Rushing currently, have a few questions

[Firehouse]

I may not have made myself clear. If I understood the original question, the young man was trying to make a decision whether to join a re-founding chapter, or, to join an established chapter. He also asked if the 'tier' ranking of his fraternity influences his social opportunities.
College fraternity chapters are composed of 18-21 year-old young men and their social dynamic is differently informed than that of we alumni.
Is there a difference in the experience he would have as a re-founder vs. the experience he would have as a member of an established chapter? Absolutely.
Are the social opportunities different for the highly rated fraternities vs those rated toward the bottom of the scale? Yes. Again, 'tiers' are based on subjective perceptions and don't necessarily reflect reality. However that's the world of fraternities on a big campus.
Does top tier status breed arrogance, as 'DubaiSis' charges? You're dealing with 18-21 year old males, so yes, the confidence and pride displayed by top chapters on every major campus are often viewed as arrogance. Sometimes that brings them down. But the top fraternities routinely produce the top performers, the top leaders, and eventually the top contributors to their university. It's hard to think of any famous, accomplished man who was in a college fraternity who was not in a top tier chapter when he was there. Off the top of my head: Sam Walton, George Bush, John Wayne, Warren Buffet, Jon Stewart, David Letterman, T. Boone Pickens, Burt Reynolds, Michael Jordan, Eli Manning, lots of Congressmen on both the left and the right...
It's wrong to assume that the experience is different for a player on a losing team vs a player on a national chapionship team. Yes, ATSAlumna06, you're right: you get out of Greek Life what you put into it. But the opportunities vary widely.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Firehouse

But the top fraternities routinely produce the top performers, the top leaders, and eventually the top contributors to their university.

I see what you're trying to say, but I wonder if this isn't another example of how tier perceptions, which are subjective, can vary from campus to campus and be affected by campus values. I can think of at least one large campus I was pretty familiar where the fraternity that had the "campus leaders" in it was not considered top tier. The fraternities considered top tier tended to be made up of jocks, old money and partiers, not campus leaders.

It's hard to think of any famous, accomplished man who was in a college fraternity who was not in a top tier chapter when he was there. Off the top of my head: Sam Walton, George Bush, John Wayne, Warren Buffet, Jon Stewart, David Letterman, T. Boone Pickens, Burt Reynolds, Michael Jordan, Eli Manning, lots of Congressmen on both the left and the right....

How in the world do you know that the chapters any of these men were in were considered top tier by the students on their campuses?

ETA: By the way, one of the men you listed above was on the campus I was referring to during the time I was referring to. While he was a member of a great chapter of a great fraternity, I don't think anyone on camps would have described it as "top tier."

[Firehouse]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I see what you're trying to say, but I wonder if this isn't another example of how tier perceptions, which are subjective, can vary from campus to campus and be affected by campus values. I can think of at least one large campus I was pretty familiar where the fraternity that had the "campus leaders" in it was not considered top tier. The fraternities considered top tier tended to be made up of jocks, old money and partiers, not campus leaders.


How in the world do you know that the chapters any of these men were in were considered top tier by the students on their campuses?

ETA: By the way, one of the men you listed above was on the campus I was referring to during the time I was referring to. While he was a member of a great chapter of a great fraternity, I don't think anyone on camps would have described it as "top tier."

On the first point, you're exactly right MysticCat. The fraternity with the majority of student government leaders isn't necessarily top tier. I should have phrased it differently. I should have referred to the "leading fraternities" on campus. I prefer term that to 'top tier' a phrase I don't particularly like. Who the 'leading fraternities' are is always a matter of peception.
On the second point, I know because I have studied fraternities for years as a hobby and have made it my business to know. And I agree, let's not say 'top tier'. But I am convinced that the aggressive, accomplished, driven men join the leading fraternities. I didn't take time to craft that list. I threw in Michael Jordan because I like him (he was a member of a historically Black fraternity so it doesn't fit the model - but who wouldn't want Michael Jordan in their chapter?).
Which name were you referring to? I'll take the hit if I'm wrong.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Firehouse

On the first point, you're exactly right MysticCat. The fraternity with the majority of student government leaders isn't necessarily top tier. I should have phrased it differently. I should have referred to the "leading fraternities" on campus. I prefer term that to 'top tier' a phrase I don't particularly like. Who the 'leading fraternities' are is always a matter of peception.

Exactly, which is why I don't know that it's helpful to a discussion like this, whether one is talking about "top tier" or "leading fraternities" -- especially if it means that different people are talking about different things.

l'm not going to say Omega's the best house on campus, but a lot of outstanding guys figure they'll pledge Omega or won't pledge at all.

We do have more than our share of campus leaders -- something that never looks bad on your permanent record.

I didn't take time to craft that list. I threw in Michael Jordan because I like him (he was a member of a historically Black fraternity so it doesn't fit the model - but who wouldn't want Michael Jordan in their chapter?).
Which name were you referring to? I'll take the hit if I'm wrong.

LOL. It was indeed Michael Jordan I was referring to.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

l'm not going to say Omega's the best house on campus, but a lot of outstanding guys figure they'll pledge Omega or won't pledge at all.

Random Psi U trivia, but Omega from Animal House was based on the Zeta chapter of Psi U.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

[/INDENT]Random Psi U trivia, but Omega from Animal House was based on the Zeta chapter of Psi U.

Their crest always reminded me of Sigma Chi, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuFCaIAnETk (at 0:53)

http://www.microworks.net/sigmachi/images/crest.GIF

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Random Psi U trivia, but Omega from Animal House was based on the Zeta chapter of Psi U.

Are you sure? Every seemingly-reliable source I've seen says it was mainly based on the Dartmouth SAE chapter. Miller was an SAE legacy, and his description of SAE's rush party bears a strong resemblance to rush at the Omega house -- right down to the two girls handing out nametags at a table at the front door and a brother telling rushees that most of the "real achievers at Dartmouth" choose SAE.

Perhaps this means it's time to read The Real Animal House again.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Their crest always reminded me of Sigma Chi, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuFCaIAnETk (at 0:53)

http://www.microworks.net/sigmachi/images/crest.GIF

It does. But it also has a crescent moon on it and the colors are red and green - so perhaps an homage to Kappa Sigma as well. Also, Omega Theta Pi sounds a lot like Beta Theta Pi. Just sayin'.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Perhaps this means it's time to read The Real Animal House again.

And it might be time for me to watch “Animal House” again.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

You're trying too hard, Firehouse. Way too hard.

No kidding.

The ironic thing: He pretty much proved my point for me. You have to make your own success. As I said, your fraternity doesn't just hand you everything. The guys who work hard are successful. The only thing he doesn't understand is that you don't have to be Mr. Popular in the "perfect" fraternity chapter to be successful and make a good life for yourself.

And there are definitely jackasses who join those "leading" fraternities who fail at life. I've seen it happen. And I've also seen members of the smallest chapters from some of the smallest schools go on to be more successful than pretty much anyone else I know. No, their names aren't George Bush or Eli Manning, but not everyone wants to be President of the United States or a starting quarterback in the NFL.

ETA: The bottom line is that the OP should do what he feels is best for him. Being a founder of a chapter is a lot of work, but it will definitely pay off in the end.. if you put in the effort. Tiers mean nothing except to the people who are lame enough to be concerned with them. Just be yourself, make friends, and join (or start) a fraternity chapter that fits with who you are.

And work your butt off so you can be awesome, and successful, and get hot chicks.