Whether it's fair or not, rushing as a junior puts you at a disadvantage. The chapters with the "cool guys" are simply going to have more guys interested in them, so they are going to look for the guys who match their profile or have more years to be a part of the chapter.

Like the previous poster said, you need to cast a wider net. Go to the chapters that would be a good fit for you, not where it may not be a good match in the long run. Be prepared to articulate why you want to join as a junior without saying anything that could be a "red flag" about your sincerity or your ability to fit in. If you have friends in fraternities, go there first because they can maybe pull you in. Ask your female friends on campus which chapters they would recommend or if they could put in a good word for you. In other words, use your network.

I, too, was not athletic and delayed joining for different reasons. I then joined one of the "rebuilding" chapters on campus and had no regrets. I made some great friends and building the chapter together became one of our common bonds. Going Greek enabled me to meet many more people on campus than I would have otherwise.

Bonus! A smiley! :)

The biggest thing for you to do is not change who you are. If you're not their type, stop trying, and move on to a different fraternity. Even if you manage to impress them and become a brother, you're not going to have a good time since you're not being true to yourself. Also, I think this concept of "top fraternity/sorority" is kinda BS because it's just a matter of opinion and that title can change very quickly. To give you an idea, one of the lowest ranked sororities on our campus is now the second highest ranked in the course of one year. Join a fraternity that you like and are comfortable with. Even if they aren't one of the "top" fraternities YOU can be the person, and make the difference that will make it number one.

Well, he couldn't avoid them completely, or it would appear that he's trying too hard.

The best way to impress a fraternity is to NOT try to impress them. If you go in there talking about what you've done or how much money you have, they probably won't like you. Show 'em who you are, and if they like you, they like you. There's not much else that can be done, to be honest.

I agree with this post

I'm no expert, but here are some tips:

1.) Just be yourself, have fun with it, soak everything in
2.) Meet some of the brothers in the Fraternity & have a positive/friendly attitude
3.) It wouldn't hurt to research a little bit about the organization(s) you plan on visiting before your visit(s). See what they're all about; their beliefs, philanthropy efforts, various activities they do, etc.
4.) Going along with #3, if they ask what you did in high school, see if you can relate any of it to their philanthropy efforts and beliefs.

Hey guys. Just a little update, I didn't rush for them. I figured if I didn't like them, why would I want to be part of them even if they are considered "top" house.

I actually rushed for two fraternities and got in both. One social IFC and one professional. It's been a real eyeopening experience thus far. :)

Congratulations. Enjoy your new member period and, most important, make your grades! You don't want to miss out on initiation.