Biggest Rush Mistakes at a fratty institution
 

You see it all the time, the clueless kid during rush week. I'm writing this in hopes that somebody will read this and act accordingly during their rush. Obviously this only applies to "fratty" institutions, basically colleges south of Lexington and north of Orlando. A lot of people on this board have problems with the way things are at these places, so do us both a favor and don't post in this thread, you will be ignored.

Here's the list, feel free to add on or argue against these.

1.) Wearing jean shorts (SECDomination probably sees a lot of these :D). You will not get a bid... jean shorts were [marginally] cool about 10 years ago, now they are trashy and redneck.
2.) Being overly cocky, nobody wants a pledge who thinks that they are too good to perform menial tasks, see #7
3.) Being Guido (tons of hair gel (blowout), shaved chest, obvious signs of steroid use like back acne, shirt 2 sizes too small, fake tan, diamond earrings, tribal tattoo). If this is who you are then that's fine, every college has one fraternity that these guys will feel right at home in.
4.) Dressing like a high schooler. Be sure to dress for the occasion, wear some nice khakis and a collared shirt but don't show up in a suit. Of course, you should never wear anything from the three a's (Abercrombie, American Eagle, Aeropostale). Leave the hairgel at home kids, if your hair doesn't look good without a ton of gel then wear a conservative hat, backwards. Also, no tennis shoes, even with shorts. Brown Sperrys are the best option here although Rainbows are a solid alternative.
5.) Getting drunktaneous at rush events. Fraternities do not want people with no self control, it becomes a huge risk to pledge someone who can't control themselves.
6.) Do not hook up with girls at rush events unless they are of the highest quality and you have checked to make sure that they are not an active's girlfriend or even an active's potential girlfriend. Nothing is worse than pissing off a brother or receiving the nickname "free willy" in the first week of pledgeship.
7.) Trying too hard. You do not need to convince the brothers that you are the coolest person ever and they should initiate you on the spot. Be yourself and if you are a fit in that particular organization then you will receive a bid. Have faith in the fraternity, they have been doing this way longer than you.
8.) Name dropping. Goes in line with trying too hard. If you are well connected and friends with a lot of the actives then the brothers will tell the people on bid team this, you don't need to mention it.
9.) Spending less than 45 minutes at a given house. If you want a bid then you have to show the brothers that you're serious. Spend time at the house getting to know people, even if you don't pledge there you can make connections that last for a while. (I get free pizza because of somebody I met in another fraternity during rush, we really hit it off). Meet every brother that you can, the more, the better.

Tips to impress, now that you know what to avoid doing, here are a few pointers that may get you bonus points.
1.) Bring attractive girls with you. This is the absolute best way to get attention and respect from the actives. Find the best looking girls that you know from high school or whatever and bring them with you when you rush.
2.) Go to the post-rush events (if they have them) AND show that you are socially adept. The most important quality in pledges (and arguably in life) is the ability to socialize with everyone (brothers, girls, alumni, parents, etc.)
3.) Have a lot of knowledge and the ability to carry on conversations about any of the following: Golf, Fishing, Hunting, Whiskey, College Football and Sailing. A knowledge of all of these is not a requirement, but it helps show that you are going to be able to take part in fratty activities with the aptitude of someone much older and wiser.
4.) Use manners. If you are offered food, take it. Hold the door for women and don't swear with any women in earshot, basic things that your mother has been teaching you since you were little.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Whew! I have tears! Thanks for that.

Carry on...

Regardless of whether you have back acne (which isn't necessarily indicative of steroid use), you probably shouldn't be going shirtless at a rush party anyway.

Fratty or not, often there will be "official" rush parties with just the brothers and rushees, and then there will be unofficial rush parties with girls and booze. This will of course, vary from school to school.

The funniest part is that he's dead serious.

I think I will make this my official "In Before The Lock" post.

Best way to ruin your thread and drag it off topic? Tell certain people not to post.

I know! That's why I'm cryin'.
'xactly.

Like a Yankee like myself.

OH MY GOD. I just spit out my entire drink.

Just what we needed, "Dear Abby the clueless Fratty"

This comes from a guy who says, "marginally cool". refers to people as "trashy rednecks", saying someone else could be, "cocky", etc., etc., etc.

He thinks that he has graced the earth, which I find really funny based on the minimal research that I've done on him and his chapter.

Fratty, you need to grow up, and by the way, you are the one that is "trying too hard". I think you are the one who is trying to impress everyone. Or, at least think you are impressing everyone.

Ironically enough, even though I don't agree with 99.9% of his posts, I have no problem with this post. Some things are a bit out there for me, but I can definitely agree with not making a drunken fool out of yourself or trying to hard. I think that applies no matter where you are rushing. As for what to wear or what to talk about- if that's what his fraternity looks for in a potential new member, he's just calling it how he sees it. How is this any different from GC'ers advising girls rushing at SEC schools to have recs, wear Lilly or something similar, and avoid talking about the 4 B's?

