<p>Well, this is a new one for me. My freshman S just called and asked my opinion about joining a fraternity. (Obviously, he values my opinion highly and money is involved somewhere in the mix.) Anyone have any S's or D's rushed and have some advice or info on Greek life and the different fraternities - I haven't got a clue. He is interested in Sig Ep.</p>
<p>Here's a link to sigep's web site. <a href="http://www.sigep.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.sigep.org/</a></p>
<p>Ask your son about the Greek Life on Campus.
What percent of students join a fraternity or sorority?
What kind of activities do they sponsor?</p>
<p>Would he live in the house next year?
What are the dues?</p>
<p>Most colleges have an Assistant Dean of Students in Charge of Greek Life.
Go to your son's College Web site and search to see what info they have posted.</p>
<p>Good Luck :)</p>
<p>In addition to the national website which are usually very informative and have links to the different chapters:</p>
<p>Usually the Greek Life page on a college website has individual links to all the chapters on campus as well as the umbrella organizations that oversee them all ie Panhellenic Council for the sororities and InterFraternity Council for the fraternities.</p>
<p>SigEp has a great national reputation. Each chapter of course picks its own members.</p>
<p>My parents weren't in the Greek system when I attended college so I was the 1st. My siblings and cousins all saw the long-term benefits that I gained from my membership and all eventually pledged. My child plans to go through recruitment next year during the first year of college. Most of his/her friends already in college pledged a fraternity/sorority this year at a wide variety of schools.</p>
<p>Good luck to your son! I hope he finds a happy home with the fraternity.</p>
<p>Thanks for the above posts. Well, my son received a bid for Sigma Phi Epsilon. He is drawn to the fraternity because of the Balanced Man Program. I guess I should add that he neither smokes nor drinks. I was impressed with my son's logical arguments in favor (thankfully, he also has quite a few arguments going on a con list). The frat does not have a house so most of the activities center on weekly meetings etc. and invitation only get-togethers. On the surface, it would seem that this fraternity, in contrast to others, does not takeover one's life. Also, there seems to be a concerted effort to break with Greek Life stereotypes. </p>
<p>I find it difficult to overcome my strongly independent, anti-frat biases but would like to keep an open mind. I have looked at the national and chapter websites but I still have difficulty getting past the rhetoric of it all. I realize that this subject has probably been beaten to death with a dead horse but I would appreciate any positive info -- particularly about the Balanced Man Program.</p>
<p>This is an article regarding the Balanced Man/True Gentleman kind of programs. I think your son will have a great time and you will be able to see the benefit of him joining a greek-letter fraternity.</p>
<p>Thanks, Motherdear. The link didn't work for me but a search for the article turned this up: <a href="http://time-proxy.yaga.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1158951,00.html%5B/url%5D">http://time-proxy.yaga.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1158951,00.html</a></p>
<p>The article is entitled "Taming the Toga".</p>