The relationship between participation in extracurricular organizations and the academic performance and retention of college freshman

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in academic performance and persistence among freshman participating in fraternities, corps of cadets, and athletics in comparison to matched samples of non-members. The study showed that, on average, students were adversely affected by participation in athletics and fraternities when sex, race, college, major, and academic ability were controlled. There was no evidence to conclude that participation in these organizations had any consistent effect on persistence.