Looking for fraternity at Texas in Austin
 

Hi. I'm new in this forum. I'm going to the University of Texas at Austin in the fall. Everyone expects me to join ZBT (Jewish, they have the highest GPA on campus; they'd have good contacts for later, etc.). Only thing is, I couldn't find much in common with them when I visited! I'm looking for a fraternity where the guys are pretty athletic. I played most of the Varsity sports in high school, and even if I decide not to play intramurals or club ball, I like talking to guys who like and understand sports. Does anyone know any good fraternities there who have this quality, but the guys are intelligent also?

Thanks!

I would say join Lambda Chi, but I'm bias.

Seriously just go to as many rush events as you can with as many of the houses on campus and see which one fits. Looking at their ifc website (http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/gle/ifc_info.htm) you'll have plenty to choose from. There is bound to be one for you, if not more.

I agree with the above. Delta Tau Delta has a very good chapter there with a newly remodeled house.

Re: Looking for fraternity at Texas in Austin
 

I would tell you to look into Alpha Epsilon Pi. The chapter is refounded but still has a history at Austin back to 1939. The reason why I recommended it to you is that you can get the Jewish environment (the only Jewish fraternity nationally actually), the rich history, the strong national expansion (25% increase in chapters in the last 4 years) and the ability to come in and make a difference.

You can pull in guys like you - the athletic guys, the smart guys and you will be a part of something bigger. You won't be just following - just signing up with whomever and forgetting about your experience after 4 years, you'd be leading and joining something you will enjoy for a lifetime.

-Rudey
--But leading isn't for everyone.

Re: Re: Looking for fraternity at Texas in Austin
 

Are ZBT, AEPi, TEP not of jewish origins?

Re: Re: Re: Looking for fraternity at Texas in Austin
 

AEPi is not just of Jewish origins...AEPi is Jewish.

AEPi is not just historically Jewish...AEPi is Jewish.

Understand the difference?

-Rudey

The Phi Kappa Psi chapter at UT-Austin is quite good, and is celebrating its centennial anniversary! Its where the late Tex Schram was a Phi Psi.

Their web site is http://www.utphipsi.com

I'm also Jewish, and I joined Phi Psi, at FSU, in part because religion was a non-issue. We are the oldest non-denominational fraternity, and we had Jewish majority chapters as far back as the 1870s.

This chapter has very rich programming, including leadership retreats in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where they stay at the Phi Psi Leadership Academy. You can read about this academy at http://www.CaboAlpha.com/

If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.

I've looked at caboalpha.com before.. That's so awesome. Wow.

-Matt

I'd just recommend that you wait until you can go through formal rush.

Sounds like for you, it may be a little early yet to make a decision.

Try greekpages.com.


You can check out web sites for the school.

At least give you a better picture.

From there, you can check the National Web Sites for a bigger picture.

Best advice, keep an open mind and decide on the Fraternity that you feel the most comfortable with!

Good luck in the Fall!:)

I went to UT from 1984 -1988. My fraternity DU is currently inactive since 2000, so maybe I can be objective, if somewhat out of date.

Fiji has a superb chapter at UT ,SAE's are strong, Delt's KA's Sig Ep's are very good. All chapters engage in summer rush and have most of the fall class in hand by August 1.
All have a hard core of guys from Dallas and Houston, but anyone who says that they don't pick up guys that are sharp in rush is lying, most of these chapters have 40 man pledge classes and they pick up 10-15 guys through rush like all the other chapters.
ATO got booted off campus in 1986 came back in1990 don't know anything about them.
Phi Psi is solid, I heard Pike, Sigma Chi and Kappa Sig had gotten a little smaller.
Lambda Chi, Delta Sig and Beta were all good when I went to UT don't know what their current status is,all fraternities are smaller.
In 1984 when I pledged we had an 85 man chapter and we were small to medium sized, Now 85 is probably slightly above the average.

Go through rush see who you like.

Good luck!

I say check out Chi Omega.

Just kidding, since a lot of people were recommending their own chapter. I don't even know if they have chi o lol. :p

Also I doubt they'd let a guy join Chi Omega.

Go through rush, get a feel of the fraternities. You'll find your right "home."

