How to choose a fraternity

Cyclone711 · 07-14-2008, 02:32 PM

So I'm an incoming freshman and am strongly looking at greek life (dad was a greek at ISU and my brother currently is at Minnesota). I know the biggest thing is if you get along with the guys in the frat, but what are some other good things to look at (am currently looking at four and really have no idea how to narrow it down). I am planning another trip to ames to do some frat tours but would appreciate any advice.

clones_jer · 07-14-2008, 02:35 PM

I would advise a year in the dorms and then get an apartment with some friends (you know, the kind you don't have to buy)

cys_av8r · 07-14-2008, 02:35 PM

I can't wait for all the "clever" posts that will soon be in this thread.

The key is obviously the people. I rushed several places and once I hit the house I ended up joining it was a no-brainer. The guys there were great and I hit it off with several of them right off the bat. If you feel nervous or uneasy during the process, it isn't the right house for you.

Good luck.

bigB · 07-14-2008, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone711

So I'm an incoming freshman and am strongly looking at greek life (dad was a greek at ISU and my brother currently is at Minnesota). I know the biggest thing is if you get along with the guys in the frat, but what are some other good things to look at (am currently looking at four and really have no idea how to narrow it down). I am planning another trip to ames to do some frat tours but would appreciate any advice.

Depends...does your father's house still exist? If so, it can't hurt to give it a look...kinda nice to be a legacy. Is there a chapter of your bro's frat at ISU...might be a good place to look as well.

Cyclone711 · 07-14-2008, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by clones_jer

I would advise a year in the dorms and then get an apartment with some friends (you know, the kind you don't have to buy)

I already found out who my roomate would be in the dorms and let's just say he's "special".

BryceC · 07-14-2008, 02:38 PM

I joined a frat before my freshman year, and I was lucky enough to live close to Ames so I got to visit frequently. My best advice would be to spend as much time as possible with as many of the guys as you can in the house.

As for "buying" my friends the house I lived in my Frosh year was cheaper than the dorms so take that for what it's worth.

isufbcurt · 07-14-2008, 02:40 PM

i agree with clones_jer make real friends not the ones you have to buy!!

clones_jer · 07-14-2008, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone711

I already found out who my roomate would be in the dorms and let's just say he's "special".

good luck to you then, just don't get stuck with the cracker.

Cyclone711 · 07-14-2008, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by isufbcurt

i agree with clones_jer make real friends not the ones you have to buy!!

From spending alot of time at my brothers frat I really doubt it is like that.

Also my brothers Chi Psi and dad was Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

BryceC · 07-14-2008, 02:42 PM

It's not like when you live in a house you're going to be buddies with everybody. Just because you paid to live in the dorms doesn't mean you loved everybody on your floor. There will be people you are friends with in the house and people who you won't hang out with. I honestly don't think there is really all that much of a difference.

cys_av8r · 07-14-2008, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by isufbcurt

i agree with clones_jer make real friends not the ones you have to buy!!

I agree with Cyclone711, make your own posts, not ones that 1000 other people have made on the same subject in the past.

cycloneG · 07-14-2008, 02:44 PM

This whole buying friends thing is the biggest myth ever.

My fraternity room and board was less than living in a dorm plus I already knew like 30 people when I got to campus.

My advice: find a place where you feel comfortable.

bpmdu · 07-14-2008, 02:55 PM

I'd recommend joining based not only on the ppl in the house. But also finding a house with a good recruiting system in place. That way you won't join a house that will be non-existant 10 years down the road.
What houses have you looked at?

Cy Heavy · 07-14-2008, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by isufbcurt

i agree with clones_jer make real friends not the ones you have to buy!!

Actually the room and board at the fraternity I was in cost less than room and board at the dorms.

Advice from an old frat boy: find a group of guys you like and go with it. I transferred to ISU after my freshman year and joined the fraternity of my high school buddy after spending a few weekends there my freshman year. I got along great with most of the guys there including those not from my hometown (most were from smaller, rural towns like me) and I still keep in contact with many of them now.

Will you like everyone in your fraternity? No. Will you always be enamored with your fraternity? No. There were a handful of guys that I didn't care for much in my house and there were times my house pissed me off. Looking back now, I wouldn't change a thing. I lived in a dorm my freshman year and it flat sucked. Way too many rules and RA's for me not to mention there were zero opportunities to broaden yourself beyond your horizon beyond what you know as an 18 year old. My fraternity was a heluva lot more fun than any dorm and got me involved in a good amount of charity and community work (insert community service joke here) that I wouldn't have gotten had I stayed in the dorm or lived off campus not to mention the 'bought friends' that I travel across the country to visit with.

I was fortunate in that I found the right place for me before I had to worry about rush, so I never went through the real rush process. Check out the places you feel comfortable with and good luck pinning one down.

Brentwood · 07-14-2008, 02:58 PM

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.