How to choose a fraternity

**soccercy** · 07-14-2008, 01:59 PM

Is ISU still trying to do formal rush? They tried to implement it for the guys when I was in school.
I lived in the dorms my first year, didn't intend to join a house, but hung out with some of the guys, got recruited, and ended up joining. Lived in the house for a couple years and then ended up moving out before I graduated. Very good experience for me.
If you like being involved in things it is the way to go as there will be many opportunities. Those opportunities are there for everyone in a house or not, just a matter of taking advantage of them.
You want other ways to pick, but meeting the guys in the house is really the way you need to go.

**Cyclone711** · 07-14-2008, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Brentwood

It depends on what else is important to you... and ask about that.

Academics: House GPA, scholarship programs, other guys in your major, new memebr retention.

Social events: What does the house do for fun?

Community service events?

I was a former recruitment chair for a house. Finding a guy like you that is so interested is becoming more and more rare. Find the house that you feel like you fit in with. Each house on campus has a different make-up of guys.

Don't listen to the "I didn't buy my friends crowd" I lived in the dorms for a year, then joined a house my soph. year. You are making the right decision.

Well I'd for sure want one that had alot of people going to sporting events and doing intermurals. Academics would be a plus just to make my mom happy (she still has the animal house frat stereotype stuck in her mind). Social events would be a plus but not something that would make or break my decision.

**Brentwood** · 07-14-2008, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone711

Well I'd for sure want one that had alot of people going to sporting events and doing intermurals. Academics would be a plus just to make my mom happy (she still has the animal house frat stereotype stuck in her mind). Social events would be a plus but not something that would make or break my decision.

Talk to the 4 houses you are looking at about what you want to get out of it. And from there you should be able to make the right choice.

**sodakjoe** · 07-14-2008, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by soccercy

Is ISU still trying to do formal rush? They tried to implement it for the guys when I was in school.
I lived in the dorms my first year, didn't intend to join a house, but hung out with some of the guys, got recruited, and ended up joining. Lived in the house for a couple years and then ended up moving out before I graduated. Very good experience for me.
If you like being involved in things it is the way to go as there will be many opportunities. Those opportunities are there for everyone in a house or not, just a matter of taking advantage of them.
You want other ways to pick, but meeting the guys in the house is really the way you need to go.

Formal rush, last I heard, was still just a pipe dream. I (and a lot of other greeks and former greeks) think it's a bunch of crap. IMO, formal rush perpetuates the stereotypes of a vain, holier-than-thou attitude of a frat boy. I can't believe the girls still do it. I was recruited by a contact I knew before college. I moved out after a year and a half, mostly because I was having some personal issues, but I liked living there, and I'm very glad I decided to do it. Definitely worth a try, at the very least.

**Bader** · 07-14-2008, 02:13 PM

Alright so I wouldn't touch the greek system with a ten foot clown pole, but that's just my opinion. I know greeks that are cool guys/girls and more power to ya if that's what you want to do.

If you are greek, the rest of the student body is going to stereotype you, just a fact of life because sadly there are always going to be plenty of guys that live the stereotype and they are always the most prominent greeks around.

However like others have said the most important thing is to feel comfortable where you live because, well, you are going to spend a lot of time there. I'd recommend living in the dorms for at least a semester if not your first year just to see what its like before moving in to the house.

Originally Posted by sodakjoe

I was recruited by a contact I knew before college. I moved out after a year and a half, mostly because I was having some personal issues, but I liked living there, and I'm very glad I decided to do it. Definitely worth a try, at the very least.

Yea this happened to me by a friend of my sister's and he kept me on the phone for nearly an hour and a half before I got really ******, we don't really speak anymore.

