<p>I'm a prospective student. I really like the school, the atmosphere, the rigor, the look. What was a turn off was that the campus was in the middle of nowhere. This was initially no big deal for me, as long as the school itself is fun. And indeed, my tour guide as well as other students all noted that Colgate was fun... for some. It seems as though greek life is not only dominant over that night life that is needed with a school in the middle of nowhere. My question is what if you don't get into a frat? From what I heard, freshman guys are shut out of parties, which is fine and all, as long as those same freshman guys get to party the next three years in a frat if they want to. But then I learned that there were only 6 or so frats.. hardly enough to cope with demand. Is any of this true? How competitive is the rushing process? Does everyone that wants to join a frat get into a frat? If not their first choice, then at least their sixth choice? I would really only be able to deal with Colgate knowing that a frat is always an option for me. </p>
I just got accepted to Colgate and I really want to go there. I can’t imagine that the frat scene is completely shut off to freshman guys. While I expect it will be more difficult to get into parties. I’m sure if you are friends with some of the girls you could get into frat parties here and there. I have never seen myself as a frat person, but I think I might try to rush my sophomore year. I will admit though, when I heard that the frats were excluding freshman guys it was kind of a turnoff. However, you have to remember reviews are probably being written by people who are pissed off because they weren’t let in. I heard that 60-70% of guys who rush get bids. I would think if you’re a normal guy you would get accepted into one of the frats. The frats are the only semi-negative thing I could find about the school, plus I always here there is plenty to do if you are not Greek. Anyway, the greek system at Colgate hasn’t really turned me off, but it didn’t convince me to attend; Colgate is still my number one choice and I plan on signing my letter of intent this Sunday after I have a few more days to sleep on it.
http://www.colgate.edu/campus-life/fraternities-and-sororities/fraternity-information
here is a link to frat info on their website. The guys in the picture don’t even look like your normal frat bro. I’m sure if you’re a normal person you will find at least one of the six would take you.
There are now 5 fraternities at Colgate as one was closed a few months ago.
If you want to make friends with people inside and outside the Greek world and hit the ground running, I suggest you participate in an extracurricular club (or other activity) and immerse yourself in its affairs which, alongside your academic load, will give you pause as to how busy you are. You will find that the demands of college life overall are much more rigorous than you might expect.
Go 'gate!