<p>Can anyone comment on the personalities of any or all of the fraternities at Tulane? Looking on the university website it's hard to get any idea about what differentiates one from the other.</p>
<p>and sororities too please–rush starts with the new semester and it would be very interesting to learn about the process from experienced students and parents.</p>
<p>I have a friend in one of the fraternities, so I think I already know which one I’m going to rush, but it would be nice to get a breakdown of all the fraternities. I’m not sure how many CCers are fraternity/sorority members, though.</p>
<p>I’m in a sorority and can answer questions about greek life @ tulane, but I’d prefer to do so through PM. Feel free to send me a message!</p>
<p>wysteri - Naturally it is your decision as to what you want to share publicly, but a lot of people would like to hear what current students think about Greek life at Tulane these days, both good and not so good. If you can relate some general comments as opposed to specific frats and sororities, I think people would be interested.</p>
<p>Hi, my D will be a freshman next year and is very interested in joining a sorority. What can you tell me about the different ones?</p>
<p>FC - i’d be more than willing to do that. When I have more time later today I’ll come back and post.</p>
<p>Mumof2 - PM me for that sort of information.</p>
<p>I am (was now that im graduated) a member of the largest fraternity on Tulane’s campus. Similar to wysteri - happy to answer specific questions about organizations / greek life by PM. Here’s my general overview of greek life at tulane:</p>
<ul>
<li>Greek life at Tulane does not have to dominate your college experience like it does at some schools (my HS friends go to Ole Miss/LSU/UT Austing/ TX tech/etc.), but for some students it is a great opportunity to become the one extracurricular activity that dominates the outside-of-the-classroom experience.</li>
</ul>
<p>-Second semester recruitment is great because interested students have an entire semester to attend functions and social events hosted by individual organizations or the entire greek community. For women, the recruitment process is MUCH more formal - everyone walks around to every house, wearing the same outfit during the first couple of weekends in January and then you rank preferences / the sororities rank theirs and eventually girls are offered bids accordingly. In the past 2 years, the number of girls who have participated in recruitment has skyrocketed - which has led to a number of girls not receiving a bid to one of the 6 (now there are 7 to alleviate some of this) sororities. Sororities usually have a cap (around 60 girls) on how many new members to accept every year.</p>
<p>That being said - men’s formal “recruitment” is a pretty big joke. By the time the 3 days of formal recruitment happen in the 2nd week of class during january, the vast majority of prospective members know what fraternity they will (or want to) join. Almost all fraternities give out bids (although not formal until bid pickup day after formal recruitment ends) during the end of the fall semester and the first week of classes in january. Tulane has 11 fraternities right now…that range in size from 15-80 members. Opposite to sorority recruitment, men’s recruitment numbers have declined in the last 2 years - resulting in the more competitive fraternities often competing for the same potential new members. The Greek Office has been trying to do a lot more visible general recruitment events for freshmen men this year (BBQs, etc.) but the result waits to be seen. From my personal experience - it was extremely important to get to know the members of a fraternity before choosing (or being chosen) to join one. The advantage here is that there are much less strict rules about what is considered “dirty rushing” for guys than girls - sororities are advised not to rush outside of formal recruitment, whereas fraternities use the entire first semester to rush and meet potential new members.</p>
<p>-Greek members are leaders in the Tulane community. Currect Associated Student Body President, all members of the homecoming court, USG President (and 4/5 of USG exec board), Orientation leaders, Green Wave Ambassadors, CACTUS (service organization), Hillel, Fuel Campus Ministry, etc. etc. – So again, Greek life attracts a lot of students who are already very involved in campus life and choose to add greek life to the list of things they participate in. Again, for some it will become the defining activity, and for others it’s another bullet on the list of extracurriculars. </p>
<p>-Most students will never live in their sorority/fraternity house while at Tulane. If you haven’t visited, these are not the mansions that you see at other schools. Main reason is that the school does not own any part of the houses; all are private, off-campus residences. Thus, they are similar in size to all the neighboring residences.</p>
<p>-In the last 5 years, greek culture across the country has changed drastically. Tulane is trying to make themselves a forerunner in the example set by private schools by stamping out hazing of new members and raising academic and social expectations of greek organizations. Since my sophomore year there has been (from what i understand of the past) newfound stability as the school was averaging about 1 greek office advisor/year and we’ve now had the same one for 3 years. </p>
<ul>
<li>I feel like Tulane really bucks the trend of typical negative stereotypes about greek life:
- that you “buy” your friends…the majority of greek organizations are much cheaper than the dues you would pay at state schools (side note…most fraternities do not have live-in cooks / full meal plans like at state schools) and since we do 2nd semester recruitment…most people join organizations with their friends or kind of rearrange their friend group after participating in the new member process.
- Greeks only hang out with themselves - that is a choice every member makes for him or herself - i have plenty of non-Greek friends and friends in other fraternities
- Tulane/Scott Cowen/the administration is trying to kill Greek life - lots of the older members prefer to remember “how it used to be,” which usually infers the years directly following katrina when tulane’s academic standards for an admission were lower and oversight into student organizations was IMO at an all-time low. The changes (and i say change, but it is moreso just a change in enforcing the policies that had always existed) are happening across the country and making greek organizations safer and more productive.
