HereICome's FRATERNITY Rush Thread!!!

HereICome · #1 11-21-2006, 04:09 AM

Hi everybody. As much as I see we don't have many fraternity rush threads in this forum so I decided to add one. I'm gonna be rushing at a california state university in a couple of months. I'll be rushing as soon as the spring semester starts and I'm almost ready for it. I won't say the name of the school yet for privacy reasons. I also want to mention that I'm totally new to this city and I don't know anybody from any of the fraternities so all fraternities are totally unknown to me, as I am unknown to them as well. I don't have any legacies as well. I really wonder if it will work here. This is my first semester at this school but I'm actually a junior transfer at the age of 21. I know that all these decrease my chances but again this is not a competitive southern school, instead this is a commuter cal-state school so my chances shouldn't be that bad. I'll keep you posted. I just want to be a part of greek life so any fraternity will work for me. As long as I can get a bid from anywhere I'll be fine. Since I'm not too picky my chances of getting a bid might be slightly higher. All advices are welcome!

DreamfulSpirit · #2 11-21-2006, 08:53 AM

good luck! it'll be interesting to read a fraternity rush story!

HereICome · #3 11-21-2006, 10:53 PM

Thanks! Any advices? Should I try to find a way to visit the houses or see people from fraternities before the spring semester stars, or should i wait until the semester stars?

Senusret I · #4 11-21-2006, 11:15 PM

Good luck! I don't have any advice because I didn't go through that type of rush. But good luck anyway.

(Well....don't stalk the members. But you don't seem like the type anyway.)

DreamfulSpirit · #5 11-21-2006, 11:51 PM

yeah I didn't go through panhellenic rush because my sorority became an associate member after I was activated. I'm in a service sorority, but rushing them was still awesome! Wish I could offer some advice, but all I can do is wish you luck and hope you have a great time!

HereICome · #6 11-22-2006, 12:00 AM

I don't think it will be a formal rush though.

twinkle555 · #7 11-22-2006, 01:48 AM

good luck!! keep us posted

adpiucf · #8 11-22-2006, 01:22 PM

Good luck! Fraternity recruitment is completely unlike sorority recruitment. It is very down-to-earth and conversation-based. Just be yourself. Unlike sororities who many times have a stronger focus on recruiting underclassmen, most fraternity rushes are not this way at all, so age and class rank is not as great of an issue as with sororities. Same goes for grades. While fraternities do want members who are good students, the difference between a 3.0 and a 2.8 is not necessarily as big of a deal to the men as it is to the women's groups. There are always exceptions, however, but in talking to Greeks from campuses all across North America, it seems there's a much more laid back approach to membership recruitment among the men's fraternities.

Go into this process to make friends. Most fraternity rushes have a loose structure where you may visit as many chapters as you would like. Maximize your options-- try to spend some time at all or most of the chapters on the first day to get some impressions. Go back to the ones that interest you. You might be offered a bid on the spot during that first day. Typically, you have 24 hours to accept. You might find yourself considering more than one bid.

Be yourself, have fun and give several chapters an opportunity to meet you so you can see what they are all about. Best of luck!

TSteven · #9 11-22-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Good luck! Fraternity recruitment is completely unlike sorority recruitment. It is very down-to-earth and conversation-based. Just be yourself. Unlike sororities who many times have a stronger focus on recruiting underclassmen, most fraternity rushes are not this way at all, so age and class rank is not as great of an issue as with sororities. Same goes for grades. While fraternities do want members who are good students, the difference between a 3.0 and a 2.8 is not necessarily as big of a deal to the men as it is to the women's groups. There are always exceptions, however, but in talking to Greeks from campuses all across North America, it seems there's a much more laid back approach to membership recruitment among the men's fraternities.

Go into this process to make friends. Most fraternity rushes have a loose structure where you may visit as many chapters as you would like. Maximize your options-- try to spend some time at all or most of the chapters on the first day to get some impressions. Go back to the ones that interest you. You might be offered a bid on the spot during that first day. Typically, you have 24 hours to accept. You might find yourself considering more than one bid.

Be yourself, have fun and give several chapters an opportunity to meet you so you can see what they are all about. Best of luck!

Good advice. Here are a couple more things to remember.

