Transfer Questions
 

I am thinking about pledging a Frat, XYZ, at my school this Spring. I also I'm considering transferring to a different school next year. At this school they have the same frat, XYZ, and I would wish to remain a member. Would I be brother in that frat? Would I have to pledge again? Is this common?

Wait until you get to your new school to pursue that fraternity.

I recommend you don't use the term, "Frat".

With respect to NIC/IFC organizations, if you are an initiated member, then you are a brother of that fraternity for life. As such, you would never pledge your fraternity again. However, some fraternities/chapters may have some sort of approval process before you may affiliate with the new chapter.

And for what it is worth, even if you affiliate with the new chapter, you may come to find out you do not feel as close a bond with the new chapter as you did with your previous chapter. So as DSTCHAOS suggested, it may behoove you to wait.

Thank you. You may have noticed that in my reply, I changed "frat" to fraternity in Mr. Christmas' quote.

FOr the life of me I do not understand what the big fuss about 'Frat' is.....I probably never will.

However it has been mentioned that the interested guy might not feel as close with the new chapter than the one initiated in (granted he is chosen), is kinda double sided. When he graduates he may join an Alumni/Graduate chapter so he will have to transistion anyway. If it were me I would try at the school I was currently at.

I can understand the problem with "frat" for nonNPHC fraternities. It holds a certain negative connotation and image. An image of the "frat party" and "frat boys" and stuff that has been asociated with certain types of groups.

Regarding forming bonds, it's not even about forming bonds at the new school to me. I think it's a total waste of that chapter's time and effort for you to pursue membership knowing that you may transfer. In the NPHC, a lot of chapters will not accept applicants who are graduating or frown upon new initiates who transfer if they knew they were going to transfer. Like, why form bonds when you aren't even going to contribute to the chapter? Someone else would've loved to have been chosen in your place. I don't know how nonNPHC chapters handle this.

I know new members who found out after they crossed that they had to transfer for some reason. This is different than going into it knowing you are basically doing a driveby.

We are ==>here<== I don't know how many times this dead horse can be beaten.

To the OP: Is the organization you're pursuing NPHC, NIC/IFC, or NALFO/MGC?

Yeah I know people say the negative connotations and all, but it is just a shortened version. Would people not have those same stereotypes about the word 'Fraternity'? Unless they did not know that Frat was a shortened name for Fraternity, then I can understand why they would have negative thoughts about one and not the other.

I agree with you on why join, but as for me I would try. One would never know if they will get in at the other school. They still will be making a contribution to the org as a whole. But, I still see where you are coming from.

ETA: I guess it is a matter of who is looking at the situation. The members would not likely want someone who is going to transfer, but the person who wants to join just wants to belong so to them they aren't thinking, "I won't be adding to this chapter."
Thanks!!:)

Nevermind. I have a headache now.

:)

Or MIPing an alumnae chapter knowing you were moving in a month. :mad: we had five initiates from our line before his one that moved out of state within a year--one literally two weeks after initiation. And the others had been planning their moves. That left four in the chapter.

Leaving small chapters high and dry is the pits.

No, I meant four of that line. We have 100+ chapter members and another 150+ sorors in our roster. LOL But still all of that work and to not get much contribution from that line ticked us off.

LOL.

I'm claustrophobic.

The meeting room is plenty big, but sometimes I want to bust out of chapter meeting, if you know what I mean. ;)

It's just one of those things, ya know. Maybe it also has something to do with the word that might come after it. Example, in general I would refer to a guy in an NIC fraternity as a "fraternity man" whereas I would call a juvenile, idiot in an NIC fraternity a "frat boy." It would be a deliberate insult. (man vs boy)
There are many chapters of NPC orgs that take a very close and skeptical look at any transfers who want to affiliate. (and often will not allow it)

Say "Sally PNM" really wants to be an XYZ but she doesn't think she'll get a bid from XYZ at a super competitive SEC school. So Sally decides to go to Podunk U. and pledge XYZ. Once she's an initiated member, she transfers to the SEC school and tries to affiliate with the XYZ chapter there. Yes, she's a sister, but her motives are questionable.

Anyway, to the OP, wait until you get to your transfer school.

1) It's kind of unfair to the fraternity to go into a situation when you already know you're going to bail.

2) You might find out later that you just don't click with the members at the transfer school.

3) Maybe you already want to be a member of XYZ at the transfer school and you think this is your way in? If so, see above. (not accusing...just had to be said.)

Good luck with your decision and the outcome!

thanks

Thank you for this emphasis

Agreed. I use the term "frat boy" as an insult to a fraternity member who is NOT behaving in a gentlemanly, professional way. Fraternity man shows more respect, IMO.