Best Ways To Go Greek?

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<p>I went to a rooms party there last year which was pretty good.</p>

<p>Anyway take the following with a grain of salt as I’m really only familiar with my fraternities rush process, but here are my general thoughts on some things that have come up during this topic. </p>

<p>Some of the fraternities on campus will already have everyone or nearly everyone they are giving bids too already picked out before rush week, and it would probably be a waste of your time going to their rush events unless you have some specific in or are amazingly awesome. </p>

<p>However this is not the case for every fraternity, though most fraternities will probably have some idea of a lot of the people they are giving bids to, most will not already have decided exactly 100% who the entire list is. Fraternities generally give bids to people they like and connect with, and while this is harder if you are meeting them for the first time during rush week, it is certainly not impossible. Out of the 44 fraternities there are plenty that would bid someone they hadn’t met before rush week, but really liked whenever they interacted with them during rush week.</p>

<p>You should probably go to as many smokers as possible especially during the first few days to maximize the amount of places you see. See which places you connect with people the most and go their night events. Also going to multiple night events the first few nights would probably be good too.</p>

<p>In case you don’t know here’s a general overview of rush week, assuming its the same as last year. During the day there are things called smokers. All fraternities are open during this period and will have food. Rushes come by, talk to brothers, get a tour of the house, etc. These are generally dry. The campus is split up into north and west. North fraternities have smokers for 3 hours, then west campus fraternities or the other way around. It switches each day whose first. At night every fraternity throws some sort of event, almost always with plenty of alcohol, usually some sort of party. Each fraternity will probably hand out a card with a list/schedule of their night events at their smokers. Most of the events are open, though some are invite only, especially towards the end of the week. On certain days, before these events, there’s also something called contacts. This happens 2 or 3 times I forget which but think its 3. The fraternities send people to rushes rooms to talk to them. On the first contacts, most places generally just tell all the people who have come by that they like to keep coming back, etc, and maybe tell people they don’t like not to come back. At further contacts they’ve narrowed it down some and will tell the people they are no longer interested in/that didn’t make the cut to stop coming, try to revive interest in people they liked a lot that they haven’t seen since earlier in the week, have longer conversations with people they are about to bid about stuff, etc.</p>

<p>Thanks, prism! Makes sense, though I didn’t understand what you said about the contacts portion at all, haha. So basically if I’m truly set on attempting rush, I need to make it happen myself and take initiative as soon as I get there. I’ll go to all of their info sessions, meet and greet as many as I can, see who I take the most interest in/who takes the most interest in me and work from there. If rush week ends and I don’t get a bid, I won’t be that upset since I’ll have known it was a smaller chance than most.</p>

<p>Does anyone know when specifically Rush Week is? I’d be arriving on Monday, January 18th I believe, because spring transfers (I think) get there one week prior to classes starting. Is it the first week of the semester or beginning of February?</p>

<p>Sorry, I’m late to enter the convo but definitely don’t send emails or call. Like someone said earlier, the bros would just send that around the listserv n laugh. U’ll have a shot with almost every frat if you don’t know any bros before rush. The only frats I can think of that develop a relatively comprehensive list prior to rush are ones like Sig Phi, Psi U, and Pike. All houses pre-rush, but very few develop their bid list before actual rush so you really shouldn’t worry. And they are right about Alpha Delt and DU being VERY different…as in I don’t even know anyone who cross-rushed them. </p>

<p>There are many frats and a whole week to find out more about all of them so just go to as many as you can at first and then start staying longer and longer at the ones you like. Houses have different rules, but it usually takes 2/3 or 3/4 of bros voting for you to get a bid. Houses like Chi Psi, which requires 100% of bros voting for you, are very rare. Be confident and don’t be pushy (I say this since you seem really excited) and I’m sure you’ll do well. Get to know a few bros pretty well, make sure to introduce yourself to most, and if you fit in they will know and you will too.</p>

