weeks went by, it became clear getting into parties, particular frat parties, is not easy—it’s a science.

Luke McGrath, a freshman, commented honestly on his experience. “My success rate, if I had to say, would probably be about 15 percent. There were a couple of good ones that I got into, but a lot of rejects.”

While there is always the possibility a party might just be full, and they are limiting the number of people who enter to avoid it getting out of hand, most can confirm the coveted entrances close much earlier for males than females.

“I think it is very difficult for a freshman guy to get into fraternity parties. I think they like to have what is known as a ‘ratio’, which basically means that they want you to have significantly more females than males,” Luke told The Tab.

“I feel that this is unfair, and that they should have a 50/50 ratio at these parties so that everyone can be included equally.”

Ratio 0:4 you’re not getting it. Who do you know here?

As my friends and I learned, the ratio of guys to girls in your group can make or break your night. In a group of all girls, it is very likely that you will get into the party.

Alice Shaw, another freshman, has had a much higher success rate. “When I’m with a group of girls, as opposed to a mixed group, it’s definitely much easier to get in,” she says.

If the group is mostly girls with fewer guys, the bouncers can either let the entire group in, let the girls in for free but make the guys pay for entry, or not let the guys in at all. All of these have happened to my friends and I during nights out.

It might seem like this doesn’t affect the girls at all, but it does. When we go out with our guy friends, we don’t want to ditch them. A bouncer once told my group of friends the girls have to choose if they want to stay with the guys or come into the party.

The freshman march of desperation… the struggle of finding an open party

Even sophomores go through similar struggles. “Honestly I gave up trying to go out with guys after the first few weeks,” transfer sophomore Baylee Caroll says.

“We literally could not get them in to a good party even if there were four girls and two guys. So I basically just go with girls unless my guy friends know someone in the frat, or I go to a house party where I know it’s easy to get guys in.”

You can go through the entire process of getting a group together, getting ready, and going out, but the bouncers at the door really determine the success of your night. This kind of “gamble” deters many students from even trying to go out to a party.

“The whole party experience has been underwhelming. I thought, since Syracuse was supposed to be the number one party school, that it wouldn’t be a problem, but we really can’t do that much as freshman guys,” freshman Alex Straus comments.

So, is the ratio rule unfair, or just a part of the freshman experience? “It’s tough to swallow,” McGrath says, “but as some say, you’re paying your dues, and it’ll get better.”

So freshmen – don’t forget to assess your ratio before going out, or you might end up wandering aimlessly around Frat Row, and minimal clothing plus wintery weather doesn’t mix.

So close yet so far away!