- Greeks are less intelligent than others - This year the Student Affairs office raised the minimum GPA to be allowed to participate in freshmen rush to a 2.5. For the last 5 years, the all-sorority GPA and all-fraternity average GPA have been higher than the all-women and all-men GPA average at Tulane.</li>
</ul>
<p>-As i’ve said in other posts, Tulane is as much of a “work hard, play hard” school as a student puts in to their experience. Greek life is a way that ~30% of Tulane’s students (~35% female, 25% male) choose to supplement their extracurricular and social lives.</p>
<p>Great post Greg. Just to supplement…</p>
<p>I rushed last year and can attest that there were a TON of girls, and I do know girls who didn’t get bids. However, in the majority of cases, these girls didn’t get bids because they had their sights set on one (or maybe two) specific house(s) that cut them at some point during recruitment. Instead of continuing with the process, hoping to find a fit elsewhere, a lot of these girls dropped out. I’m not saying all of them would have gotten bids (because that would be numerically impossible), but that is something to keep in mind for girls who are thinking about going through rush. Keeping an open mind is important.</p>
<p>Greek life is a major way to get involved on campus – it’s how I’ve made a lot of my friends and I do a lot of activities (even non greek ones) through my sorority. This is not to say that greek life dominates campus, and I don’t feel segregated because I’m in a sorority. My current roommate, who is one of my closest friends, did not rush… we remained close friends and are planning to live together again next year, for the third year in a row. I also know lots of girls who live with other girls in different sororities, and that’s not a big deal. The main point is your greek organization will not DETERMINE who your friends are. For me, it was a way to meet more people. I had a rather isolated first semester, and joining a sorority helped me to branch out. Next semester I will even begin a leadership role in my house.</p>
<p>While I agree with what Greg said about the negative stereotypes and how they are untrue, I would like to point out that dues ARE expensive, even if they are less expensive than at state schools. This year I will pay ~$1400 in dues in total (each semester is ~$700). Dues do decrease with each year in the sorority. Each organization is different, but I know that most allow you to pay in installments or work out some kind of payment plan. I think it is important to know how expensive it is from the start, because it is frustrating/disappointing to see girls drop out of the sorority when they didn’t know exactly how much it would cost and can’t afford it. Just something to keep in mind. For me, the cost has been totally worth it in terms of friendships, opportunities, and a feeling of home-away-from-home, but this may not be true for everyone.</p>
<p>wysteri- i’m like 99.9% sure I won’t be rushing in the fall, but i was just wondering what you thought in terms of balancing academics vs. social activities while in a sorority at tulane. what kind of time commitment does being in a sorority usually entail? is it possible to still maintain a high gpa (3.8+) & be an active participant in sorority life?</p>
<p>thanks!!</p>
<p>tulane14- Just to clarify, we only do spring rush… you probably meant that, but just in case someone else reading this was unsure. Some sororities do have “informal” fall recruitment, called Continuous Open Bid (COB), but this only happens when a sorority does not fill all of the spots for the pledge class during formal recruitment. In order to take part in COB, you must be a sophomore or above and be INVITED, meaning you must already know girls in the house.</p>
<p>Now, onto your question. It is entirely possible to maintain a high GPA and be active in your greek organization. It all depends on your time management skills 
I always find that I’m most successful when I am busy, even if it sometimes feel overwhelming. My grades have remained high. I am in the honors program, double majoring, active in other campus activities, and will be doing an internship next semester in addition to my course load. Plenty of other girls in my house (and in others) have similarly challenging schedules and can balance them successfully without it being a detriment to their grades. That doesn’t mean that you will be able to go to every party, every philanthropy event, every sisterhood event, etc, but you don’t have to go to everything in order to be active in the house. In fact, it would probably crazy if you did! Just like most everything in college, it’s about setting your priorities and knowing your limits.</p>
<p>Additionally, I would encourage you to rush even if you are just <em>sort of</em> considering it. I wasn’t set on joining a sorority when I rushed, but recruitment can be a great experience, even if you fully intend on NOT accepting a bid.</p>
<p>wysteri- i think rushing would be an awesome experience, but my parents won’t let me participate. we are from texas so i think they have a false image/perception of sororities in general. </p>
<p>thanks for the info, i will pass it on to some of my friends!!!</p>
<p>Tulanegreg - it sounds as though everything is already pretty much decided before formal rush even begins for the guys, did you mean that? My s is planning on going through rush and he has mentioned one or two fraternities that he is interested in but I don’t think he has been given an indication that he will be offered a bid - should he (I) be concerned?</p>
<p>I am the mom of a sophomore who pledged a fraternity last spring. He is one of those guys who never thought he’d be interested in Greek life, but he currently says making the decision to pledge a fraternity is the best choice he has had at Tulane so far. I feel his fraternity may be somewhat different from most, based on what he tells me, and based on their focus on creating a welcoming, diverse environment, on ensuring that the brothers learn real world skills (and by that I don’t mean how to hold your liquor, but rather fund raising, interviewing, resume building and writing, etc.), and on developing a sense of true brotherhood among the members. Other than the time commitment – regular meetings where attendance is required, participation in social and charitable activities – I haven’t seen any downside and have seen a lot of upside. My son is not a drinker or smoker, hardly takes Motrin when in pain, has to study hard to get good grades and is definitely not a party animal. But he was able to find a fraternity (yes, at Tulane) that helps he be a better young man than he already is, and this is why he loves his fraternity experience. </p>