<p>Rush week is the week before classes start second semester btw so it starts Monday the 18th. And yeah the contacts thing will make more sense after it happens, its kind of hard to explain.</p>

<p>Sweet, I’m liking my outlook now. And hahaha, when I mentioned the email thing, just for anyone who brings it up again, I would have just sent one being liked “Hey there, what’s your impression of <em>insert frat here</em>” not like “ZOMG I<3THIS FRAT, PICK ME”. </p>

<p>One of my best friends, who turned down an ILR GT for this fall because he’s reapplying for CALS next fall, his dad was a member of Pike and he kept telling me to join them. I tried telling him that things have probably changed a bit since his dad was there, plus I have no idea what they’re like either. Haha.</p>

<p>Anyone have tips for parents? My dad didn’t say anything when I mentioned the idea of rushing, but both my younger brother and mom were immediately resistant to the idea. I’m trying to explain to them that rushing is way more than beer and distractions from your schoolwork, especially at Cornell. XD</p>

<p>What your little brother thinks means absolutely nothing. </p>

<p>And your parents just need to get over it. My mom is the same way, but my dad doesn’t particularly care whether I do or not, although he was in one back in his day.</p>

<p>I think my mom is afraid I’m going to be killed during pledging or something. And it’s an irrational fear, so I just ignore her.</p>

<p><a href=“https://calendar.cit.cornell.edu/ocas-bin/ocas.fcgi?sub=web&web=gbl&view=month&date=2010/1/1&viw=RbToSHnKX%2FJII4oVRFd7%2FV2A78MprcdI&server=tbtzPzHLjyw%3D&xen=iK5acgO%2BotML3TxcwRKY0Q%3D%3D&ver=2[/url]”>https://calendar.cit.cornell.edu/ocas-bin/ocas.fcgi?sub=web&web=gbl&view=month&date=2010/1/1&viw=RbToSHnKX%2FJII4oVRFd7%2FV2A78MprcdI&server=tbtzPzHLjyw%3D&xen=iK5acgO%2BotML3TxcwRKY0Q%3D%3D&ver=2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Even if you decide not to pledge, rush would give you a chance to meet a lot of people.</p>

<p>Moms tend to be more apprehensive. My husband just said to our daughter, “Don’t get too trashed, if your grades drop you are out.” I bought a book to read up on it, but it only made me even more worried. It has been a very good experience for her. She’s made a lot of good friends, it made Cornell not as big and unmanageable for her.</p>

<p>Haha, I agree completely, Zfan. They just need some convincing. I might rush and just not tell them until i can show that I can balance things handily. Or just tell them I’m doing it and deal with it.</p>

<p>i plan on going greek next semester. i can’t see myself not gettin a bid somewhere. but if its only weaker frats givin out bids will i even wanna join?</p>

<p>Don’t stress out too much about rush… if you are overly concerned you’ll likely come off too eager and weird. I think rush starts monday or tuesday the week before school starts, so if you can, move in on Sunday. Go to a bunch of houses, they have set times to go to places on North campus and go to places on West. For guys, you choose where you go. Find some kids who seem kind of like you on your floor and head out with them. I think i went to six houses. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t bother researching houses now, their webpages won’t tell you much. If anything, search the forums for the stereotype thread… Most people bash it, but there is some truth to SOME of what is said. </p>

<p>Some houses will know maybe 10 guys they want to join, but don’t set a limit on bids. They usually just take everyone they like. Some houses have 16/year some have 30. </p>

<p>SAE is pretty athletic, ATO is a lax house/pretty athletic, Chi Phi is involved in intramurals and has a ton of bros who are on golf, sprint football, rugby etc. Pike is mostly jewish long island/nj, so if youre into that go for it. Psi U has a lot of emphasis on brotherhood/leadership, and is semi athletic. Chi psi is athletic, a lot of club laxers. Ask around, youll get a picture for where people might be like you.</p>