Out of State Rushing a Frat at Bama
 

I am a senior in high school from Fort Worth, Texas and I want to participate in rush at Bama next year. I have heard that being in a frat at Bama is all about knowing people and since I'm from so far away, I don't really have connections. I have also heard that informal summer recruitment is important, but Alabama is so far away that it would be hard for me to really participate in that. If all I can do is formal rush in the fall, and go into it knowing no one, do I have a chance of getting a bid? If not, is there anything else I can do to get connected or make up for missing most of the summer informal rush. I tried searching for answers to these questions but didn't really see anything so any help would be good.

Contact the Greek Life office at Bama. You will be able to register in the spring online. There will be opportunities at your Orientation session to meet members of Fraternities at Bama. Talk to them about rushing in the fall.

You may try contacting the different Fraternities there telling them that you are planning to enter Bama and when.

Make your self known and good luck.

The SEC school are actually closer knit than some say in the Big 12 and Big 10.

If you have an outstanding post to hang your hat on such as athletics or GPA would interest them.

"Closer knit"? Explain?

For the guy who made the thread.....I have quite a few friends ( I am from Texas, go to Texas) that go to Alabama and they are all in very good houses. I wouldn't worry about it.

I agree with macallan25 here. (not necessarily the part about going to Texas) I wouldn't worry about it. And as Bamamom13 said, contact Bama's Greek Life office. Also, there may be rush events in the summer in the Fort Worth area and they should be able to tell you about them. Or at least put you in contact with those fraternities that have them there.

Once you get to Tuscaloosa, don't say "frat" anymore.

Just to expand on this advice a little, ccmtx08, many fraternity members consider "frat" to be disrespectful or to carry Animal House-style connotations. Not everyone does, but Firehouse is right -- there's no point in risking offending someone inadvertantly.

I think if you let the Bama' greek life office know you want to rush, you're actually in a lot of luck!! Alabama has made a point the last few years of trying to bring more out-of-state guys into the IFC system. In fact, they are still looking for ways to put more structure into their fraternity rush without limiting it too formally. As far as possible encouragement in your case, here's this from a 2004 article of the Crimson White student newspaper:

"That's one reason we went to this deferred (fall) Rush, " (then IFC President Will)Norvell said. "Before this, those guys, especially out of state guys, didn't have a chance. I think we can improve on our out-of-state numbers. It's a huge pool we haven't fully looked at until now. . . Having men interested in rushing register online has helped with that process, Norvell said. The IFC has also formulated a database that each fraternity can access throughout the summer to see which men have pledged, so that they can focus on recruiting those who have not."

And as a later CW article noted, fraternities send out information on recruitment activities to incoming students in the database and all incoming men will be mailed information about the database. So I'd say let the greek life office know you want to rush and get registered for recruitment as soon as possible. You might even be thankful that you have an opportunity that many other out-of-staters before you at Alabama did not!!

I didn't realize that the University of Alabama had deferred rush till second semester!!?? That's the first step toward regulating the fraternities out of business. I'm shocked that the fraternities agreed to submit without a fight.

They don't. "Deferred" means Fall Rush. I believe that in previous years, Bama fraternities could extend bids during the summer. Now, while Bama chapters may still have summer rush events, bids are not extended until the start of the fall semester.

TSteven, you've always appeared to be a free-market sort of guy. Why in the world would an SEC school agree to eliminate summer bids? That has always been a staple of their great success. It angers me when bureaucrats try to bully the fraternities into restricting rush. Unlike sororities, fraternities have no quota, no limitation. Why not open up all sources of new members and allow the system to flourish to the max?

Exactly! That's why I had "fall" enclosed in parentheses in my post. Previously, as I understand it, fraternities had their more formal rush the week before school started in addition to the spring and summer pledging mainly for in-state guys. Now, if I've got it right, they can informally offer bids during spring and summer events, but they don't become official until the university's pledge period begins in September. And the fall rush is spread longer during the first month of the fall term to help out-of-staters and those not sure of which fraternity they want to pledge decide which fraternity might be best for them. Things sound so much easier now than they used to be for guys not-in-the-loop to pledge!

Guys, I think you are meaning "delayed" rush.

"Deferred" rush occurs when freshmen are not allowed to rush until 2nd semester or they have completed 12 hours.

If rush is held a few weeks after the start of the school year, it is "delayed" rush.

