I truly feel that Freshman should not rush or be able to join anyones frat or sorority because they are simply not ready.

You're missing my point completely.

If I would have gone to Penn State and pledged a sorority the first semester, no matter how much I loved it and the girls - I still would have had to go to classes that had 300 people in them. I still would be on a huge campus where most of the time when I walk past a person, I don't know them. I still would be at a campus with lots and lots of school spirit that is VERY focused on sports.

If I don't like those things to the point of it making me miserable, just the time I spend with my sisters isn't going to make it go away. If I'm gritting my teeth the rest of the time, is it worth it?

If you're "on the fence" then yes, maybe Greek membership will get you to stay. But at the end of the day, the school still is what it is. If it's a question of "I hate this school but I want to stay because of my sisters" your priorities are kind of screwed up. You/your parents shouldn't be paying beaucoup bucks for you to attend a school that you hate everything about except your sorority.

And if you pledged your first semester thinking that the sorority would make it all better, and didn't, and you transfer to someplace that doesn't have your group - or worse yet, has your group and you're denied affiliation - you're screwed.

I'm not trying to understand you or your point. I'm just making a statement.

I think having that connection to a small group and forming close friendships definitely helps the attrition rate at many campuses.

Then don't quote my post.

That was rude, I do apologize.

AFAIK all the NPHC groups have a no first semester rule so I'm curious if you feel they wouldn't be ready because that's just the way it's done or if you personally have (first hand) reasons to support it.

To me, it seems strange for any group (IFC/NPC/NPHC or the schools) to make a blanket rule that new first years can't join. Every person is different so what's good for one person isn't good for another. I think the ideal situation is one where anyone has an opportunity to join in college when they feel it's the right time. Someone may not be prepared till their a junior but that doesn't mean that another person isn't prepared as a freshman.

Not recruiting first semester freshmen
 

My school the university of north carolina at greensboro doesnt allow the guys to recruit first semester freshmen, I both hate it and understand it. There are a few IFC fraternities that academically give the rest of us a bad name and so a long while back the university decided to restrict recruitment until the IFC GPAs went back up to higher than the all-mens average. We are in the process of getting rid of the bad apples and working on some plans to boost the other fraternites gpas up that little bit needed.

at both my current school (a small college in the NE) and the school i transfered from (a larger southern school), we only hold formal recruitment in the spring semester. freshmen are encouraged to settle in, adjust to the new academics, and make friends before joining a fraternity or sorority. i am currently the panhellenic vp recruitment at my school and fully support delayed rush. it really allows students the opportunity to join less time consuming clubs, meet a lot of people, and focus on their studies. even at my former school, where greek life was huge, it was important that all students had friends outside of their chapter and understood the time commitment college is before undertaking the time commitment of new member period. we do, however, allow first semester transfers to participate in COR if chapters are offering it in the fall semester. greek organizations at my school prides themselves on maintaining higher average gpas than the average gpa of independents. we maintain this by setting a gpa requirement for students interesting in joining a fraternity or sorority. with no college experience, we would not be able to do this.

wish i read this before posting my reply!! :) i was lucky that my chapter was at the school i transfered to, but many students aren't so lucky. i went through recruitment as a freshman hoping it would make me want to stay. as much as i adore my sisters at my old school and as close as i still am to many of them, it did not change my view of the school.

Miami (FL) Changing to Deferred Recruitment

Reportedly Miami (FL) will have deferred recruitment for freshmen starting this fall, according to the campus paper:

http://media.www.thehurricaneonline....-3353071.shtml