<p>So I've been doing a little research on frats at Cornell. I'm particularly interested in Alpha Delta Phi and Delta Upsilon, after checking their websites and national organizations. I've heard though, the only good way for guys to get their faces on the rush scene is to go to tons of parties hosted by the frat houses. I'm not at Cornell until spring..I believe I'm going to get on campus only two weeks before rush week. </p>
<p>What's the best way I can show those brothers I'm committed if I can't attend their parties? Fall freshman/transfers obviously beat me out for getting to know them first. Should I try contacting members through emails to show some interest, like ask some questions?</p>
<p>Haha, I'm totally new to the idea of possibly rushing, so bear with me here. I would have never considered a fraternity like, three years ago, but I'm pretty confident I'm gonna like it.</p>
<p>I dunno, an email doesn’t really scream “commitment” to me. Anyone can go on a website, look up an address and write an email to a frat brother. How do they know that you really care?</p>
<p>Perhaps a way that more effectively displays your interest would be something a bit more “old-fashioned”. It’s easy to find the phone numbers for a fraternity house. You could call them up and let them know how much you look forward to potentially joining in their brotherhood. If you really want to go all the way, what’s a better way to make an impression than snail mail? Go ahead and send them a fruit basket or something, they won’t forget your name then.</p>
<p>Either way, good luck with rush and everything. Before long, you’ll be smoking cigars at the fraternity lodge and sipping bourbon by the fireside with your comrades.</p>
<p>Or you know, you could wait until Rush Week, and Rush with the rest of the freshmen class?</p>
<p>Most freshmen honestly don’t know many brothers in many frats. You are not at some sort of disadvantage for not knowing them, either.
Rush is designed to give you face to face time with every fraternity, mingling time to see if you are the kind of brother that the fraternity wants.</p>
<p>Therefore, don’t set your sights on only 2 fraternities, be open and honest with all of them, and you will get a bid from a frat that is aligned with your personality.</p>
<p>I’m not a freshman, I’m a sophomore transfer. And yeah, I know, I plan to wait until Rush Week to do the <em>actual</em> rushing. I was just told that a ton of the kids their now who are interested would be getting well known at parties and gatherings, making it more difficult for someone like me who doesn’t get there until a week before Rush Week to get a bid.</p>
<p>But yeah, thanks, I know emails don’t say commitment, I just meant it’s something to do to ask questions and maybe get one of them there to know my name and expect my arrival come spring. </p>
<p>I only chose those two based on word of mouth and the websites, hah, but of course I plan on being open to the others. </p>
<p>But is Rush Week really enough time to check a bunch out? I’m guessing they have a lot of info stuff besides going to parties up that week to attract potential members?..or…no? haha, like I said, I’m next to clueless on how to go about doing this.</p>
<p>Alpha Delt is crazy nice… I was at a party there the other night and their house was probably one of the nicest buildings I’ve ever been in… I mean in my entire life…</p>
<p>I haven’t been on any frat websites, but are the websites really relevant to the real attitude of the fraternity? I’m guessing they have similar statements about brotherhood and the only way to really get to know them is to go to their parties and hang out with them. There are vibes you get at frats that probably aren’t described anywhere on the internet.</p>
<p>But does anyone know if rush week has like, info boots or brothers handing out stuff or recruitment kind of things?..From what I’ve heard it sounds like pledging only happens if you get lucky enough to get a bid from say, going to a party. I’m hoping there are more options.</p>
<p>o_o I’m not entirely sure. I really liked the way both national brotherhoods described themselves as well as what events and such I found that both participated in. I absolutely loved the houses (though I’m sure everyone does) and I’ve heard good things from word of mouth of current students (but I don’t know anyone <em>in</em> either frat, sadly.)</p>
<p>I’m glad to hear it’s more informal, and of course I plan on seeing which ones fit me best, I won’t just limit my options to two or three. Another question, if you get a bid, and you’re going through pledging, do pledgees need to pay all dues and costs right away? Is it like spread out or do pledges not need to pay until they’re fully in?</p>
<p>this is a joke. first of all no frat is alligned with nationals “mission” except when talking to nationals. du is pretty jocky and alpha delt is nyc/greenwic ultra rich preppy. I’m not close with du but I can promise you alpha delt is not going to take some guy who just shows up at rush, and if you sent them an email they would forward it around the house and laugh aobut it forever. I’m not sure what advice to give you because most frats basically know who theyre giving bids to by rush week or at least have it narrowed down a lot.</p>
<p>really nice, lowkey, down to earth guys. I’m not close with them but all the guys I know there are great. Not very fratty but they have a good rep</p>
<p>Delta chi has a bunch of crew guys and a few openly gay brothers (if that matters to you). I can’t say I know much else, but they’re probably considered the third best house on north.</p>
<p>I guess I wasn’t very clear when I mentioned the national thing. I just meant I’ve looked into the national aspects of each frat, but of course I understand that not every (if many) frats aligned with it follow specific stuff (besides the traditional aspects of their particular fraternity.) I also meant I’ve checked out the event involvement/past results of such, their Cornell websites (not just the national websites)…etc.</p>
<p>I also said in the post right above yours, CB, that I wouldn’t limit myself to 2-3, I’ll obviously be more open for rush week. Plus I have heard already that Alpha Delta Phi was one of the most exclusive, but like I said, not limiting myself/getting my hopes on only one place. I understand I’d be cutting it really close getting on campus two weeks prior, but I’m just curious for the system. I wouldn’t really care much if I was too late or if everything was taken.</p>
<p>Basically, my ideal place would be a VERY athletic scene (preferably a frat involved in tons of intramurals/club sports, not just 2-3 sports in particular), and an extremely strong brotherhood with a wide variety of house positions to run for (but I’m gonna guess all frats have those.)</p>
<p>Haha, so overall I’m guessing I can’t really make any decisions until I’ve seen the frats, met the brothers, and had a chance to get a feel for what a couple are like. Plus that whole bid thing, which again I ask, is that the only way every single frat does things at Cornell? They don’t have like, an elimination process or something?</p>
<p>And if anyone has an answer to my post about dues and things like that, I’d be grateful. =]</p>
<p>Nope, the money thing is no issue, but again, I said I was interested in AD by first appearance. For all I know, there’s a frat that’s perfect for me that I haven’t seen.</p>
<p>Haha, and if they’re not athletic, I’ll cross them off my potential list. Merci.</p>
<p>Alpha Zeta is mixed, right? I don’t know if I like that idea.</p>
<p>^–haha that’s what I’ve heard. Plus no, another big reason I like the idea of rushing is the massive group of guy friends. I already know and like, about…20 girls who are fall transfers or soon to be spring transfers, but I’m really only friends with one guy at Cornell, XD.</p>
<p>And golf doesn’t count, hahaha. Tennis, soccer, running, rugby, (fencing?..I really want to try fencing lol) are sports I’m into.</p>
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