I totally agree. Frankly, one rarely hears of issues regarding IFC rush (as a whole) like you do with NPC recruitment. Yet, while the system isn't broken, some administrator feels that they have to "fix it".

Having year round recruitment (Summer, Fall and Spring/Winter) has always been an effective and successful way to recruit. Summer Rush gets you the local pledges and the men already known to the chapter. Fall Rush picked up out-of-state guys, guys from summer rush who needed more time to make an informed decision, guys who - for what ever reason - did not attend summer rush events, and returning students now interested in fraternities. Spring Rush (winter rush) picks up the guys who want a semester of school under their belt, guys who could not devote time to rush (pledge) during the summer or the fall (for example - athletes, band), guys who didn't really have a clue about Greek life on campus before they arrived, and friends and class mates of current members.

Bottom line is that a year round recruitment system supports not only incoming freshemn, but also upperclassmen with rushing. No "one time to receive a bid or else" factor. Year round recruitment allows the rushee to pledge when - and how - he feels most comfortable doing so. It can even the playing field by allowing chapters to use their strengths when - and how - they rush. For example, a chapter might not have a house on campus, but can compete during summer rush. Or a chapter doesn't do well during formal rush on campus but does well one-on-one either during the more relaxed summer rush or recruiting one-on-one during the school year (and then pledging during the spring). Or a chapter may do it's best recruiting during the more formal structure of fall rush.

Restricting how and when fraternities rush is... restrictive. And not good for the fraternity system as a whole. Which is why the NIC (IFC) advocates no restriction and year round recruitment.

You are right. Generally speaking, deferred refers to freshman rushing the second semester. However, the confusion lies with this quote from the Crimson White article.

In this context, "deferred" means extending bids in the fall and not in the summer.

Actually, in rereading Mr. Norvell's quote from the Crimson White, it seems like Bama allows bids to be extended in the summer along with (perhaps) a more formalized or structured rush in the fall.

Well, I pledged over the summer before my freshman year at Bama... for what it's worth.

Oh yeah, and eliminate "frat" from your vocabulary ASAP. It's a fraternity.

yeah sorry about the whole "Frat" thing. I didn't realize calling them fraternities was always a big deal. In Texas its not taken as seriously I guess. Everyone calls them that here. Guess I'll need to change that.

Check your PMs, I can't say it all in a post. There are only a few users on here who can probably offer you a lot of meaningful advice for pledging at a fine institution like Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, etc.

To many to let you know, Frat means boys, and Fraternity means men.

The only one I know who call their members Fraters is TKE.

But many members act like boys or kids!:D

I say "frat boy" if I am insulting a guy and "fraternity man" if I think highly of him.

I am from Marietta, Georgia. and to be honest, meaning no insult to Bama, places like that, Auburn, and South Carolina (my school) are usually schools that people go to who can't get in from UGA around here. Theres not a lot though really...

point being, theres a small group of people from the area that go to Bama every year and i'd say every single person i know that has gone to bama has joined greek life... and they all did this fall rush. I have a friend that joined Sigma Chi there and he knew no one in it i'm pretty sure going into it.

Seriously don't stress over it, bring your "A" game and try and do good during rush week, if you show you are dedicated and focus mainly on one or two fraternities during rush week, getting a bid i don't think will be as hard as you are making it out to be.

Fraternity Life down here is pretty friendly towards you if you are atleast from the South, i dunno bout Texas but at USC if you are from Georgia, Bama, Tennessee, etc. then you are already in decent standing.

def do your research though on local reps and opinions though, but when it comes down to it, do what you feel is right.

Mom With Questions about Recruitment at Bama
 

Hi!
My son is somewhat interested in recruitment(mainly because his father and I had such great experiences greek-wise), and he's signed up for the IFC Recruitment Weekend that is at the end of April.

We went to Univ. of Southern Miss. which has a very laid-back Greek scene, not really that competitive. While I had to have a recommendation letter for each sorority I was interested in, I really doubt my hubby did.

My question is what do we need to do to get him ready for this? How competitive is it?

We have lots of friends here from Bama, since I'm in Mobile; do I go ahead and contact them for rec. letters before this recruitment weekend in April or can I wait until the summer to do these? Do rec letters matter anymore?

Also, last question.
He's an Honors College student, and he will be in their really nice dorms. He'll have his own room- one reason he decided on this school over Tulane.
If he joins a fraternity, when does he have to move into their house?
I don't want him having to move into the house when he is a freshman.

