[Kevin]

Anecdotally, I have seen that the pressure to join NPHC vs. an IFC type fraternity can be very real. I tried to recruit a friend of mine in undergrad who happened to be black. He liked our organization and everything we stood for, but stated that if he pledged anything other than Alpha Phi Alpha, he'd lose a lot of friends and disappoint family. He ended up not pledging anything which was unfortunate. He was a good guy and would have been an asset anywhere.

I think Robinsegg has a great take on this--if your college doesn't have greek life, it's not as if you are torn between becoming an aspirant in an NPHC organization and going through NPC formal recruitment. Do you research, get to know people, make a decision for your own reasons--not to please others.