<p>Let’s close discussion on this topic. Obviously, we will not agree on this. Since there are no real rules or guidelines from the university, the experience varies widely for fraternity rush participants.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt has so many wonderful things to offer so many people. The academics are stellar. The sports are top-notch. Nashville is an amazing city. I’m so happy that 2 of our kids were educated there. They are both employed and independent…that is the goal. I know they both look fondly on the years they spent there. For people reading this thread, please realize that no school is perfect. There are things that should be changed everywhere. At the end of the day, Vanderbilt is an amazing school and graduating from there serve you well for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>Wow, somehow this thread deteriorated from someone trying to provide information to an obvious freshmen asking questions about rushing fraternities to someone being called “naive” and “disingenuous”, by I’m guessing, two “helicopter” parents that never experienced rush or attended the school.</p>
<p>Enough said, good luck to those rushing next semester.</p>
<p>This system matches rushes with the houses they actually fit in with. This system builds pledge classes and fraternities that are extremely tight knit and create lifelong bonds. </p>
<p>The one week, formal rush process does the exact opposite. This is why sororities have to resort to extensive facebook/social media stalking and rule-bending dirty-rush to learn about girls, and still end up with pledge classes of 50 where girls form tight groups of 4-8 they like and have little meaningful interaction with the rest, sometime not even knowing they are in the same sorority. This is why fraternities at other schools have higher rates for dropping during pledging and deactivation rates as brothers.</p>
<p>I thought the invitation to the winter formal was the informal bid. Does this not happen? This thread says freshmen not allowed at the winter formal.</p>
<p>I bet the girls are happy to have a few close friends and many more girls to get to know better in their pledge classes. Not sure why it can’t be the same way for the guys. And pancaked to say that everyone who wants to be involved in Greek Life can be, but to also label certain frats as bottom tier and state that they give literally everyone a bid, kinda proves the point that pledge classes should be bigger. Not many people want to join a fraternity that is widely regarded as terrible and that seems desperate for members.</p>
<p>The tier system is universal in Greek life. It applies to all schools, and sororities as well-- There are sororities at the bottom who sop up all the girls who didn’t get into the houses they picked. Bottom tier fraternities are not regarded as “terrible.”</p>
<p>Fraternities are exclusive, that’s the very nature of them. Well established fraternities have more room to be selective in rush and the less established ones have less room. Fraternities mean a lot to people, so they only take the people they want, and the people they think will benefit the group. The University saying “you have to take more” really just wouldn’t make sense for anyone.</p>
<p>Anyways like I said, fraternities here are more about close, life-long relationships rather than a loose social circle like sororities/bigger fraternities.</p>
<p>@NeverKnow, I don’t think there is any University policy on “Winter formal.” Fraternities may invite whomever they please to any of their events without any issue with the administration, assuming they aren’t breaking other University rules at the event.</p>
<p>“Fraternities are exclusive, that’s the very nature of them. Well established fraternities have more room to be selective in rush and the less established ones have less room. Fraternities mean a lot to people, so they only take the people they want, and the people they think will benefit the group.”</p>
<p>If this is an accurate description of the fraternity sensibility then perhaps it explains why fewer freshmen have chosen to rush this year. Now that Vanderbilt is truly a national university, it is probably drawing an increasing number of students who aren’t interested in joining these sorts of “exclusive” groups. Perhaps a (growing) majority prefer more inclusive social activities. I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of freshmen who rush fraternities continues to decline.</p>
<p>The tier ranking is unofficial and there isn’t universal agreement as to which fraternity belongs to which tiers or even the number of tiers. However, there are some fraternities that seem to be more popular with different segments of the school population for whatever reasons. </p>
<p>I think what most incoming freshmen and their parents may not appreciate is that joining a fraternity is very different from joining a community youth soccer or little league baseball team, where everyone gets a trophy for participating. You will not get into the more popular fraternities by just signing up, you have to really want to be a brother in that fraternity and demonstrate it to the members. </p>
<p>I prefer the current system, but can see the value in both the current system and one that is more inclusive. Of course, if more and more of the incoming freshmen don’t think that the effort is worth it, then yes changes will be adopted or Greek life will not survive. That would be a shame, IMO having a strong Greek life is one of the reasons this school is so special.</p>
<p>It sounds like the new Kissam dorms will be set up in a “resident college housing” model. While the Greek system is best for some students the resident college housing set up may be better for others. It’s great Vandy will offer both. Any system that helps students develope social groups, friendships, provides academic support, helps students feel connected to the university, and that provides a support system is another plus to Vandy students.</p>