<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>
<p>I am not a freshman, much less a student, so I don’t know how freshman males view fraternities or, as you rightly pointed out, and given that they are not allowed to attend fraternity parties, how they manage their extracurricular time. Of course, and with its terrific faciltiies for recreation and commitment to D1 sports, it’s safe to say that recreation and athletics are important at Colgate, as are its student clubs. I expect you know that more than 2/3 of students, typically juniors, spend a semester on an off-campus study group.</p>
<p>What I can tell you is that there are now 5 fraternities with the 6th on probation. Its fate is yet to be determined and if the past is prologue it won’t be hosting anything for a long time.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you yet appreciate the range of activities that students enjoy at Colgate and so would personally recommend you double back on the point you made about dependence on fraternities for your choice. Colgate is instituting a college-centric learning and living paradigm with 5 colleges within the university and with their own dormitories on the Hill and links to Broad Street houses for co- and extracurricular activities- in support of its Residential Life Plan. Once you learn about it, and it will deliver to freshmen and sophomores in particular, I expect you will find that your preoccupation with fraternities will be likewise reduced, favor a more balanced and manageable outlook.</p>
<p>So if you like the rigorous academic side of things and the look, may I suggest that you connect with the admissions office’s networks of freshmen and sophomores to get better perspective on campus life- and do so from the source- as opposed to trusting that Colgate underclassmen will happen to see this thread and respond in kind.</p>
<p>Good luck with your research!</p>
<p>@markham Could you elaborate more upon this college-centric paradigm? Is it new? When is it going into effect? It sounds like an interesting concept. Is there somewhere I can find more info?</p>
<p>cater60,</p>
<p>I am glad you asked. I learned about it online a year ago and then heard about implementation details from Suzy Nelson, Dean of the College, when I attended Alumni Reunion 2014.</p>
<p>Here is an article from Nov., 2013 for more information:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.colgate.edu/about/past-present-and-future/strategic-planning”>http://www.colgate.edu/about/past-present-and-future/strategic-planning</a></p>
<p>Go 'gate!</p>