rushing a new fraternity colony, good idea?
 

So I'm currently a Sophomore in my school, which to some people might seem a little late. I got busy with clubs and intramurals last couple semesters, so I never had the time to rush for anything the past 3 semesters I was here in college. Unfortunately, the only fraternity that is holding spring rush this year is a very new colony.

According to my school's Greek Office, it became a registered colony only just last semester (fall '13). I've talked to the VP last night at one of their rush event, and he admitted that they probably won't become a full chartered chapter until his Jr year (which mean I would be a Sr then). My campus already had 8 fraternities, several of them are quite large and well established (think the newest one chartered in '02). So I wasn't sure if joining a new 1-semester old colony would be good for me. I mean, several of the members in there are real nice and cool, and felt I could really make an impact with them being so new. I like their national fraternity's ideas and mission, and I suppose being in a colony would push me to work hard to ensure that my potential fraternity succeed in the long run.

But I'm just not 100% sold on the idea that joining a fresh colony would be best. The new colony already had 25 members, but I've heard that 18 of them came from the same high school and knew each other for years (all Fr). So I'm slightly worried that I might be an outsider if I decide to go down the process, not really knowing any of them prior to rushing. Plus, with so many well-established fraternities on campus I felt this one might just get overshadowed in the future in term of new members.

So should I rush for something like this, or should I wait another semester and see how everything pan out? I really like the fraternity's mission and goals, but felt I might be looked on as "outsider" due to most of the guys there all knowing each other from high school.

It will take more than 18 men who know each other to make a new group work.
If you join and it suceeds, you will be known as a Founder and your name will go into its history book. It would be as proud a thing in your life like no other.

In starting a local in 1965, it is going strong and the biggest and best on campus. That is what I am the most proud of and continue to work with them 49 yars later.

It doesn't matter if it's a colony or the oldest fraternity on campus, rushing a group just because it's the only group available at the time when you've never looked at any other group is NOT a good idea. Wait until next fall and in the meantime, make an effort to get to know members of all the fraternities outside of rush.

Did you read the answers in your other post?

Get to know all of the organizations before you make that call. If you do indeed identify with this colony, the brothers, mission, and values then go for it; if not go out for the larger organizations in the fall