Yeah, it was a joke :D. Even though a friend of mine in another sorority made the random comment that they could probably let a guy join as a new member as long as he didn't go beyond that or something really weird that made me go whaaat.

sig ep has a pretty good chapter at UT
from what i hear..

I, unbiasedly, suggest Beta Theta Pi:

For info on Beta, click here!

However, my second suggestion would be for you to get into Chi-O and become House Dad. Then you can ask them, "Who's your daddy?"

From what I've heard FIJI is the top chapter on campus. They have the largest membership and also have their own lake house. Check out each chapter and make sure that you join a house that you like and one that you can afford. From what I've been told, dues vary significantly from chapter to chapter. I'm sure that you will choose the chapter that fits you best.

While I will agree with what my brother said; I would like to stress the importance of two things that already have been said number one is finding a chapter that is the proper fit for you and two making an informed decision all aspects should be weighed in on. Questions such as how much time is required of a pledge, what does it mean to be a brother: what responsiblities and what is expected of a brother of XYZ fraternity, finacial questions of course, and what do you want to do on campus or in your college career; some fraternities have a history of strong campus involvement and some don't (you are a product of your envirnoment unless you make a conscience decision to change and do something different). Keep in mind that this is the first lifelong committment most young men have made in their lives.

actually, DU is back. I have a few friends who are DUs at UT.



Now back to the subject, if the jewish thing is important, there's also a chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu at UT, they're pretty cool.
all the greek life info is at http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/gle/

Sammy is no longer Jewish.

-Rudey
--Cool or not.

I'm sure that you have. I've heard that Phi Psi is the best on that campus, and I'm sure that Betas have heard that Beta is the best there, and so on.

The best fraternity at the University of Texas, for the original poster of this thread, is where he feels most comfortable.

Dude,

Betas are the best on every campus, even the ones we are NOT at. ha ha

Anyway, good point, the best fraternity on that campus is the one that he finds best suited for him. Good luck to that!

Going greek is better than not, no matter which house he chooses.

I'd have to say Fiji is the top chapter followed closely by SAE, DELT, KA,SIG EP and PHI PSI

The best in comparison to what?

I know in many schools, especially Mizzou, there are so many fraternities that the "best chapter" is merely an opinion.

There are a lot of areas a fraternity could excel at but not be so great at another area.

What are you looking for in a fraternity? You said you're heavily into sports, but do academics matter? What about the house overall? Philanthropy? Involvement?

These are things you can look for to determine how close of a match a chapter is in comparison to what you're looking for...

The ultimate deciding factor, though, is how well you get along with the guys and how YOU feel hanging around them. I'll tell ya what, a chapter may be the "best" chapter in the nation with grades, sports, etc.. But if you don't feel a connection there, it won't even be worth it...

I don't have a clue about the individual fraternities there, but my advice to you is to take into consideration what everyone is saying.... Keeping in mind that most are biased, and make your own decision after checking out each of them for yourself...

Good luck in pursuit of a new home...

-Matt

This thread becomes "XYZ fraternity is the best, and ABC fraternity sucks" kind-of-thread.

beta
 

even tho we all have had fun making fun of beta
even tho we all have had friends in beta
beta is damned hard to beat--anywhere
and while they are old and got a helleva head
start, they were open to virtually all.
and that is admirable.
We all love our own GLO, but we can take a good
lesson from beta...they are, indeed, hard to beat!
This is a compliment, betas....hear?

Re: beta
 

If I donate 10 bucks to TKE, will you stop writing in prose?

-Rudey

ABC Fraternity does suck. Its true.

Re: beta
 

Good stuff Erik - I'm listening....

I think QRS are worst. Those guys, I have no words for how discapable they are.

That goes without saying. They are so bad, I try to not even mention them.

If you were actually ever in a fraternity you would now that certain houses carry certain reputations. Sometimes these reputations are representative of each house, sometimes they are flat out wrong (i.e. the jocks, ragers, pretty boys, and yes "the best house"). So, I am saying that I may be flat out wrong, or I may be completely right. Who friggin cares? I'm not the only one on this board to think that FIJI has the top chapter at UT-Austin.

Every chapter has something unique to offer. I know our chapter there is VERY small (used to be much larger). It will, however, offer things that you won't find with larger UT chapters.

And the larger chapters will offer things that the small ones don't.

You won't know unless you give 'em all a shot.