What happened to my thread about fraternities?

[Akkus]

Can anyone explain the difference between formal recruitment and informal recruitment once more? I think sororities usually use formal recruitment while fraternities use informal recruitment.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Akkus

Can anyone explain the difference between formal recruitment and informal recruitment once more? I think sororities usually use formal recruitment while fraternities use informal recruitment.

Formal recruitment is extremely structured with parties lasting a certain length of time and each PNM visiting a specific house at a specific time. There's then a structured method of winnowing down PNMs and houses until you reach bid day.

Informal recruitment is "hey come with us to Hooters/ski trip/movie night etc." and then you hit a point where you specifically are invited back and voted on and potentially extended a bid.

[shinerbock]

Also, at some schools, there is no bid day. Some southern schools have almost their entire pledge classes before formal rush even starts.

[Drolefille]

Forgot to mention: you're right, sororities (NPC) use formal recruitment once a year, but some may use informal recruitment throughout the year to get even more girls.

Fraternities use informal, sometimes as informally as shinerbocks above and some do it strictly during the 2 or 3 weeks of fraternity rush.

[shinerbock]

I imagine however if you're rushing in california, you'll have some sort of bid night. I can't imagine a state school in california would have such an informal rush.

[Akkus]

Thanks for the helpful information. How about advantages and disadvantages of both styles of recruitment? Which one is more rushee-friendly?

[Akkus]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I imagine however if you're rushing in california, you'll have some sort of bid night. I can't imagine a state school in california would have such an informal rush.

here is what the website says, so i think they are not very formal:

The Interfraternity Council conducts membership recruitment in the first month of each semester. Typically there is an orientation event, and chapters then sponsor their own recruitment activities over a 5-6 day period. No registration fee is required, and it is up to the student to select which events to attend. On the second day, fraternities can start giving out "bids," which are invitations to join. Students are encouraged to visit as many chapters as practical during the recruitment period to discover the group that best meets their needs. Although most men join during the IFC-designated recruitment period, chapters are permitted to extend bids for the duration of the semester.

[shinerbock]

That doesn't sound too bad at all. I think informal rushing is the best for both rushees and brothers. Here are a couple reasons...

1) Informal rush is more laid back, and often less hectic. Brothers usually just hang out with you, rather than feeling like they have to meet every rushee in a certain period of time so that they can vote on you.

2)Similar to above, it is much easier to get to know a guy at a ballgame, a band party, at the beach, etc...You can't really tell who a guy is when he's in coat and tie and nervous. Its much easier when you're hanging out drinking beer.

3) Informal rushing allows rushees to consider more fraternities, and for fraternities to give out more bids. Some schools treat fraternities almost like sororities. They try and match the two up, rather than letting fraternities bid anyone and everyone they want. The way we rushed was to have events all over the southeast throughout the summer, and give bids whenever we found somebody we liked. I don't think you'll have a problem with this, since they can bid that entire week, but you'll have to move faster. In really relaxed rush systems, you can get a bid in July and hold until school starts if you want.