For me, it's the intention behind it. Usually the GC women wait until someone says "I'm rushing at LSU, what do I do?" before going into the SEC spiel.

PhiGam was just attempting to prove his Frattiness. Which contridicts Fratty, because if he was truely Fratastic, he wouldn't have to announce that he was Frattissimo, people would just know. Or, something like that. Fratty McFrat-Frat.

Yes but girls tend to share more/ask for help more than guys. How many guys actually come on here and say- "I'm rushing at Bama and need help?"

When I grow up, I want to have your command of the Fratty dialect. :D

Better question.;)

TEH Estrogen seems to Rule TEH GCz.

Yeah it's definitely a little bit of both. He asserts his frattiness in case some GCers didn't already know, but there is some legitimately good advice in his OP.

samjones?

I had to do a search to remind myself who he was. It was worth it. Thank you.

lol, that reminds me a Margaret Thatcher quote: “Being powerful like being a lady; if you have to tell people you are, then you aren’t."

But on topic: I agree with point one, jean shorts are a little odd, especially since we hold or rush in January, but as for the “three A’s” they’re perfectly acceptable. Then again, my chapter is in the (insert ominous music here) North.

Similar odd-ball, different SEC university
ROOOOOOLLLLL TIIIIIIIIDDDDEEEE ROOOOOOOLLLLL!

Shhhh. You better not say that too loud or he will challenge your manhood with your ability to make conversation on fishing, hunting or sailing.

duh duh duhhhhhhhhh

And here I thought we would all be ignored....
:D

Oh, god, stop, STOP!! I have tears again!

Hey now! At least jorts is our biggest problem!

But that is some good advice. I've got some tips to add.
1- Eat the food you are offered. Honestly, it's rude not to accept, and they'll think you're weird if you turn down free food.
2-I can't stress the way you dress enough. Dressing well shows that you care about first appearances. No tennis shoes, not even if you're wearing shorts.
3-Name dropping can get really annoying really quick. If you know people that can pull for you, the actives are in touch with them, so don't worry about it.
4-Spend an adequate amount of time rushing. If you leave after 20min, no one will think you care.
5-Make sure you meet a lot of the brothers. The more, the better.

The best part about this post is that I hear those words on a regular basis. I can't bring myself to say any of them but the standard "fratty".

1- Yeah, eating a light meal before rush is the way to go.
2- The tennis shoes goes without saying. Sperrys are the best choice for rush.
3- One of the more common mistakes, I forgot to mention it.
4- Yeah, I went into rush with it narrowed down to three so it wasn't a problem for me.
5- Good one

Any time I get a chance to make a comment about jorts or ugly girls, I'm gonna do it. Its like fish in a barrel. I fully expect you to fire back with a comment about all of the south florida guidos and trashy girls we have here. I'm gonna update the intial post now, tell me what you think.

Dude you go to FSU. The only fratty ACC schools are UVA and Wake. Get over yourself.

And fratty or not, some dudes NEVER get over this. Yuck. Dude, my pants aren't coming off because of who you know.

I don't get the Sperrys thing. My 70 year old "Chicago-born and bred, Chicago dead" Grandpa wears them...and they're fugly.

He just keeps setting himself up. Hilarous! :D AND, he...just...doesn't...get....it! Didn't we already have a locked thread about this stuff about a week ago...? Get over yourself!

No no no! I think you meant to say UNC, not Wake. Wake is a questionable choice for the fratty label.

Maybe my Wake friends just run in fratty circles?

Yes, but he was under another screen name. Southern somthing. Well, he sure thinks he is something. BTW....Sperrys were out in the 80s. I'm sure he still wears plaid shorts and not in jest.

I had to remind myself what Sperrys are and Googled them. I'm with AF: fugly.

Everybody of all ages and both sexes wear Topsiders in Northern VA. They are hardly a rare sighting.

I went to Mason, so I have to agree with you there. Living in the South now, it's no different. That doesn't change the fact that they're fugly shoes. :p

ETA: and I had never heard them called Sperrys. There were always top-siders or dock shoes (not to be confused with Docs as in Doc Martens).

If I remember right (and I only had one pair because they were so Fugly), Sperry was the brand and Top Siders were the design of boat shoe. Tossed those out with the Fair-Isle sweater.

Love them or hate them, topsiders/Sperrys seem to be back in style (or maybe they never truly went "out"), and Old Navy had some updated Fair Isle sweaters in their fall line - flashback to the late 70s/early 80s.

Note to AlphaFrog: she is trying so hard to be your friend. Be nice to her! :)

That was taken out of context ;) I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm trying to be friends, but trying to show a little respect and play nice is probably more accurate... But I appreciate the post!

Are you her mommy?

For what it is worth, I am wearing my Sperry Topsiders right now while at work. And I am here on the west coast. Then again, I am from the South, an SEC Alum, yada yada <good taste> yada... so go figure.