Shoe In??
 

What exatly does it mean to be a shoe in? Particularly, when rushing a fraternity. Is that good or bad?

Thanks guys!

It means that no matter what you do, you're getting a bid.

This has both good and bad:

Good:
1.) You don't have to try very hard
2.) They've probably already determined you to be a good fit for the group

However...
- The fraternity in question may have low or almost no standards
- The reason for the shoe-in may be bad, leading to you getting a bid when it's not in your best interest
- Fraternity is deseparate for members

The reesult: you have to see for yourself.

FYI, I believe the term is "shoo in".

shoe in could work... like getting your foot in the door

LOLLLL

LOL.

I will admit that I have probably typed "shoe in" before.

You just gotta get your foot in the door. Badumdum...chhhh.....

Shoe in, shoo in...somethin like that! LOL...

Thanks everyone for the input and help!

Let me be the Negative Nick here, but even if you are told you're a 'shoe in' (or 'shoo in'), don't approach it that way. If you act cocky some of the brothers may really dislike you. Each organization votes differently, sometimes a single 'no' vote means you don't receive a bid. Unless you are best friends with the entire chapter, you should still be on your best behavior.

It means anyone who tells you that you are this is:

1) full of crap/dumber than a box of hair
2) using dirty rush tactics to try to keep you from looking at other fraternities.

Either way, not a good thing.

If a fraternity member told you this, dump their house NOW. Don't go back. Don't pledge there. Yeah, I know people are going to say "it's only one person" but EVERY person should know better than to say such a thing.

I disagree with this.

As an active undergrad, I know damn well that EVERY organization, fraternities and sororities, top of the totem pole to bottom of the totem pole, have young members that have yet to learn how to properly recruit potential rushees. This is more common among fraternities especially.

I wouldn't be surprised if the brother who told the OP he was a "shoo in" was a newer brother that has no idea how to recruit or what to say/what not to say.

And there are always stand-out guys that would be a shoo in for whichever fraternity they choose, just as there are stand-out girls who always have a full schedule during sorority rush. Not saying this is the case with the OP, but it very well may be.

But I agree with lucgreek, don't be cocky or overly confident. There are some chapters where a single vote can blackball you and you don't want to ruin your chances by being a cocky douchebag.

I agree with this.

I don't tell people they're a shoo in, but I do let them know (if they're really worried) that their chances are looking really good.

FWIW, there was a fraternity on my campus who had what they called "99's" - Potentials that they were 99% sure they would give a bid once they were eligible. Usually these were first-semester freshmen, they knew they were 99s, the entire greek community knew they were 99s. If it was dirty rushing, no one usually cared. Once in a while a 99 would end up joining another fraternity but not often.

So, I'm not familiar with NIC recruitment rules - I'm not sure if this is dirty rushing or not. I just felt like sharing, really.

Yea, I was going to mention this. I've never heard of any regulations banning (what NPC women call) dirty rushing. I'm not sure why it was brought up in this thread in the first place.

Because the OP asked. :)

It's one thing if you know for sure that the fraternity really IS going to bid the guy. But there are times where a group just wants to keep a rushee from looking at another group...they just want to keep the rushee in question on the string in case one of their other guys doesn't sign. Too often the guy gets tossed to the side when the guys they REALLY wanted sign on.

As for dumb younguns - male and female - you need to educate them before they start opening their mouths.

When I hear 'dirty rushing,' I only think about the NPC equivalent. I don't think there are any consequences if similar situations happen in the NIC world (aside from the rushee getting screwed).

And I agree with the last paragraph.