<p>S asked me today to post on this site what I, as a parent, feel are the real pros of fraternity membership, at least as regards his frat (and I’d be happy to let anyone know the specifics via private message). He made this request because he has spoken with parents who are reluctant to allow their sons to become members of his fraternity because they harbor stereotypes about fraternity life and culture. So, in an effort to help him set other parents straight, I’d like to offer up what I feel are very positive aspects of my son’s fraternity experience. </p>
<p>1) Brotherhood – What I see is brotherhood in the truest sense, the kind of brotherhood where your brother is always happy (and is not the least bit put out) to pick you up from the airport, or drive you to your community service site so you don’t have to spend $30 on a cab. It’s the kid of brotherhood where, if your brothers don’t see you for a couple of days (or hours), they get worried and start looking for you. It’s the kind of brotherly relationship where you always have someone to eat with, or study with, or help with problems – and it’s not always the same someone. And BTW, if you are concerned about hazing, please know that there are fraternities that do not haze and will not subject your son to anything that will make him be or feel uncomfortable. Fraternities do have rituals, but, at least for certain fraternities, those are meant to be very positive experiences.
2) Networking opportunities – your son will be exposed to these opportunities right away, from attending national meetings to visiting with successful alumni visit on a regular basis to discuss the road to the future --what majors are hot, where the jobs might be, how to present oneself in an interview, how to develop one’s strengths. Sometimes networking activities even mean putting on a jacket and tie, displaying one’s best manners and attending dinners and other events at alumni homes. Networking opportunities will allow your son to develop relationships and connections that may help him find a job, change jobs, or perhaps just find a place to stay when traveling.
3) Social – this can mean everything from one or two themed parties with elaborate decorations and catered food to 5-day-a-week-after-dinner Jeopardy-watching sessions. It might mean Thursday night steak night, or everyone getting together to take up two rows at the first midnight showing of the latest Harry Potter movie.
4) Education/academics – what’s not to like about regular study hours, a library of used textbooks, notes and old tests, big brothers to help with tutoring, and readily available paper critics and study buddies? It also appears that there is more focus on alcohol and drug education than is available through traditional university channels, and more emphasis on preparation for life outside of college.
5) Room and board – for my son’s frat, it board means a former NOLA sous chef preparing well balanced and tasty family-style meals 5 days a week with leftovers for the weekends, and plenty of cereals and breakfast foods at all times for less $ than the basic meal plan (even with the required 5 Bruff meals board contract for dorm residents). After sophomore year, the single rooms available in the house mean no searching for apartments, or having to sign a 12 month lease, or having to furnish the place and provide your own meals. My bills show that even with dues, the cost of fraternity membership is about the same as dorm room and board. Also, you should be aware that dues and other costs can be covered by available scholarships, so membership is not at all dependent upon ability to pay.
6) Leadership opportunities: fraternities need their members to be involved, so there are always opportunities to head a committee, be on the executive board, run a social or charitable function. My son was elected to exec board last semester, which gives him the opportunity to interact with highly motivated upperclassmen and the chance to see how a organization is and should be run.
7) Community service: my son’s fraternity requires 20 hours of community service a year – in addition to the 40 hours required over 4 years by Tulane. Last year they did everything from raise funds for breast cancer to build a Habitat for Humanity House.</p>
<p>I’m sure there are other positives about fraternity life that I’ve left out, and others I’ve mentioned that may not be applicable for everyone and every fraternity. Not every fraternity is made up of really good guys who, for the most part, want to do the right things. However, I have to admit that I agree with my son that he made a good choice in pledging his fraternity and that I support that choice wholeheartedly.</p>
<p>Kykidsmom - That is very cool.</p>
<p>S2 has pledged a fraternity. One aspect of the pledging that I like is that they have a mandatory 3 hour monitored study session every day during the pledge period. The fraternity has told him that they want an average GPA of 3.75 for the fraternity, so academics are quite important. I have also heard that the fraternity is one of the hardest partying ones on campus. We will have to see how all this turns out…</p>
<p>3.75!! That is extremely ambitious for an average, but hey. Might as well aim high I suppose. Hope he enjoys the frat, idad.</p>
<p>FC: I had similar thoughts, but I guess it is good to have goals. It was a good marketing move, though. It was what nudged S2 to pick that particular fraternity; at lest that is what he told me. :)</p>
<p>Hi KYKidsMom!
I hope you see this post but I realize that you wrote yours a while back. My sin is a Tulane Freshman. When you described your son it is exactly how I identify mine! Do you mind sending me a PM? He is planning on going through rush and I would love more info on the fraternity you were referring to. Thank you!!</p>
<p>I’m curious to know what frat that was that she was describing…</p>