How To Choose A Fraternity?

Choosing the fraternity is a very important decision that you need to make in your college life. Below mentioned are tips on how to select the fraternity:

Do Your Research

Before choosing a fraternity, research various fraternities, find out about their history, ideology, objectives etc. Before shortlisting a fraternity, find out what kind of culture they promote; after thorough research, shortlist the fraternities.

Keep An Open Mind

Do not restrict yourself to one fraternity throughout the recruitment process. Keeping an open mind will help you gain meaningful experience and will also expose you to other fraternities. After visiting all fraternities, you will be in a position to choose a fraternity that is the best fit for you.

Seek Like-Minded People

Fraternity gives you a chance for building long-lasting friendships. Choose a fraternity that has people with similar interests so that you can enjoy your fraternity life.

Check Fraternity Fees

The fee structure varies across fraternities. Choose a fraternity whose fee you can easily afford.

Fraternity That Allows You To Grow

Choose a fraternity that helps you grow personally and make a positive impact on society. In addition, the fraternity should help you be a responsible and empathetic individual.

How To Get Into A Fraternity?

To get into a fraternity, you need to go through the recruitment process. Here is some practical advice on how to get into the fraternity of your choice:

• Get Around

During the recruitment week, take time to meet every fraternity and learn more about their culture and personality. The more you get involved in the process, the more your chances of getting a bid from the fraternity of your choice.

• Know Them

A fraternity may look cool, but it is important to join a fraternity that is the best match for you culturally and have members who share your goals. Interacting with fraternity members will increase your chance of getting a bid and an invitation to join.

• Build Rapport

If you wish to get into the desired fraternity, then build a rapport with the members. To improve/increase your chances of getting into the fraternity is by spending time with fraternity members.

Tips For Rushing A Fraternity?

So, you are in a college and want to expand your horizons. One of the many ways to do this is to rush into a fraternity or get involved with a fraternity. Here are some of the ways to do that:

1. Decide why you want to rush into a fraternity. In case you are not clear about the reason, you are likely to be unhappy with your decision.
2. Fraternities involve commitment. The commitment is not only in terms of study hours but also in terms of money. So consider all aspects before rushing a fraternity.
3. Ignore campus stereotypes. Everyone has their own opinion, so do not rely on what others say. Rush into the fraternity based on your judgement only.
4. Do your research and narrow your options. Narrow down your list after researching the fraternities. Rush into a fraternity you like most.
5. Talk to everyone in the fraternity and asks questions about the fraternity to know more about the fraternity.
6. Narrow down your options further.
7. If you do not get a bid from the fraternity of your choice, do not lose hope- keep rushing.

What Is A Rush Week?

Rush week is the recruitment process through which fraternities recruit new members. It is organized at the beginning of each semester and usually lasts about two weeks. The rush week consists of social events.

What Does Rushing In College Mean?

Wondering what is rushing a frat? It is the process when students acquaint themselves with different fraternities/sororities on campus. The fraternity rush process can be formal or informal. Now let us come to how does rush work? Rush allows students to meet various fraternities or sororities on campus and know the organization’s value system, philosophy, culture, objectives, and fraternity members. In turn, the fraternity or the sorority members also get to know the prospective members.

When rushing in college is over, the chapter members meet and decide the candidates whom they want to extend the bid. If you receive a bid on the bid day, it means that the fraternity has invited you to join the fraternity or the sorority. Sororities or fraternities hold elaborate celebrations on bid day. On acceptance of the bid, the pledging process begins. The process of pledging ranges from a couple of weeks to even an entire semester. During the pledging process, the pledges get to know other pledges and the members of the chapter and organization’s traditions, history, values etc. After the pledging process, the new members are officially initiated into the fraternity or the sorority chapter.

What To Talk About During Rush?

Rush is the time to learn more about the fraternity or sorority. When you meet the fraternity/sorority members, you can ask the following questions:

General Questions

1. What does your fraternity offer to its members?
2. What is unique about your chapter, and how it differs from other chapters?
3. Do you provide any leadership opportunities?
4. Is your chapter active on campus?
5. How much time do members need to commit?

New Member Expectation Questions

1. What are your expectations from a new member?
2. Do your fraternity/sorority permit hazing?
3. What are the requirements to become a member?

Financial Questions

1. What are the costs of joining your fraternity or sorority?
2. What are the costs of living in a chapter house?
3. Does the cost of membership differ in case a student does not live in a chapter house?
4. Do you have any fines and penalties?

Academic Questions

1. What is the academic performance of your chapter?
2. What are the GPA requirements to become a member?
3. Do you have any scholarship program for your fraternity members?
4. What majors have your members chosen?
5. Do you have regularly scheduled study hours for your members?

Activity Questions

1. Does your chapter support any philanthropy?
2. Does your chapter participate in any community service?
3. Is any emphasis laid on intramural sports?
4. What social activities does your chapter participate in?

This list of rush questions is not exhaustive, and you can ask many more questions to the chapter members during the rush week.