Rush Week Questions
 

I'm going to be rushing at the University of Florida in the fall based on my experiences with a lot of brothers during the downtime over the summer (I'm a summer admit). I've narrowed down my choices to five fraternities as follows:

Beta Theta Pi
Delta Chi
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Theta Chi
Zeta Beta Tau

This was the result of a process of elimination as I researched each and every single fraternity (eliminating, for example, brotherhoods with feeble numbers, GPAs, etc.) I will narrow them down even further during rush.


That being said I am most concerned with rush week since it will be my first and last opportunity to take advantage of.
Anything you can tell me about how rush week works would be great. I do have a few specific questions though:

1) Up to how many fraternities could you reasonably rush? What number would you recommend? I hear 3 is almost stretching it. Can you do 5?

2) If someone wants to rush more than a few houses how would they schedule this? Would you spend an hour or so at one house and then hop to the other? Or dedicate one day to each fraternity and alternating throughout rush week? Each fraternity has lunch, dinner, and night event usually last 3 hours each.

3) What were your rush week experiences? I'd like to know:
- Things you liked, hated, noticed, regret, memorable conversations, etc.

4) My goal is to get at least two houses to invite me to the friday event which is "invite only." Any words of advice or .02 cents are appreciated.

5) Tell me, generally, how each fraternity interacts with potential new members? for example, how interested do they seem in the PNM's story during a conversation. Or is it the other way around; must the PNM seek conversation. I expect to receive and do both.


I feel like I can relate to many people quite well and brotherhood is something I feel is an amazing opportunity that could benefit/challenge every facet of my life, especially for involvement at UF. I never saw it as paying for friends and I'll have plenty of non-greek friends for sure. I also have an open/realistic mind so I could find that greek life isn't for me. To each his own and GL during rush!


Cumbersome post, but I need some input

Thanks

If your research was solely online, you might be a bit disappointed. Many vital, strong and popular fraternity chapters have crappy websites or no website at all.

Just sayin'.

What was your research based on? Was it purely information gathering (national reputation, chapter web site information, etc...) or did you talk to the chapters you eliminated?

Unless a chapter had a severe lack of members (i.e. ABC has 10 actives when the fraternity average is 50) or severe GPA issues (All Greek GPA is 3.1 and the chapter has a 2.4) I think it's a misstep to discount them. All chapters will tell you they emphasize scholarship, community service, social events, involvement, etc... but the reality is much different.

Before discounting any groups, try and visit as many as you can and get an initial feel. The group you immediately discounted because they are 10 under average might be the perfect fit for you.

I'm not sure how UF Rush works, but I'd cast a wide net initially rather than throw a smaller one. You might end up hating those 5 you selected.

The one thing that sticks out from my rush is what one group did during their individual event during our "formal rush." This group is the best known on campus, biggest, and most involved. Coming into rush, I heard great things about them and thought I would end up joining them. They had people in my major and a high chapter GPA.

At the start of the event, they did a little speech about why they joined and benefits. Then busted into a board breaking activity. After you broke the board they would cheer you on, something about group dynamic and strength.

I thought this was a completely ridiculous event and it immediately made me not want to join them. Not only having the ridiculous board breaking, but the group just seemed pretentious and gave the attitude of, "we're the biggest on campus, you're lucky if you get a bid from us." I didn't go to another event they had.

If they have 3 events each day, they're 3 hours each, and you have narrowed down your search to 5 fraternities, I don't see a problem.

You can at least get a taste of what each one has going for it.

Start talking to people on campus, the members of those fraternities in particular. You need to make a good impression outside of their events. Plus, if you talk to them outside of events, they won't be in full on 'Rush mode.'

Anyway, you should be seeking conversation at the start, but if they don't pursue anything further (especially if the SigEp chapter does this.. I know how we're trained lol), then you should realign your focus.

I can say more later when I'm not half asleep. Good luck with Rush!

Btw, when I rushed, it only took me a day of Rush to narrow down my list from 6 to 2. You'll know what shoes fit better than the others.

I remember when I went through rush, there was a Fraternity that I thought was going to be incredible. Every girl said they were the best Fraternity and I really liked the few guys I met in the chapter.

I ended up going to one of their events (baseball game), and they were complete douchebags. Not only did they act obnoxiously during the game itself, but they kept telling me how hard I was going to have to work to get a bid from them.

Oddly enough, I ended up joining the smallest Fraternity on-campus, and I was a big part of building them to the second largest. Don't count-out the small guys, you never know what you might be missing out on.

I think the advice to cast a wide net at first is good...however do it quickly. Because it takes time to get to know everyone well. At my school, they recommend 12, 6,then 3