<p>In alphabetical order within tiers.</p>
<p>Top:KA, PIKE, SAE</p>
<p>Middle:AEPi, Beta, Kappa Sig, Lambda Chi, Sig Chi, ZBT</p>
<p>Lower:ATO, Deke, Phi Delt, Sig Nu</p>
<p>DOA:Phi Kap</p>
<p>IMO, Beta slipped this year and AEPi moved up a bit. Phi Kap was kicked off campus again, the upperclassman half of Deke’s house was kicked out by the administration and Phi Delt has a no booze policy.</p>
<p>Phil Delt may be dry but the guys are hot!</p>
<p>Did ANYONE go to the Greek Week Toga Party? that Phi Delt on the runway was SMOKIN!</p>
<p>so what makes a frat an upper tier. at my school every frat is good for a specific person (each has its own little stereotype…ie the Jew frat, the nerdyish frat, the laid back frat, etc).</p>
<p>How can you even “tier” the frats? Like does top tier have the most alcohol?</p>
<p>All of this rating the frats seems extremely shallow in my opinion. I think you should choose a frat based on if you fit in with the guys or not.</p>
<p>top tier fraternities generally have better looking guys, more fun parties, etc. but really the thing that makes a fraternity top tier is when top tier sorority girls go there.</p>
<p>so a top tier sorority is the hottest girls? again sounds extremely shallow but I guess that’s frat life. The shallowness of it sort of turns me off of Vandy…should I be?</p>
<p><em>sigh</em></p>
<p>Wneckid99: don’t worry. Those of us who aren’t as shallow (and realize that there is a LOT more to Greek life than just parties) make up the majority here. When you only have about 350 out of 1800 girls and maybe 200 out of 1100 guys that are in “top” frats and sororities, the rest of us have to find a way to live SOMEHOW. 
</p>
<p>There are shallow people at every university. What I find is that those at Vanderbilt are refreshingly honest about it. I wouldn’t worry about it. Come here for the amazing academics, the lovely campus, the awesome city of Nashville, the terrific climate (ahem… as it POURS outside… XD), and the great balance between work and play. Don’t worry about people like vandyclassof2013.</p>
<p>macaroni, </p>
<p>wneckid asked what makes a fraternity “top” tier and i answered honestly. if you have a better explanation, please give it. im very interested in your less shallow answer.</p>
<p>vandyclassof2013,</p>
<p>macaroni did not dispute your answer, but rather reassured wneckid that such shallowness (wneckids word in response to your answer) is not a reason to be deterred from vanderbilt. i for one am tired of having to defend vanderbilt against the minority who hold such shallow values so dear and insist on perpetuating and broadcasting the stereotype to prospective students. </p>
<p>wneckid,
while the shallowness does exist and has its place for those who seemingly can’t enjoy their college experience without it, vandy has so much to offer in so many other ways that i would not consider it to be a “deal-breaker”. also, you will not be a social outcast if you decide not to participate and can find many ways to party without subscribing to that dogma.</p>
<p>Why are there rankings? One of the vandy 2013’s gave the best answer, it is based on the quality of the parties and who attends the parties.</p>
<p>Like it or not the Greeks play a huge role in the social live of this University.
Do you need to be greek in order to have a social life? No, not at all as someone else stated, about 50% of the women are greek and about 30% of the guys. If you are female, there are usually no barriers when it comes to going to the frat parties. However, after the freshman rush period, guys will generally not be allowed in unless you are a friend of a brother. If you are a brother of another frat, there maybe some reciprocity involved. Therefore it is generally to your advantage to be greek if you care to attend the frat parties. Keep in mind that there is a cost to becoming a member, and I’m not referring to $'s. Depending on the frat, pledging will take its toll on you.</p>
<p>If you decide to go greek, you visit all the frats and of course rush the ones that you think fit you the best and have the best chance of getting into. Within that selection, it is only logical to go for the one that has the best parties - the reason for the ranking.</p>
<p>Maybe I was too cool for school, but I didn’t go Greek and I had no problem getting into a fraternity party at any point in my college career. Then again I knew brothers at all the houses but still. As long as you don’t show up with a huge group of guys it wouldn’t be an issues, unless it’s an annual party and the crowd is reaching maximum capacity.</p>
<p>thanks guys.</p>
<p>Thought this could updated</p>
<p>Frats:</p>
<p>Top tier:
Beta- more northern
KA- pretty southern/conservative
SAE- more southern</p>
<p>Upper middle:
DKE (with PIKE)- more northern
Aepi- new yorkers
Sig Chi- nice guys
Kappa Sig- random jumble</p>
<p>All these frats are good it just depends where you fit in. These guys will be your new best friends for college and the rest of your life so you should really decide it on where you feel most comfortable. Luckily at Vandy there really arent big rivalries between frats. They are all pretty chill with each other and its not uncommon to see guys partying at other frats. I know some buddies at other school only party with their own frat and there is a lot of friction between fraternities. i think its avoided here since only a few guys live in the house.</p>
<p>I would agree with most of that, but I’d change a bit:
Top Tier:
KA- most southern-they have a cannon pointing to the north and a picture of robert e lee in their living room). The best looking girls on campus go to KA, from all ages. They also throw some sweet parties and great tailgates.
