Richey says part of the boom in interest in sororities is that more and more women are seeking out their own place at Harvard.

"In the past, social life at Harvard was very defined in terms of males,"

Richey says. "After 1 a.m., the only things to do were final clubs and the

Grille. It's important that socially, women have their own group on campus instead of final clubs."

She emphasizes that what makes Harvard's sororities so appealing to many is that they're not "typical" sororities, like those often found at large state schools.

Fraternities and sororities expand one's connections beyond Harvard as well, Penner says.

When he went to the University of California in Los Angeles this summer, he stopped at the AEPi house to say hello.

"I immediately made 20 new friends," he says. "There is some commonality that bonds brothers throughout the country. AEPi fills a niche, by helping to bring together men with common social interests and direction."