Thinking about rushing this fall

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Stay the hell away from ALL the frats if you have any self respect. If you value connections more than anything else, by all means join one. Just be sure mommy or daddy have the cash and/or connections to get you out of any trouble.

 

[Deeko]

haha....touche. Glad we're making good use of this three day weekend!

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Stay the hell away from ALL the frats if you have any self respect. If you value connections more than anything else, by all means join one. Just be sure mommy or daddy have the cash and/or connections to get you out of any trouble.

....what?

 

[ja1484]

Yeah, as mentioned, it's crunch time for my (hopefully last) degree, so I was stuck inside all weekend working on a case report. Close to 2AM here and I don't feel like falling in yet, so neffing is the next best option. Unfortunately, the hamster powering the server seems to be dying at the moment...

 

[LtPage1]

There are two types of people in this world: Those who are in frats/sororities and are friends with people who also are, and those who aren't huge douchebags with huge douchebag friends. /shrug. There's lots to be said for being in one (or so I've been told), but I don't see the appeal in a structured way to make friends, a structured way to drink, and a structured way to commit date rape.

Of course, every time I point this out, there's some kid who claims that he knows plenty of people whose frats are clean, productive, and helpful. But then, why join at all? Make your own friends who have similar interests and personalities with you, instead of committing yourself to hanging out with a bunch of people, whose only connection to you is that they also have decided to commit themselves to the same preset structure.

Cliffs:
- Define your own college experience; don't hand that power off to people you really don't know at all.

 

[Steve]

LOL

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: ja1484

Originally posted by: Steve
Sounds like someone didn't get a bid.

Got anything better than that? I mean, I'll actually put some effort in if it's even half-assed decent bait, but you really gotta give me more to work with than this pap.

I find these little battles amusing. Independants blindly hate those in greek life (I did too), those in greek life assume those hating them are either jealous/couldn't get a bid or just don't know what they're talking about.

Keep going, I've got nothing better to do tonight.

i will say that the sig-ep guys i've met on campus are pretty cool guys all around (my roommate is in sig-ep, so i've met a few through him).

i see greek life too much clique-like to join. i also don't understand why i could be friends with said people, work on (insert activies), etc. and not call myself a brother and say i subscribe to X ideals.

i just want to do my thing, like all the other noncomformists on campus, making me, in fact, a conformist, like every other college student

 

[rocadelpunk]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: BigJ
The only advice I can give you is go in with an open mind, don't come off too strong, and talk to everyone. Also, don't call them frats. Some of the fraternity brothers may find it disrespectful.

As for which fraternities, it varies greatly from campus to campus. Universally, some fraternities are known as jock/sports fraternities, some are Jewish, and some are just plain douchebags. Beyond that, each chapter can vary greatly and you really will know if you want to pledge only after meeting as many as the brothers as you can.

One more piece of advice:

Ask around the campus. There will be rumors or speculation on which fraternities do what during pledging. If you happen to hear the words "elephant walk" mentioned about one of them, stay far far away.

good advice, especially the first one, it pisses me off when people call my fraternity a frat. As far as i can tell, just go around and check them out, if you find one that feels right its probably a good idea. Look for ones that have good grades and push campus involvement, because those are the ones that typically have the better parties and better women, contrary to most peoples first thoughts.

I'll say for myself that i came to college dead-set against joining one, 4 years later i consider it the best decision i made in college. If you do it right and get a good one, its there that you will meet the friends that will be with you the rest of your life, the people that will be your groomsmen, the people that will be the godparents to your children. My dad was a sigma chi, and he is still good friends with some of the guys he joined with 30 years later, and i hope that i am still in contact with the great friends that i have made when i'm his age.

Also most fraternities don't have hazing, and the ones that do are either the obnoxious elitist type, or the animal house fucking idiot type, imo, avoid both. Don't put up with that shit. Even better call up their nationals, i hate those asses staining the names of every other fraternity out there.

you can also make these kinds of friends without paying for them.

However, the business connections and numerous old tests they have are probably worth the cost of admission.

 

[Yossarian]

I was a Pike (Pi Kappa Alpha) at RPI when I attended from 90-94. It was a great experience for me. The thing about RPI, at least while I was there, is that the majority of "normal" people that you would want to hang out with are in fraternities. The fact that it's a technical school really attracts a large contingent of antisocial geeks.

Many fraternities at RPI are typecast, such as the "football house" (Theta Chi), total dorks (ZBT, sorry earlier poster). How true this is today I have no idea but it's something to keep in mind. Pikes was a good mix of all kinds of people--athletes, scholars, some geeks, a few malcontents We have a decent house, off campus but within a 10-minute walk.

