Torn Between Studying Abroad and Leading Recruitment.
 

Hey all,

I've been a casual viewer of the board for a while now, but lately I've felt like I need some advice that only current and former Greek college students could help me with. I'm a junior active in my fraternity and have been a big supporter and contributer to the chapter through the good and the bad. Several years back our fraternity got put on probation and we are finally on the upswing in the past few years in terms of quality recruitment, which has really helped improve all aspects of the chapter.

Like I said already, I am a junior planning on graduating on time and kind of saw myself on my way out of fraternity involvement other than attending meetings and going to social events. Last year, I served as a chair and stayed involved in other ways of the fraternity.

Well recently we did nominations for our new executive positions and most of the people running for positions seem like viable candidates. However, I'm really worried about our position of Vice President of Recruitment. A brother ran unopposed to the position because honestly no one really seems to want to do it. However, I, and others firmly believe he just isn't well suited for the job. He held a smaller exec position and did nothing more than the bare minimum. As much as I consider him a brother and good friend, I'm very concerned about his ability and devotion to working hard through the spring and summer to produce a good pledge class to help keep the chapter sustainable. His track record and personal things I know about him, all indicate it isn't a recipe for success.

I've talked to a few guys from my pledge class and they strongly encouraged me to run because they think I could do a good job and honestly I belive I could too. I'm not trying to sound arrogant, but I know I am a good "rusher" because I enjoy talking with people and am good with making connections. Several guys I helped rush right before recruitment ended signed with us.

Without realing my affiliation, I will say I am very passionate about my fraternity and have even talked to a few of our national representatives about future employment. However, it has been my plan practically my entire college career to study abroad and I planned to do it this summer. Unfortunately but logically it is not allowed to study abroad during the summer and be in charge of recruitment. It's something I have really wanted to do and I'm worried if I ran for the position of being in charge of Recruitment I might grow to really regret skipping out on studying abroad...but then again I think I would also be mad at myself if we pull in a disappointing pledge class while I was off in Europe for a month, knowing I could be leading the effort.

I know there is a definite chance I could travel after I graduate and when I'm older, but you never know. However, I know I deeply care about our fraternity recruiting excellent new members, and there really is only ONE opportunity to be VP. I'm feeling really torn and worried that whatever I choose I will regret the other.

And just fyi - we have a week to add new nominations before voting in our next meeting.

I guess I just need some outside perspective and advice grounded in reality, because I will admit I'm more of an idealist.

Obviously, you have to make your own decision about this. If it were me, though, I wouldn't pass up the chance to travel for my degree program. You're in college for your education, so that should always come first.

Good luck.

I, too, would choose the study abroad. (Although I wish you had studied abroad summer before Junior year, then you could have done both. Oh well.)

Believe me, that thought definitely crossed my mind but due to some financial issues last year, it wasn't possible to go last summer.

Study abroad.

One of the big factors in my decision not to study abroad was my chapter and it was our first formal recruitment. I went to training the previous summer and knew the system from helping out with other chapters in our area, so I felt I couldn't leave.

Recruitment comes around, I get mono. I'm sent home and almost hospitalized the week of recruitment. Guess what? Recruitment went on without me and the chapter did fine.

Not studying abroad is one of the things I regret.

Train members in your chapter, assist as much as you can before you leave, and then go abroad and enjoy.

While I appreciate your advice, I think it's important to realize how different IFC and PHC recruitment is. With fraternities, the recruitment effort really is led by the person in charge of recruitment and his committee during the summer, while from what I gather about sorority recruitment it is a MUCH more colloborative effort from everyone in the sorority pitching in and recruiting during the rounds. At my school we really don't have a formal fraternity recruitment and practically all the recruiting for guys is done in the summer. If you aren't well organized, prepared, and effortful during the summer you won't pull in a good pledge class. That's why it's so important to have an outstanding individual leading our rush, because he is the one making calls, delegating others to make calls, planning events, and attending to hundreds of guys going through recruitment. If you have one slacker leading your rush, I don't think I can say, "Recruitment went on without me and the chapter did fine."

Study abroad. Without a doubt it was the best decision I made in college, and lead me to a better postgraduate degree (also in a foreign university) and those credentials were extremely important in getting me the job I was just offered. Studying abroad, and proving that not only can you be versatile and flexible, but that you also have some knowledge of international systems and customs and that is a huge boost on a resume.

I also went the spring/summer of my Jr year, only because there was no opportunity to do it before then, and it was the only chance I had to fit in my credits.

Keep in mind you can always impact recruitment as an active brother, and as an alum. There are ways to contribute even if you can't physically be there.

I will just add my vote for study abroad. Everyone I know who did it says it was the best experience of their life; everyone who didn't do it wishes they did.

I think you missed the point of that story.

Life is full of uncertain factors and you never know what will happen. She gave up a chance to study abroad to be rush chair, and then she couldn't do rush chair anyway. What if you get mono or, God forbid, something else happens and you can't be there in the summer?

All I can say is if your fraternity is at the state that you feel you are the ONLY one who can do this position, and that Stevie Slackjaw ran unopposed, rushees are going to pick up on that and your rush is going to be epic fail anyway, even if you do stay and lead it. You can't have one superstar and a bunch of dullards.

20 years from now, which do you think you'll enjoy the memory of more and which do you believe will better prepare you for life after college: being VP of recruitment or spending the summer in Europe?

I'd take Europe hands down.

It sounds like you have your mind made up, so why are you asking us?

I did both and yes, I read it was not allowed in your situation. I can tell you it was the BEST recruitment my chapter ever had that year. Everyone doubted I could do both but interestingly enough, it made me a better Rush chair. If you are the BEST man for the job the chapter can make an exeception to the rule and allow you to do both, otherwise, TRAVEL ABROAD!!! If you can't do what is best for you AND the chapter, do what is best for YOU. The chapter will be fine, everyone group has a bad recruitment here and there.

I will second this... I wanted to study abroad and didn't and wish I would have.

I did, and my biggest regret is that I didn't go for longer.

I'm with many people who are asking essentially the same question...which will you remember in 20 years?