Anyone joined a "fraternity"?

I was invited today to join the Manchester chapter of an American fraternity called Alpha Kappa Psi. I went to a meeting today and it all sounds great. 200000 members (98% in US). It's a business fraternity with the aim of letting you meet with the best, and network with the best that the business world has to offer. Nixon and Reagan the US Presidents were all members. I left feeling very impressed, but also feeling like it was something akin to the Free Masons.

Anyone else been offered the chance to join a fraternity, or has anyone joined one?

Ed

I was invited today to join the Manchester chapter of an American fraternity called Alpha Kappa Psi. I went to a meeting today and it all sounds great. 200000 members (98% in US). It's a business fraternity with the aim of letting you meet with the best, and network with the best that the business world has to offer. Nixon and Reagan the US Presidents were all members. I left feeling very impressed, but also feeling like it was something akin to the Free Masons.

Anyone else been offered the chance to join a fraternity, or has anyone joined one?

Ed

My brother's in the Manch branch of the AKP - he went to Chicago with them and stayed in a 5* hotel for several nights. It was heavily subsidised so I believe it only cost him something like £600 including flights

it normally costs that much anyway

it normally costs that much anyway

it normally costs that much anyway

My brother's in the Manch branch of the AKP - he went to Chicago with them and stayed in a 5* hotel for several nights. It was heavily subsidised so I believe it only cost him something like £600 including flights

How do you get selected for them?

If you want to join an organisation that's similar in the way in which it'll develop your business skills, contacts and let you have an absolutely brilliant time then consider AIESEC (http://www.uk.aiesec.org). It aims to promote cultural diversity through exchange, although a core element of it's practice is the personal development of it's members, as well as enjoying participation (basically, have some of the best parties you will ever attend).

To name drop, in the UK we are sponsored by Diageo, Cadbury Schweppes, Vodafone, BA, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte & Touche and a number of other large companies, who often give AIESEC alumni preferrential treatment regarding recruitment. We are based at 25 UK universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and LSE, and are currently represented in over 80 countries around the world, with over 25000 active members around the World. It gives you a unique opportunity to meet some incredible people and to make life long friendships.

In terms of travelling, in my time in AIESEC I've gone to Latvia and Norway- they paid for my transport, food and accommodation. I've also travelled around the UK. However, not everyone will get these experiences- AIESEC is an organisation that gives you what you put in.

It sounds very similar to Alpha Kappa Psi. One thing in favour of AKP is that having become a member, I'll be welcome in the relevent 'frat' houses at any of the proper US universities. See 'Road Trip' for example.

And regards names dropping, exactly the same names were dropped at the meeting I attended last night.

I don't know much about fraternities but it sounds like this is a glammed up version of "the old boys network" that we're trying so hard to get rid of. The invitation to join obviously doesn't extent to women..

I was invited today to join the Manchester chapter of an American fraternity called Alpha Kappa Psi. I went to a meeting today and it all sounds great. 200000 members (98% in US). It's a business fraternity with the aim of letting you meet with the best, and network with the best that the business world has to offer. Nixon and Reagan the US Presidents were all members. I left feeling very impressed, but also feeling like it was something akin to the Free Masons.

Anyone else been offered the chance to join a fraternity, or has anyone joined one?

Ed

60% of members are female.

And why is the "old boys network" such a bad thing in real, and not idealistic, terms?

Ok- I take that back- I thought a fraternity was just for guys.

as for the "old boys network".. it prevents people who have not necessarily had the opportunity to network (for different reasons eg. background, discrimnation etc) having opportunities in their careers. These opportunities should be based on ability and not on "who you know".. surely you can see that?