If you receive a bid or bids, and still want to check out other chapters, be discrete about it. Don't go to ABC's party saying you have a bid to XYZ. And don't tell XYZ that you are still going to check out ABC and DEF after they extend you a bid. Keep it simple and just thank them and let them know you will get back with them by the indicated time. Depending on the campus, and how the IFC rush is structured, a chapter may be able to resend their bid to you. And might do so if they feel you are not interested in them. The chapter that extended you a bid can get this impression (that you aren't interested) if they find out you are hanging out at other chapters and not coming around to their parties.

And if you happen to really, really like a chapter, and they extend you a bid, don't feel you "have to" go to other chapters. If you *know* this is the chapter for you, then accept it. I've known plenty of men who knew right away that a chapter was the right one for them. And never regretted their decision.

Best of luck.

HereICome · #10 11-23-2006, 04:34 AM

Thanks for the advices! My only worry is that no one knows me in any of the fraternities, and I don't know anybody either because I'm totally new to the city.

Drunkie679 · #11 11-26-2006, 10:57 PM

HereICome...what school do u go 2

HereICome · #12 11-27-2006, 03:23 AM

A california state university. I won't tell which one yet though.

EGAOPi · #13 11-27-2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HereICome

Hi everybody. As much as I see we don't have many fraternity rush threads in this forum so I decided to add one. I'm gonna be rushing at a california state university in a couple of months. I'll be rushing as soon as the spring semester starts and I'm almost ready for it. I won't say the name of the school yet for privacy reasons. I also want to mention that I'm totally new to this city and I don't know anybody from any of the fraternities so all fraternities are totally unknown to me, as I am unknown to them as well. I don't have any legacies as well. I really wonder if it will work here. This is my first semester at this school but I'm actually a junior transfer at the age of 21. I know that all these decrease my chances but again this is not a competitive southern school, instead this is a commuter cal-state school so my chances shouldn't be that bad. I'll keep you posted. I just want to be a part of greek life so any fraternity will work for me. As long as I can get a bid from anywhere I'll be fine. Since I'm not too picky my chances of getting a bid might be slightly higher. All advices are welcome!

At schools that are significantly less competetive, junior status isn't a big deal for some sororities, so it shouldn't be a problem for fraternities.
I have heard of many people in your situation and their recruitment was a success. I'm also glad to hear that you're "not picky" and that you don't have your "tops" picked out...I have known many guys that went through saying "I'm ONLY going to look at this fraternity" and their results were sometimes not so good. This way, you can check out most of them and get to see where you really click.
Good luck! Can't wait to hear your story.

adpiucf · #14 11-27-2006, 03:52 PM

Don't worry so much about being new in town and not knowing anyone. This could work in your favor-- you aren't coming in with a wild reputation for being a troublemaker or having beef with one of the guys. You're the new guy-- clean slate and you have the opportunity to make a positive name for yourself. Keep your options open and be yourself. Above all, have fun!

EGAOPi · #15 11-27-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HereICome

Thanks for the advices! My only worry is that no one knows me in any of the fraternities, and I don't know anybody either because I'm totally new to the city.

I wanted to add...this should not be a problem. The majority of the fraternity men I know did not know anyone in any fraternities when going thru fraternity recruitment. Being a legacy is also usually not a big deal. As some other people mentioned, it's very different from sorority recruitment and way more laid back. It's great that you're asking and planning ahead--it shows your dedication and enthusiasm, which is an awesome thing. However, you don't have to worry too much--just be yourself, show that you're comfortable, and be very outgoing and LAID BACK--that's the most important thing.

As far as checking out the houses ahead of time, don't worry about that...if you see anyone in your classes in letters or anything, maybe just say hey, I'm going through recruitment this spring...or something like that, if you'd feel more comfortable knowing someone going through. I wouldn't worry about it at all, though...
One good thing to consider...(this could be different at your school, but I'm assuming it's fairly similar)...some fraternities will offer you a "snap bid" halfway thru the week or at some point before you get your bid(s). You can choose whether or not to accept it at that moment, but if you're still thinking about it, you can still check out other fratnerities afterwards. Sometimes, you will be offered multiple bids when you go to get them. You have time to decide and the opportunity to choose, which is a really great thing that most sorority PNMs don't get to do on Bid Day.