question about UGA frats

jon1856 · #1 06-22-2006, 10:43 AM

What Tammy said is so true and important.
Rush has two sides; yours and the houses.
The chapter Brothers want to learn all they can about you in a very short period of time. And you wish to learn what you can about all of them in a very short period of time.
Best idea: keep your eyes and ears open, try to talk to the younger Brothers, as they are the ones that you will be spending the most time with.
Do not start rush with a given idea of any house. You start with a blank page for them all. Just as you are a blank page for them.

The only thing that you may wish to learn is who is in trouble with UGA. And what kind of trouble it is. If it is a matter of breaking of rules, that should be a yellow flag. And I say that because my House is no longer around because they fell apart internally and went from a Fraternity house to something well beyond Animal House. Being known as a party house is not neccesarly a bad thing nor a good thing. Being social is good, being supid is very bad.

shinerbock · #2 06-22-2006, 12:03 PM

Well I think this is good advice. However, having been in a fraternity at an SEC school, I think you should do your research. Finding out who is in trouble is a good start, but ask around (sorority girls) and get a general consensus of who is tops on campus. Of course, you'll need to find the best fit for you, but as with most southern greek life, if you fit in well one place, you'll probably fit in well at 15 others. That being said, by all means, don't suicide rush only the top few fraternities. Go with the mixture of the best on campus, and the one you like the most. The great thing about the SEC, is even if you're not in a top tier fraternity, theres a good chance that the chapter you're in will still have great people, great connections, great parties, and plenty of girls around. The reason I bring up the researching who's best, is because I've had friends in similar situations join a good fraternity, only to find they probably could have pledged one that was a little better on campus. Granted, no matter how it works out you'll have a good time, but why not try for the best.

tunatartare · #3 06-22-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Well I think this is good advice. However, having been in a fraternity at an SEC school, I think you should do your research. Finding out who is in trouble is a good start, but ask around (sorority girls) and get a general consensus of who is tops on campus. Of course, you'll need to find the best fit for you, but as with most southern greek life, if you fit in well one place, you'll probably fit in well at 15 others. That being said, by all means, don't suicide rush only the top few fraternities. Go with the mixture of the best on campus, and the one you like the most. The great thing about the SEC, is even if you're not in a top tier fraternity, theres a good chance that the chapter you're in will still have great people, great connections, great parties, and plenty of girls around. The reason I bring up the researching who's best, is because I've had friends in similar situations join a good fraternity, only to find they probably could have pledged one that was a little better on campus. Granted, no matter how it works out you'll have a good time, but why not try for the best.

What is suiciding in fraternity rush? Is like sorority recruitment where you only look at one house?

shinerbock · #4 06-22-2006, 12:18 PM

Yeah, it isnt very common anymore, but back when I was a freshman/soph, it would happen a lot. Some fraternities on campus would only give out bids at the end of formal rush, and if you didn't come to every event or party or whatever, you were less likely to get a bid. I'm not sure about UGA, but at Auburn most of the bidding is now done way before formal rush, often at parties or beach events over the summer. Thus, it makes suicide rushing much more unlikely, as most fraternities have their pledge class going into formal rush. But regarding that, I guess my point was not to shut off all your other options by just focusing on one or two. Keep your backups open.

FSUZeta · #5 06-22-2006, 01:24 PM

shinerbock, i am glad that you brought up the summer rush events, because i am intrigued by the concept. some friends of my children who will be freshmen at a southern school have received letters from a few of the fraternities inviting them to summer get-togethers.

the ifc at that school does have summer rush rules, which i had never seen before. i think it is a great idea to post them, so that the newbies know what should and should not be going on.

what happens to the freshman who lives far away, or for whatever reason cannot make these summer parties? might they miss out on a bid from the top houses?

jon1856 · #6 06-22-2006, 01:43 PM

I went to a school of 2,800 undergrads which at the time had even split of 7 & 7.

Tops on campus was nothing really noted. The Drug house was, the jock house was ( althought the jocks were only around the house during rush week......), the Blow-dry house, The Hawain house, the Business house et al.
All the houses had good and bad, was just a matter of who fit where the best. I believe I received 3 bids.

Again, small school, small Greek system. Up at U of W IIRC 35 & 28 and thier rush parties were crazy. Not sure if I could/would have gone through that.......

Asking around may not be bad, but the best info is what you get first hand. Because anyone you ask is going to have, for what ever reason(s) a biase pro/con.

jimhump · #7 06-22-2006, 02:15 PM

Hey this is the same person that started this thread but my login messed up so I've switched to this name. Tammy you may be able to help, I am not gonig to UGA next year, my son is. I am completely new to this and was wondering which fraternities, see I'm learning, at Georgia are good. He has been in contact with Lambda Chi, Kappa Alpha, Chi Phi, SAE, and a few others. I would just like your opinion, as a former student, as what these fraternities are like. Their reputations on campus amongst students and professors alike, are they hardcore Southern fraternities, is there a lot of partying, are they similar to eachother, what kinds of guys are usually in these? I know this is a lot to answer so any information would really be appreciated.

P.S. Alpha, sorry I offended you so deeply, im just a parent trying to get a little information about my child's next four years and hopefully help him, not lead him, to a good decision that he will be very happy with.

TSteven · #8 06-22-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

what happens to the freshman who lives far away, or for whatever reason cannot make these summer parties? might they miss out on a bid from the top houses?

The short answer is no.

However, it is important that the chapter knows that the freshman (rushee) is interested and not just blowing them off. Depending on the campus and chapter, letters may have been sent only to certain freshman that the chapter is actively rushing. In other words, not every incoming freshman who has expressed an interest in Greek life may have received an invitation to the summer event. So if attending is simply not possible, the freshman should send the chapter a letter - usually to the Rush Chair and/or President - letting them know that while he is interested, he can not attend.

With few exceptions, there are no campus totals or quotas for fraternities and chapters may take as many men as they want. So while a chapter may have a "full" pledge class in place by fall, if the chapter knows there is a freshman who wasn't able to attend a summer party and is rushing during formal, they can check him during formal rush and may extend him a bid.

Now having said that, this still might put those freshman who were unable to attend a summer party at a disadvantage simply because a chapter may not feel it *needs* to add any additional pledges. And as such, they may not put much effort into formal rush.