Please don't call it a frat, that term is looked down upon. It's called a fraternity. That goes to the OP. Get in contact with the Greek Life office, they should be able to answer any of your questions to the post above mine.

How hard it is for northern students to get a bid at southern schools? Just wonderin' ...

really?

Didn't Get Answers, that's why I'm here!!
 

I did contact the Greek Life office, that's why I'm asking....:rolleyes:
They are not much help as far as recs go. At least 3 different schools that I have been in contact with, anyway!

As a very involved member of DG in my area and a former advisor to a DG colonization, we constantly see girls who go through recruitment without rec letters (sponsor form is our official term for it!) which definitely puts them at a disadvantage to pledge Delta Gamma. Many just don't know they need this because that word is not getting out there.

So here I am assuming I will need this for certain fraternities, at least. I don't want to bother friends unnecessarily.

Again, I need to know from someone who knows this:

Do I need rec letters anymore for a fraternity?

If so, they are having a big IFC recruitment weekend for future freshman students for Fall 2008- will I need these letters before then?

Thanks!

I'm not terribly sure about Bama...as they're more competitive than Arkansas, but I don't think recs are needed.

Could be wrong though.

dg4evah,

i was going to pm you but you have not activated that function.

Many fraternity men in Texas would NEVER use the word "frat". I can't speak about all of them, but all of the Sigma Chis in my acquaintance (and family) would take the use of that word very seriously. And they are all in Texas.

Now I 'm Set Up for PM's.
 

Sorry, I don't know why I didn't set up for PM's previously. I'm set now.

I didn't attend Alabama (Go Cats!) but I have family and friends who did and pledged. As such, this advice is general in nature, but applicable to IFC rush at SEC schools.

IFC rush at Alabama can be competitive. However, there is not an IFC quota or campus total. So chapters may pledge as many men as they want. And his attending the IFC recruitment weekend should be a good start.

No. Your son does not need them before/during the IFC recruitment weekend.

My suggestion is that after your son attends the recruitment weekend, he should narrow his selection to maybe five or six chapters (less is ok) and start researching those fraternities. If he can get a recommendation for any of the chapters, fine. If not, he should not worry about it.

By signing up for the IFC recruitment weekend, your son should be on an IFC master list that every chapter will have access to regarding their Summer Rush parties. However, if there are sign up lists at the chapters, then he should get his name on the list as well. This is when the real rushing begins.

Generally speaking, recommendations are not needed. However, it doesn't hurt to have one - or a letter of introduction - for the few chapters your son may be interested in.

Please remember that this is *not* NPC recruitment and that recommendations are rare. As such, a recommendation should come from someone who knows your son personally and or knows the family well.

If that is not the case, then the alum can send an introduction letter. While similar to a recommendation, a letter of introduction serves to give the chapter a "heads up" that they might want to take a good look at the guy.

I would also like to point out that some chapters may look down on a rushee that has recommendations to each and every chapter on campus. Chapters like to feel that the person in question is really interested in them. To be clear, that does mot mean your son can not be interested in more than one fraternity. Just that he should attempt to narrow his interest down by Summer Rush and then only have recommendations or introductions sent to those chapters.

Remember that one of the reasons for the IFC recruitment weekend event in April is to help the rushee narrow his choices down before Summer Rush. It is during Summer Rush that the chapters put together the bulk of their fall pledge class.

My understanding is that freshmen do not live in at Bama. However, each chapter is different. That is something he should ask while rushing. Also, a bed might open up the second semester. But I would guess there would be plenty of other freshman willing to grab it.

Your son should be the one contacting alumni for recommendations. He will be viewed a lot more favorable if he does. You may always say something like this to your friends: "My son is interested in joining a fraternity at Bama. Would you be willing to talk with him about your fraternity?" The point being, your son does not want a chapter receiving some random letter saying "Buba's Momma asked me to send y'all a letter." ;)

If you know any fraternity men who attended Alabama, please ask them for their suggestions. The above advice is general in nature and pretty much applicable for all SEC schools. But each campus is different and each chapter is different.

I hope this helps. And best of luck to your son.

An Answer!
 

Thanks Tsteven,

That was exactly what I needed to know! Excellent advice because I'm somewhat a helicopter mom and like to control myself before I do too much!:o

Great advice!