Exactly how disadvantaged am I in respect to rushing at an SEC school?
 

I fully understand that there are "no guarantees" when it comes to determining whether or not someone is a likely candidate for being given a bid at an SEC school, but I'd just like some form of guidance in regards to the issue of my rushing. Also, I'd prefer to err on the side of "snowball's chance in hell" as opposed to arbitrarily hearing "Just give it a go; you'll be fine!"

I currently attend a Big East university, and will be transfering to an SEC school (not Alabama/Ole Miss in relation to “tier,” but also not Kentucky/Mississippi State either) in the spring of 2009. I will be transfering there as a sophomore and, unfortunately, I just so happen to be from Connecticut. From what I've gleaned in my short time on this website, the three biggest "shortcomings" when aiming to receive a bid at an SEC school are being a sophomore, a transfer student, or an out-of-stater. Luckily for me, I'm flawed in all three of the aforementioned areas. To top things off, I intend on rushing in the spring semester, as opposed to waiting until fall and rushing as a junior.

Simply put, what are my rough odds of getting into a desirable fraternity? I'd ideally be shooting for what I've gathered to be the top 5 or 6 fraternities on the school's campus, which may prove to be a rather lofty ambition for someone with my disposition. I know that appearances aren't everything in fraternity recruitment, but I'm at least fairly good-looking and typically dress to the nines in Ralph Lauren/Thomas Pink/Vineyard Vines/Ferragamo and all the other "it-labels" of the fratty world. Unlike most from my delightfully-blue state, I'm probably the most staunch conservative you'll ever meet, which is particularly why I have such a penchant for the SEC and southern life in general. I'd have no worries whatsoever if I were a resident of the state rushing fraternities as an incoming freshman, but my situation has me more than a little worried because my style and the way in which I carry myself probably wouldn't lend itself well to the "GDI" ongoings at an SEC school.

Any words of advice or helpful anecdotes are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

...and modest, too? :D

If you're from Fairfield County, etc., then being a Republican isn't remarkable. But drinking Chianti would be, LOL.

I'm just playin' with ya'. I hope things go your way. If you present yourself half as nicely as you write, then you've done everything you can do. But personally, I would rush in the fall if that's when most of the guys go through. Why delay?

What the fuck is Ferragamo?

Sounds like some Eastern European club-trash.

They're fabulous, expensive Italian leather shoes.

Did you miss that whole flap with McCain wearing his Ferragamos on the campaign trail? http://www.mysimon.com/9063-10929_8-9662882.html

Your "tiers" of schools left a big gap. At Florida you would have a good shot at the good houses, particularly in the spring, because while it has a strong Greek system its a less "southern" atmosphere than most of the rest of the SEC and I think that a lot of their top houses have a few out of state guys. At Vandy you would probably be ok because a lot of the school is out-of-state. At schools like UGA or Auburn it would be tougher, but if you dress right (sounds like you do), can carry on a good conversation, and know how to behave in social situations you would probably get a bid somewhere decent, just the top few houses would be tougher.

I don't pay attention to political news, because it's kind of like watching E!...which is why there was a flap about McCain wearing shitty italian shoes.

I like political theory.

Anyways, just because he dresses fine doesn't really mean much. If you're rushing spring, does that mean Vandy? That's the only big formal rush in the SEC. If so, then it's not nearly so competitive. If you're not attending Vandy, then you will be at an extreme disadvantage during Spring because Springs usually already know which house they're going to by the start of the Spring...that's given that some houses are even taking springs (which many don't.) Springs already know people and the house that they're going to, generally. To be spring and just now be meeting people is not so good.

But give it a shot.

just present yourself well, be friendly, act interested, and give it a shot. if you are not satisfied with your choices, you do not have to accept a bid and can take your chances as a junior in the fall. good luck.

i agree in florida you would have a good chance, especially spring

the bump makes me wonder how the OP did...

I hope he either didn't make it because he sounds like a douche or wound up in EW's frat, not that EW would care, but I would. And I'd laugh and laugh.

lol. what fraternity is EW in?

I'm so sick of this question. We don't have a secret formula that will give you a "rough percentage" of what your chances are. The only people who know what your chances are are the girls who MEET you WHEN THEY RUSH YOU.

........old thread bumped by a spammer.

And an old thread about a GUY rushing a FRATERNITY . . . .

I too would be interested to see how he did.

THIS! Exactly what I thought as I read (and laughed) at his post.

What's wrong with Kentucky's greek life? Pretty strong, historic, Greek campus from the friends that I know that go there....maybe not like Bama or Ole Miss but no slouch!

Dude the OP is a year and a half old.

Already noticed and edited...but thanks anyway.

Word!

That and because of FB and the "Class of 20WHATEVER" groups start and everyones like "I wanna be XYZ. I WANT TO BE ABC" begins. It drives me CRAZY. Unless you're a sophomore or junior going through, you have NO idea how the sororities are until recruitment. And even then your sterotypes can change. Or people perception of a sorority can change each year.

I love recruitment....

Good question! In fact , I am kinda in the same boat or situation with that person up there. Only I attend a Big 12 college and plan to transfer to a Big 10 college ( more or less likely either University of Illinois which has a pretty big and popular greek system I hear or Ohio state university which I dont know much about.) I am planning to transfer mainly because of their better academic reputation and better and more vibrant social life as well as their numerous involvement opportunities up there. As far as greek life, I plan to check out it and see.

Any advice or ideas or anecdotes? Assuming that I keep a open mind ( as long as I like it), what are my chances as a sophomore coming in the spring 2011 as opposed to if I wait until I am possibly a junior?

SEC =/= Big 10

By that, what do you mean?

OSU greek life is NOTHING like greek life at U of I. Greek life in the Big Ten varies greatly.

I guess I'll jump in and lane swerve because I don't think there are any U of I fraternity members on GC. I am an alum of a sorority at Illinois, so please keep in mind that while I'm very familiar with Panhellenic recruitment, I don't know that much about fraternity rush.

From my experience, I haven't known too many sophomores (or higher) that have rushed. It seems as though the guys that know they want to join a fraternity do so during the first or second semester on campus. Having said that, I can think of two personal acquaintances who rushed as sophomores, and they both received bids to the chapters they rushed. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure my fiance's fraternity gave a bid to a junior one year. Having said that, these are individual cases and no one can tell you what your chances are.

One of the great things about Greek life at U of I is that there are a LOT of chapters, so you have a lot to check out. I'm pretty sure that all the chapters do both spring and fall rush (if not all, than the overwhelming majority).Therefore, you definitely can rush in Spring 2011 when you get to campus. However, one thing I have noticed is that spring rush seems a bit less publicized than fall rush, so you might have to work a bit harder as far as finding out about rush events.

Hope this helps, good luck!