Biggest Rush Mistakes at any institution
 

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.) One word answers. Be conversational, social skills are the most important thing that somebody can possess. The importance of this skill can not be stressed enough.
4.) Don't talk about how much you can drink or how drunk you were the other night unless a really good story comes along with it.
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.
10.) Dress nicely. Avoid hoodies, sandals with socks, etc. Business casual is the best way to go, collared shirt and pants or khaki shorts in warm weather. In the south avoid muscle tees and cargo shorts.
11.) Do not expect a bid just because you're a legacy or know a few guys in the house. Act as if you really want a big and are unsure if you're getting one.

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.
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.
5.) Mention to whomever is talking to you what in particular you like about their fraternity (i.e. "I notice you won intramurals last year; that's great because I like to be on a winning team and I can play ____")

The few things in italics may not apply to you, the rest of these apply to everybody.

OMG! You're killing me. I'm laughing so hard right now my stomach is aching!

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”

Keeping chuggin' along, PhiGam.


LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D

:rolleyes:

Ha! Great idea; this is a fun list.
I'd say:
1. khakis and a polo or white button-down is appropriate anywhere on any campus for rush.
2. Under tips to impress, mention to whomever is talking to you what in particular you like about their fraternity (i.e. "I notice you won intramurals last year; that's great because I like to be on a winning team and I can play ____")

O dear God. :rolleyes:

I'd go beyond that with respect to women at rush. Because there are (typically) girls at rush, brothers of the fraternity you're rushing will usually observe your interactions with these girls. If you creep the girls out, that's bad. If you hit on every girl who will talk to you, (including an active's girlfriend, even?) that can come off as negative. If you blow off and are rude to the girls because you're trying really really hard to get a bid, that's bad.

I'd stick with being respectful and making friendly conversation at rush events. There's plenty of time for... other types of interaction later.

Not to say that PhiGam has everything right or that I agree with him 100%, but this is the Fraternity Recruitment forum. Men don't typically come into the Sorority Recruitment forum and criticize Panhellenic Recruitment, so I think that some measure of restraint would be in order here. Just like I'll never really understand Panhellenic Recruitment, no woman will ever fully understand IFC/NIC rush. If someone comes in here saying ridiculous things, please at least let the men have a chance to respond before you blast.

What the hell is wrong with that?

The dress code thing didn't go over well in the last thread...

Calvin Coolidge

That's actually surprisingly helpful to a someone who plans on rush at spring semester... except the jean shorts thing... kinda figured that one

I'm not critisizing Fraternity Recruitment. I'm laughing at the absurdity of PhiGam.


No! Really? I had absolutely NO idea. :rolleyes:

It's a north/south thing. I was stunned when I first moved down here and men ALWAYS opened the door for me, or even stopped midway though and backed out so I could go through first, looked at me funny when I waited for them to get off the elevator because they were closer to the door, and apologized when they swore in front of me (it's funny to me, because my potty mouth is just as bad a s theirs).

I think you think that he's trolling, and I'm not so sure. This list is actually pretty reasonable... a bit Southern on the cursing and doors, but not that absurd, and doesn't seem like it was calculated to annoy you personally. What I'm trying to say is that I think this could be a good/informative thread, so just ease up a bit, please?

gentlemen, i have enjoyed reading your rush tips thread and hope that you will continue with the tips.

Good stuff, and timeless.

I still crack up everytime I read the thread where Allona (the real boy) said, "Nice Tie" and PhiGam proudly responded, "it's either Brooks Brothers or Ralph Lauren".
Until he said it, I thought it was definitely a K-Mart blue light special.

Either they find chivalry offensive or they have nothing better to do then follow around somebody on a message board and criticize their posts. Just because 10% of my posts could be viewed as offensive, I do that because my threads get more views/ hour than any other poster on here.

Perhaps some posters prefer "men" who let the door slam on their face or rush out of the plane/elevator in front of them.

It's not a North/South thing. Men all over do this. It's not so much chivalrous as it is common courtesy for any human to do for another. From time to time, I do this for men without thinking. However I have found many Yankee men find it uncomfortable.

I have to agree with you and PhiGam on this thread, but when it comes to the Three A's, you have to add A|X and Hollister to the no list.

I didn't mention the three a's in this thread because this is for all colleges, not just the southern/ fratty ones. I agree with you 100% about the way that fraternity men should dress but its not nationwide, if you wear boat shoes and croakies in the midwest they'll laugh at you the same way that we laugh at people wearing cargo shorts with an abercrombie muscle tee.

I never said it was a north/ south thing. It is certainly more prevalent in the south though.

I think there's a difference between opening the door and holding it if you get to the door first and going out of your way to open the door (i.e. stepping in front for the sole purpose of opening the door). The former is natural, the latter is chivalrous.

My delicate feminine eyes/ears! :::Faints::::

PhiGam will agree, you should try this look during rush. It will go over well at UCLA, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida.... It's a timeless look :cool:


http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...1/P3240463.jpg

^^^LOLOLOL - that kid in the middle is definitely wearing make-up (and he needs his tweezers taken away -- actually, they all do).

is that a spray on man tan?

O no no no. Please for the love of God, no.

Jagerbombs!!!!!

Wow. The middle one looks positively feminine.

They reek of douchbaggery. The sad thing is there are probably women tripping over themselves to dance with them at the club.

OOOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPETY DOO I've got another episode of "Growing up Gotti" for you.

Back to the thread topic...
1) Some schools do not allow women at Rush, so that should be a disclaimer. However keep the not swearing and trash talking women in as you never know if the brother will talking to will be offended.
2) Check out the culture of the campus where one is participating in Rush. Khakis and polos might be de rigeur down South, but if for example, you've been in FFA and you're interested in joining AGR in a Western State (Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, etc.) rocking your belt buckle and Wranglers, because that is who you are, is probably a better way to go.
3) Be yourself, because if you're phony it will eventually come out, and you might not make it to initiation, or into any other fraternity.

Women who will realize--only too late--that their new friends enjoy waxing, tanning, wearing make-up, and using hair gel, more than they do. Who wants margaritas? :p

Good eye. Their eyebrows are all either waxed, or tweezed to hell.

And question for the ladies. Let's say you hook up with a gelhead; what in the world goes through your mind when you touch that hair????

I have no answer for that question, since I would never hook up with a "gel head." One reason: because I'm married. The second reason: I'm not attracted to men who care more about "product" than my stylist.

Did anyone notice that their lip color is the same. I would definitely say that the shade could be found at Sephora.

Also, that is a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeal bad spray-on. I would ask for my money back.

And someone please explain to me the deal with kissy faces and dudes? I can see girls doing it, but guys? Come on now. I guess I am being sexist, but what is wrong with these young men???

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...mg/Preppy1.jpg

I am definitely a prep! A REAL SNOB! And, I want to show how pathetic the rest of you really are. Of course! I'm like, so wonderful and popular and everyone is like so jealous of me!

Preps are the greatest! We rule! We are sooo perfect! Don't you know anything?

People would die to be like me because I'm sooo handsome and everyone just totally wants to be like me!

Name brand clothing all the time...expensive. No sale items, no used clothing and nothing from that freak store, Hot Topic! Ugh! THOSE FREAKS!

If people are popular like me, I treat them nice but secretly I think I am better than them! And I make fun & laugh at all of the unpopular people! Ugh, they are such losers!