Dear students and families of students at Southwestern University,

I want to tell you what most students and their families don’t realize about success in college. First, we know that it takes money to go to college. Second, we know that if students don’t get the grades, they won’t stay in college. But what few people realize is that there is a third component of college success, often more important than the other two: finding their people & figuring out where they belong.

Many students arrive at Southwestern wondering what it will take to make it on their own. It is a concern few students are comfortable sharing with each other. And while I would love for students to feel comfortable being honest and open with their new friends, I can’t expect it. What I can do, however, is tell you how to address any anxiousness you hear and help them make college their home away from home: they must get off their phones and out of their rooms to create their “college family.”

Most students do not realize that no matter how much they are paying, college will not come to them, but they have to take charge of their experience to make it at SU. The very element that draws students to college, freedom, is also the exact same element that foretells their struggles.

In the midst of your students coming freedom, no matter how hard they study, if they do not choose to step outside of their comfort zone on a daily basis and ask their fellow students questions and join student groups, they may struggle to feel at home at Southwestern.

There are 168 hours in a week and students are only in class for 16 of those hours. So, assuming they attend class (which would be the most intelligent thing to do), for 90% of their week, they will be able to choose how they spend their time. But, and this is a big but, if they don’t get involved in any student groups in their first month, they will be much less likely to enjoy their time at Southwestern (and graduate on-time). These first 4 weeks are that essential to their success at Southwestern.

I will end by telling you the best kept secret of becoming a family at Southwestern. In an era where fraternities and sororities are often negatively stereotyped in the national media, at Southwestern, our Greek Life system is one of the most historic, affordable, inclusive, and supportive places for real belonging. The variety of fraternities and sororities at Southwestern guarantees that any student interested in real connection and sisterhood/brotherhood will find it.

This fall is the first time in over 30 years when some new first-year students will be able to join some sororities and fraternities. This is my promise to you: if your students join a fraternity or sorority this fall or in January, they will be significantly more likely to graduate from Southwestern than their fellow students. Lastly, every SU fraternity and sorority has a robust alumni organization, in addition to Southwestern U. alumni groups, that provide assistance to their members in finding well-paid jobs and entering top graduate schools - plus, research shows they earn more than non-members (~36% more).

At Southwestern, we want your student to love their experience here. One way to ensure that is for them to become a part of a lifelong group of brothers or sisters who support them the rest of their lives.

Thanks for all that you have done to prepare your student for coming to college.

Jeff Doyle, Ph.D., Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life, doylej@southwestern.edu