If you're going to join a fraternity, I think it makes sense to join a decent-sized one. While I was there, Pikes was either the first or second-biggest house on campus. It gives you the resources to have lots of cool events. I recommend you take advantage of as many rush events as possible. We had some really good events like white water rafting, paintball, huge clam bake sponsored by an Albany radio station, etc. Make yourself known and try to meet as many people as you can.

In any thread like this you will get the douchebags who come out and say that fraternities equate to buying friends. It wasn't true for me. There are lots of leadership opportunities if you want them, and the alumni network can give you some good contacts and job opportunities. There was some hazing, but it was nothing that would do more than cause a little embarrassment.

If you have any questions PM me.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: ja1484

Originally posted by: Steve
Sounds like someone didn't get a bid.

Got anything better than that? I mean, I'll actually put some effort in if it's even half-assed decent bait, but you really gotta give me more to work with than this pap.

I find these little battles amusing. Independants blindly hate those in greek life (I did too), those in greek life assume those hating them are either jealous/couldn't get a bid or just don't know what they're talking about.

Keep going, I've got nothing better to do tonight.

i will say that the sig-ep guys i've met on campus are pretty cool guys all around (my roommate is in sig-ep, so i've met a few through him).

i see greek life too much clique-like to join. i also don't understand why i could be friends with said people, work on (insert activies), etc. and not call myself a brother and say i subscribe to X ideals.

i just want to do my thing, like all the other noncomformists on campus, making me, in fact, a conformist, like every other college student

The SigEps at Drexel aren't bad, I was friends with some of them. I was a Pike.

 

[rocadelpunk]

fine. you paid for your leadership opportunities. You're just pulling straws now : P

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
fine. you paid for your leadership opportunities. You're just pulling straws now : P

The whole "you're paying for friends/etc" thing is pretty dumb. Dues don't just disappear. They go towards events that you yourself partake in.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
fine. you paid for your leadership opportunities. You're just pulling straws now : P

The whole "you're paying for friends/etc" thing is pretty dumb. Dues don't just disappear. They go towards events that you yourself partake in.

Like the best parties of your entire life :beer:

 

[Jeff7]

Question: Why is it called "rush?"

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Ns1
I was president of a fraternity. If you got questions PM me.

me too hi5

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Stay the hell away from ALL the frats if you have any self respect. If you value connections more than anything else, by all means join one. Just be sure mommy or daddy have the cash and/or connections to get you out of any trouble.

i paid my way just fine and got in no trouble whatsoever.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: LtPage1
There are two types of people in this world: Those who are in frats/sororities and are friends with people who also are, and those who aren't huge douchebags with huge douchebag friends. /shrug. There's lots to be said for being in one (or so I've been told), but I don't see the appeal in a structured way to make friends, a structured way to drink, and a structured way to commit date rape.

Of course, every time I point this out, there's some kid who claims that he knows plenty of people whose frats are clean, productive, and helpful. But then, why join at all? Make your own friends who have similar interests and personalities with you, instead of committing yourself to hanging out with a bunch of people, whose only connection to you is that they also have decided to commit themselves to the same preset structure.

Cliffs:
- Define your own college experience; don't hand that power off to people you really don't know at all.

when you join a good fraternity, you normally join with people you like, and some peope you don't like you don't hangout with. As a rule though, people tend to join places where they have a common bond, so generally the points you are making are way overblown

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: BigJ
The only advice I can give you is go in with an open mind, don't come off too strong, and talk to everyone. Also, don't call them frats. Some of the fraternity brothers may find it disrespectful.

As for which fraternities, it varies greatly from campus to campus. Universally, some fraternities are known as jock/sports fraternities, some are Jewish, and some are just plain douchebags. Beyond that, each chapter can vary greatly and you really will know if you want to pledge only after meeting as many as the brothers as you can.

One more piece of advice:

Ask around the campus. There will be rumors or speculation on which fraternities do what during pledging. If you happen to hear the words "elephant walk" mentioned about one of them, stay far far away.

good advice, especially the first one, it pisses me off when people call my fraternity a frat. As far as i can tell, just go around and check them out, if you find one that feels right its probably a good idea. Look for ones that have good grades and push campus involvement, because those are the ones that typically have the better parties and better women, contrary to most peoples first thoughts.

