Freshmen and Looking For a Quality Fraternity...

[Sling]

Hey guys I'm a freshmen and I definitely want to join a fraternity. The past two days I've gone to 2 houses, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Sigma Pi. I like them both, but am willing to look into other fraternities. I'm really looking for a fraternity that has a really good history and has a lot of culture. So if anyone can name a few and/or tell me about their experiences with sigma phi epsilon and sigma pi, that would be great.

[33girl]

What do you mean by "culture"? As in, they go to the opera a lot or something?

[TSteven]

All inter/national fraternities have "good" histories. Not sure what you mean by culture. In any case, fraternities have great chapters and some, well, not so good chapters. Some fraternities may be a good fit while others, not so good.

Frankly, asking a random question on a message board is going to get you a lot of random answers. And you are likely to get a heck of a lot of personal opinions like "ABC sucks" or "XYZ is the best" that won't (and shouldn't) help you make an informative decision.

As such, you would be best served asking students and alumni from your specific campus - especially sorority women - about the various chapters on your campus.


I'm reposting this from the "Formal vs. Informal" thread. With thanks to LaneSig for his original post. It may help you with rush.

Best of luck.
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"The Ten Commandments of Recruitment

These are ten commandments of Recruitment; ten tips that should make you very successful during this year's Recruitment. Learn them. Live them. And follow them!

1. Recruitment More than One Chapter
The best strategy for Recruitment is to explore all of your options. By doing that, you'll ensure that you make the best choice for yourself. Visit all the chapters early in the week, narrow down your choices to the three or four that you like best, then concentrate on them during the rest of Recruitment. Likewise, one of the easiest ways not to get a bid is to Recruitment only one chapter. Even if you know the chapter plans on giving you a bid, you may not be joining the best chapter for you. You may not know that until after it is too late. Any good fraternity should want you to check out other chapters. If their chapter is so strong, other chapters can only make them look better. And you'll have more peace of mind that you joined the right fraternity.

2. Don't stereotype the chapters
Don't be mislead by the size of a house, or where it is on campus. Chapters big and small, on campus or off, have a lot to offer you. It all depends what you are looking for. Larger fraternities may offer you more opportunities as a group, but a smaller chapter may give you more opportunity as an individual. You'll have more opportunity to be an officer in a smaller chapter, and your influence may be much greater there than in a larger or more established chapter. West Georgia has an excellent variety of small and large chapters. Choose one that fits your style. The chapter you join may not be #1 on campus, but with your leadership and influence, it can get there.

3. Ask Intelligent Questions
More importantly, look for intelligent answers. Questions are one of the best ways to show your interest in the chapter, and getting the answers ahead of time will save you any surprises down the road. Can I move into the house? How much are dues? What would be expected of me as a new member? What are your parties like? How long is the pledge program? Can I play intramurals? What is your chapter's view in hazing? The only bad questions are the ones you don't ask. Thinking about your questions ahead of time will keep the conversation rolling and show your interest. How can you be sure you're getting straight answers? Ask the same questions to different people in the house and compare what they say.

4. BE CONFIDENT
One of the most important tips during Recruitment is to act confident. No one is truly one hundred percent confident, but the more self-assured you can appear to be, the better.

5. Don't Try To Be Something You Are Not
Pick the chapter that fits your personality. Don't worry, there is a chapter out there for you.

6. Beware of Subtle Clues
Remember that Recruitment is a two-way street. You're looking for a chapter that fits your style, and they're looking for members that will fit theirs. If your not getting a warm reception, than don't waste what little time you have there.

7. Don't be Tied to Your Friends
Without a doubt, this is one of the most tragic mistakes you can make as a Recruitmentee. Joining a fraternity involves the development of total brotherhood, involvement with dozens of other men who share your common interests. Don't let the future be influenced by one individual. If he's such a close friend, he'll still be there if you decide to join another chapter. Every Greek has friends in other chapters. It will build your friendship base even stronger, giving you new friends and acquaintances.

8. Meet as Many Guys as You Can
Most chapters extend bids based on a vote of approval. In many chapters, at least 50-75% of the members need to give you the thumbs up in order for you to get a bid. Meet as many guys as you can, and don't hesitate to ask them to introduce you around. Be assertive and act confidently. Ask to meet the Recruitment chairmen and the officers. If they like you, they can have a lot of influence.

9. Be Available During Recruitment
Many chapters will send out flyers, invitations, and bids to you throughout Recruitment week. Be sure that the chapters you like have your phone number and room numbers, and they will be able to reach you. If you need to turn down an invitation to a chapter you really like, be sure to call their Recruitment chairman, thank him, and maybe make plans for a different event. Don't miss out on an event, or even a bid, because you could not be reached.

10. Use Careful Consideration in Accepting a Bid.
Remember that Recruitment is a limited time period. Your fraternity affiliation will last a lifetime. Keeping that in mind, don't make any rash decisions on accepting a bid. You don't need to feel pressured to accept a bid the moment it is offered. It won't be revoked while you check out other chapters. Don't always accept the first bid you receive. You'll probably get others, and they are all valid until the end of Recruitment, often times longer. Take your time and make the right choice!"

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by 33girl

What do you mean by "culture"? As in, they go to the opera a lot or something?

Perhaps Yogurt?

[brobuzzz]

Each individual chapter of a national fraternity can be completely different from other chapters at other schools. There's really no way to compare our indivual chapters to the ones at your school.

However, if you told us where you go to school, we may be able to help more and/or give more specific information.

[sdbeta1]

Originally Posted by Sling

Hey guys I'm a freshmen and I definitely want to join a fraternity. The past two days I've gone to 2 houses, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Sigma Pi. I like them both, but am willing to look into other fraternities. I'm really looking for a fraternity that has a really good history and has a lot of culture. So if anyone can name a few and/or tell me about their experiences with sigma phi epsilon and sigma pi, that would be great.

Where do you go to school? I've had good and bad experiences with SigEp, but chapters differ from school to school and change over time.

[RU OX Alum]

i think by culture, he means how they are

for example, how elections are held..bitter? friendly? somewhere in the middle?

how they pledge

how many times a day, on average, do they talk to each other.

things like that

I think that the overall "culture" (it's a borrowed buzzword from corporate land) is one of the most important qualtities to consider during rush.

unfortuneatly, however, we can't really tell him anything about it because we don't go to his Alma Mater

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by Sling

Hey guys I'm a freshmen and I definitely want to join a fraternity. The past two days I've gone to 2 houses, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Sigma Pi. I like them both, but am willing to look into other fraternities. I'm really looking for a fraternity that has a really good history and has a lot of culture. So if anyone can name a few and/or tell me about their experiences with sigma phi epsilon and sigma pi, that would be great.

Since I have seen no other post from this person, I just wonder how serious he really is.

First off, there is no bad Fraternitys, just bad chapters as we all have.

My first suggestion if it is an informal recruitmet, get to know members from all GLOs on campus.

Check out the web sites both local and national to just get a idea.

Older or bigger does not mean better.

What would be the lasting Brother Hood after graduation?

We have always said not for 4 years but for life and I am an example of it as many Alums on here are!

But, many upon graduation just get lost and do not care.

Read some of the threads and see waht some say about what they are doing now after many years:

Myself, LXAAlum, JoinerLXA, lifesaver, Jono, docroc etc of LXA.

Then thrown in EE-BO of Beta, jonkc of TKE, Teke1, ktsnake SN, amycat, honeychile ADPi, wennieb AGD,carnation, KillarrenyRose, etc.

These many Alums do for one reason only, they beleive in their GLOs and have been working with them for many years.

Now, it will be interesting to see if this person reposts?