Hi my son is planning on rushing his first semester at IU. We are from the east coast and don’t know anybody going or there already. How important are connections? Also what are they expected to wear for rush tables and the open events?
If he hasn’t already, go to the IU IFC page and register for Rush. You have to register to go through. I have a D in a sorority and its a lot different than Fraternity rush but I was in a Fraternity back in my day. Fraternity rush tends to be more relaxed and not very structured. Not all Fraternities at IU have houses so its best to visit both housed and unhoused. Each one will have different make up of guys and there are a few that may lean more towards East cost kids.
You can also go to the IU Student Life page and see what ones are on probation, or have been in trouble with the school.
Conversations are important in my opinion as that is how they will get to know you. Just like a job interview, what are the things you want them to know about you. I know in my day, what we looked for were just chill guys that we could see ourselves hanging out with.
There will be some houses that not knowing anyone will be a big disadvantage and some where it might not make any difference. You can’t just lump them all into one generalization.
There is an orientation where they will go over how rush works and dress, etc. but its not like sorority rush with the different parties with increasing level of dress. I think it is probably more casual but don’t look like a slob.
@HoosierBoiii I am in a fraternity on a west coast school. Rush attire is casual. Unless otherwise stated, Have your son wear clothes he is comfortable wearing. Something casual but nice and not “gym clothes”. That should be the norm for most schools. Not sure how IU rush is but at UCLA it’s much more structured than most schools with all fraternities following the same rush schedule and PNMs are organized into rush groups like sororities.