Confused? What to do?
 

Hey everyone,
I'm a senior in high school and i'm very interested in pledging. But I dont really now what to do? I've been researching all the fraternities at the University of south carolina. I'm kinda interested in sigma chi......
:confused: any suggestions?:)

It's really very simple.

Research them. Contact them. Meet them.

Look at all of the fraternities on campus. And don't only decide on one right now based on what you read. If you were at school already and knew some of the members of the different fraternities, that'd be a whole other story. Because getting along with your brothers is obviously important. For now, keep an open mind.

Get in touch with the fraternities. Maybe not right now, as it's too early if you're just starting your senior year. But maybe contact them over the summer. Say that you are interested in Greek life, and ask them when they are having recruitment events. And when you do contact them, no matter what means of communication you use, sound intelligent! In this respect, research will help, so if you do talk to a member on the phone, you might be able to ask them about scholarship programs, philanthropies, leadership opportunities, etc.

When you get to college, meet them. Make it a point to go to anything and everything where Greek members might be. Go to recruitment events on top of other activities where you think fraternities members will be present. Just talk to them. And making nice with sorority members might not be a bad idea, either.

If I got contacted by someone in High School this soon (before they even got into the college) I'd be somewhat flattered but I'd be sort of creeped out too. Get good grades, apply to colleges, then start worrying about rush for fall '09.

Also, I'd hold off on deciding on Sigma Chi as their individual chapter could be vastly different than others or what the national website reflects. You also might dislike the brothers. Go into rush with an open mind and don't have all your eggs in one basket, otherwise you could be severely disappointed.

This is a difference of campus culture. From what I've read on GC, fraternities at many southern schools have rush parties over the summer, so you could be missing out by not doing anything until you're on campus next fall. Some southern fraternity members will probably chime in with more specific advice. However, I'd wait until you've been accepted to colleges and know where you're going next year.
Cosign.

Yep..work on your grades, get leadership experience and do community service. Then when you actually go to college, you'll be prepared. Don't contact them beforehand.

I don't know where the southern boys are, but from being the mom of a southern boy and watching from the sidelines, here's a few tips I would give:

Don't contact the fraternities yourself, I think they think that is kind of sketchy. The best is if you know guys in the fraternities. Let them know you are interested and see if they will get you on the "rush list". Once you are on the list, you will be contacted by the rush chairs about summer events.

If you don't know anybody in the fraternities at SC, then see if you or your parents have some alumni friends who would contact the rush chairs for you to give them a heads up on your interest, and to vouch for you, that you are a good guy that they might be interested in. Or if you know any girls in sororities there, they can hook you up too.

Then, if there are any weekend type greek events where the fraternities have open parties, try to go and meet people. Once you have kind of zeroed in on a few houses you like alot, try to go to as many events and meet as many actives as you can.



Be yourself, be conversive, have fun, don't act like an a**, don't drink so much that you don't remember if you acted like an a**.

Good Luck!

That's about it.

Just wondering...are you actually Greek? Or do you just have a kid in the Greek system?

Go to the Rush parties...

I could be wrong but I kind of think that USC has a few at Hilton Head.

Ours usually reflect the membership, in terms of where we have ours.

^^^ Wow. That's a great post from a parent!

I was a pi phi at SMU in the 80's, so yes, I am Greek.

Thanks Jacob.

Cool, just wondering since you seem to mostly talk about your son's experience. :)

My sorority experience was soooooo long ago, nobody would be interested it it!! ;)

I'm familiar with fraternity rush at a big southern school because my son pledged, so the info is current and hopefully helpful. But, I don't profess to be any kind of expert, just a sidelines observer.

well, what was his experience like?