I'll say for myself that i came to college dead-set against joining one, 4 years later i consider it the best decision i made in college. If you do it right and get a good one, its there that you will meet the friends that will be with you the rest of your life, the people that will be your groomsmen, the people that will be the godparents to your children. My dad was a sigma chi, and he is still good friends with some of the guys he joined with 30 years later, and i hope that i am still in contact with the great friends that i have made when i'm his age.

Also most fraternities don't have hazing, and the ones that do are either the obnoxious elitist type, or the animal house fucking idiot type, imo, avoid both. Don't put up with that shit. Even better call up their nationals, i hate those asses staining the names of every other fraternity out there.

you can also make these kinds of friends without paying for them.

However, the business connections and numerous old tests they have are probably worth the cost of admission.

how do i pay for my friends? when you rent an apartment, are you paying for your freinds as well?

*hint, i was friends with several of them before i joined*

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Question: Why is it called "rush?"

i was told that it goes back to the 30's when people woudl arrive off the train and 'rush' to find a place to live.

 

[JoeFahey]

I have been to a lot of great rush events since originally posting this.

One question I have is for those who are/were members of fraternities. Have you really noticed your connections in the fraternity helping you in your professional life? I will choose a fraternity based mostly on how I like the local chapter, but should I also consider how the fraternity is on a national level? Do larger national fraternities really provide some good connections in the professional world?

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: BigJ
The only advice I can give you is go in with an open mind, don't come off too strong, and talk to everyone. Also, don't call them frats. Some of the fraternity brothers may find it disrespectful.

As for which fraternities, it varies greatly from campus to campus. Universally, some fraternities are known as jock/sports fraternities, some are Jewish, and some are just plain douchebags. Beyond that, each chapter can vary greatly and you really will know if you want to pledge only after meeting as many as the brothers as you can.

One more piece of advice:

Ask around the campus. There will be rumors or speculation on which fraternities do what during pledging. If you happen to hear the words "elephant walk" mentioned about one of them, stay far far away.

good advice, especially the first one, it pisses me off when people call my fraternity a frat. As far as i can tell, just go around and check them out, if you find one that feels right its probably a good idea. Look for ones that have good grades and push campus involvement, because those are the ones that typically have the better parties and better women, contrary to most peoples first thoughts.

I'll say for myself that i came to college dead-set against joining one, 4 years later i consider it the best decision i made in college. If you do it right and get a good one, its there that you will meet the friends that will be with you the rest of your life, the people that will be your groomsmen, the people that will be the godparents to your children. My dad was a sigma chi, and he is still good friends with some of the guys he joined with 30 years later, and i hope that i am still in contact with the great friends that i have made when i'm his age.

Also most fraternities don't have hazing, and the ones that do are either the obnoxious elitist type, or the animal house fucking idiot type, imo, avoid both. Don't put up with that shit. Even better call up their nationals, i hate those asses staining the names of every other fraternity out there.

I was going to call his first piece of advice bullshit until I read this.. I lived in a frat for 3 months one summer and everybody called it a frat. I don't see what is so offensive about it.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey
I have been to a lot of great rush events since originally posting this.

One question I have is for those who are/were members of fraternities. Have you really noticed your connections in the fraternity helping you in your professional life? I will choose a fraternity based mostly on how I like the local chapter, but should I also consider how the fraternity is on a national level? Do larger national fraternities really provide some good connections in the professional world?

Absolutely they have connections and you'll get more jobs because of it. Just by being a member of a fraternity you'll have better opportunities.

 

[TallBill]

My frat was a non-hazing frat which was nice.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Practice your kegels...

look it up.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

this happens in college anyways, you just never see the other cliques otherwise. On one hand, there were some people in my fraternity that i don't really care for, on the other hand, i wouldn't know most of my good friends. Personally i think that i am a far stronger and wiser person than i was 5 years ago, and i think joining a fraternity had a very positive effect on me, especially when i think about what i was like 5 years ago.

See, this is where the pro-greek people get things screwed up. Just because someone isn't in one doesn't mean they won't meet plenty of people and make good connections. For some people greek life works, for others, it doesn't. I personally don't care either way unless they make a particularly big asshole of themselves. One of my friends joined a frat (actually became the president of it even) and for whatever reason one of my other friends hated him for it (trashed him one time when he was over). He even told me that he didn't even know him anymore (all of us knew each other all the way from grade school), which just baffled the hell out of me since he was pretty much the same person he always was. Of course anytime I hear people complain about having to do something for their house I remind them it was their choice and refuse to listen to their bullshit (girls in particular like to complain about all the petty shit that goes on in their house).