BTW if you ever meet someone in Sigma Chi, be sure to pronounce it Chai as in Chai Tea, they love it

**cycloneace55** · 07-14-2008, 02:25 PM

I lived in the dorms for a year prior to joing the greek system. I agree with the statment that you need to feel comfortable with the people first and formost. You will not like everyone in the house, just like you will not like everyone in the dorms. Find out what you want to get out of the experience and then stay commited to your decisions. If you want to be a member of a fraternity then be a member, not just a guy living there. Get involved with the different aspects of the fraternity and it will offer oppertunities to learn and do things that you would not get in the dorms. Greek life is not for everyone but as long as you go in with no illusions you should be fine.

**isucyfan** · 07-14-2008, 02:30 PM

There's definitely plusses and minuses to both frats and dorms. I think it's important to know that no matter what you choose, ultimately you will find the right path for you.

And you'll probably end up loving your experience no matter which one you choose, because after all, either way, it's still ISU!

**bos** · 07-14-2008, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Bader

BTW if you ever meet someone in Sigma Chi, be sure to pronounce it Chai as in Chai Tea, they love it

Thats funny. I had a friend in one of the fraternities and he would get ****** at me if I called it a frat. So uptight sometimes.

**clones_jer** · 07-14-2008, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone711

Well I'd for sure want one that had alot of people going to sporting events and doing intermurals. Academics would be a plus just to make my mom happy (she still has the animal house frat stereotype stuck in her mind). Social events would be a plus but not something that would make or break my decision.

seven intramural shirts here - no frat living.

also have a championship shirt from whatever that soho flag football tournament against violence is. 20 frat teams, 2 independants and we brought home the trophy. BTW: if any of you get a team in that tournament it is the best time ever - they basically allowed full on blocking and it was a way better time than normal intramurals.

your mom will always be proud of you ... say no to frat life as yes to independant thought.

**LindenCy** · 07-14-2008, 02:40 PM

I'll reiterate my general objection to calling fraternities "Greek." I was born a Greek.

**sodakjoe** · 07-14-2008, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

seven intramural shirts here - no frat living.

also have a championship shirt from whatever that soho flag football tournament against violence is. 20 frat teams, 2 independants and we brought home the trophy. BTW: if any of you get a team in that tournament it is the best time ever - they basically allowed full on blocking and it was a way better time than normal intramurals.

your mom will always be proud of you ... say no to frat life as yes to independant thought.

Wow dude, I really think you need to tone down the ego a little. He didn't say he wants to win seven intramural shirts(BTW, you want a cookie?), he just said he was looking for a house with other people who were interested in athletics. The kid is looking for a group of people who share his interests. Go ahead and keep bragging about how you are athletically superior. Good for you. Being in a fraternity is about far more than winning athletic shirts and stupid bull like that. Fraternity life is about finding a group of people who share your interests so you can have a good time. You're not buying your friends, you're not joining a frat to make your momma proud. Joining a fraternity is about being yourself.

**clones_jer** · 07-14-2008, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by LindenCy

I'll reiterate my general objection to calling fraternities "Greek." I was born a Greek.

"The 300" greek?
or
"My big fat greek wedding" greek?

**LindenCy** · 07-14-2008, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

"The 300" greek?
or
"My big fat greek wedding" greek?

Actually both, I suppose. I do have some Spartan blood.

**CloneFan03** · 07-14-2008, 02:47 PM

Not sure if they still have this, but if you contact the Office of Greek Affairs they can give you a breakdown of each fraternity (number of members, cost, what the house has to offer, Wet/Dry/Damp, etc.).

I know that they had one of these a few years ago, but not sure if they are still using it/have it.

Check out all the chapters that you can--Wet/dry, big/small. I personally lived in a big house and made many friends from other chapters as well. Good people at almost all of the houses. Of course I had to pay the extra surcharge for the more friends option.

**Cy Hard** · 07-14-2008, 02:52 PM

It's all about feel. I joined the house that best fit my interests. For example, at the time my house voluteered to run all of the field events, etc. for the track team at the Rec center. I found it a great way to stay involved in sports. And my purchased friends were cheaper than the cost of friends provided by ISU plus the food was way better.