Sig Chi- Really nice guys, great parties, and great tailgates. They also attract a lot of really attractive girls, and are spread from all over for the most part. Maybe a little bit of a southern flair.
SAE- Great house, castle on the corner, most notable house at Vanderbilt. Also attract good looking girls, but they are kind of cocky for no reason. Their parties have been mediocre, and their weeknight events are also just ok. Very intense about rush, and very selective. (150 guys competing for around 25 spots) Relatively southern. Overrated but still have the rep to put them in the top tier.
Beta- Northern, lax bro type guys. Nice guys, hot spot for freshmen girls. Parties are very fun, but kind of sketchy. </p>
<p>2nd Tier
DKE (and Pike)- fun guys, great parties, pretty northern
Kappa Sig- Great tailgates, great parties, everyone seems to have a lot of fun there. Decently attractive girls
Phi Delt- Nice guys, southern. Known as the rejection frat from ka, sae and sig chi, but still those guys are very cool, and parties are pretty fun.
Sig Nu- Very nice guys, always great parties and tailgates. Girls arent as attractive, but they still get some cute ones. They always seem to be having a lot of fun
ZBT-parties are fun, girls are pretty cute. just off probation so well see how they pan out this year. nationally jewish but not here
AEPi-crazy parties, big drinkers. about half jewish
3rd tier-
ATO-not very well attended parties, ok tailgates. just ok
lambda chi-known as the reject frat, still fun tailgates and nice people
FIJI-bad rep because theyre almost brand new, fine guys, but no house. they had afroman this year which was cool, but cant really be considered much of a fraternity without a house. maybe theyll get better over the years</p>
<p>again though, its all about where you fit in. you wont want to spend 4 years with guys you dont like because of reputation or girls, or even the parties. its about brotherhood, and greek life is about alot more than just reps, parties, and tailgates. having said that this is just a general overview, some might find it helpful.</p>
<p>As an alum of the university, the sibling of another graduate, and a member of a greek house at Vandy, I beleive I am in a good position to review the long term pros and cons of the Vandy Greek system. While an individual must ultimately join the group he feels most affinity with, the “best” fraternities are those with the best short and long term viability. If you are to judge the best fraternities by that measure, here is my relative ranking:</p>
<p>Top Tier (in no particular order)
DKE, SAE, KA</p>
<p>SAE-Great campus house, Very strong alumni, usually top tier ranking at many universities; typcially larger size (too large?)
DKE-oldest fraternity on campus, strong (1 or 2) ranking chapters at key national universities (Alabama, LSU, UNC, UVA), legendary national alumni (5 US Presidents, etc); traditionally smaller than other houses at Vandy
KA- Very Strong local and regional focus (usually top tier at other schools) with good consistency; nice house, strong alumni base</p>
<p>Middle Tier
Kappa Sig
Pike
EX- good house nationally (historically decent house at Vandy); strong alumni
Beta - Nationally strong, locally questionable (very inconsistent track record)
Phi Delt? Historcially good, but traditional Alabama/Miss recruit base now goes to Deke</p>
<p>Lower Tier
ZBT
AEII<br>
Phi Psi -owns house but weak national franchise</p>
<p>Quality Fraternities:
-Beta: Well established house. Quality northern guys, do well with girls, though can be pretty sketchy at times.
-SAE: Also well-established. Lots of good guys, some great guys. Somewhat cocky. Not as southern as it once was, but still fairly southern. Does pretty well with girls. No castle right now, but if renovations are ever made it will be sweet.
-Phi Delt: Historically strong, gotten a lot better the past couple of years. Mostly good guys, some great ones. Know how to have a good time. Pretty southern.
-Kappa Sig: Quietly very solid. Diverse group of guys, know how to have a good time, very chill.
-Sigma Chi: Also pretty evenly mixed between north and south. Cool guys, but also kind of douchy. Some fun parties, some crappy ones.</p>
<p>Decent Fraternities:
-Sig Nu: Some sketchy guys, but for the most part very friendly and always look like they’re having a blast.
-DKE: Uncertain future.</p>
<p>Lower Tier:
-ATO: some good guys, some questionable ones. Capable of some pretty fun times though.
-AEPi: Northern, Jewish, Rages, Very sketchy
-Fiji: Mostly weird guys, although their Island Party was fun.
-Lamda Chi, Phi Psi</p>
<p>Bump any more good descriptions?</p>
<p>Why did SAE move out of the castle? Also, where do most of the California boys pledge?</p>
<p>House was infested with black mold or something.</p>