Thinking about rushing a frat... best one for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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<p>I'm not your typical frat guy and I've never held much of an interest in partying and Greek life, so naturally I missed Fall Rush without so much as a backwards glance. But after one quarter at UCLA (I'm a freshman), I'm starting to see that they're a much bigger part of campus here than I'd initially expected. I know Spring Rush is coming up next quarter, and even though not all fraternities participate, I'd still like your thoughts on which ones sound right for me so I can consider rushing them in the spring (or next year, if I have to wait). This quarter, I plan on hitting up a lot more parties, just to get a feel for what the fraternities are like without trying to impress possible pledges. That being said, I have 3 major criteria for an IFC fraternity that's "for me":</p>

<p>1.) No insane hazing. I get that it's all part of the fun, but I've seen the movies and I've heard the crazy stories. I've got no problem performing remedial tasks for my bros, but I'm not down to do anything life-threatening, outrageously disgusting, or physically exhausting (I'll do 100 push-ups, but I'm not feeling 1,000... you get what I mean). On a side note, I've heard Sigmas haze the worst--true/false?</p>

<p>2.) The frat can't have a 'bad' reputation. I don't mind if it's not all that well-known, I just don't want to tell someone "Oh, I'm in Frat X" and have them immediately label me some bad stereotype.</p>

<p>3.) I'm big on academics (but then again, who isn't at UCLA?). My goal is to keep a 3.25 GPA throughout college in Computer Science. I know fraternities also value academic excellence, and I'm not 100% sure how this would factor into my decision, but I'm just throwing it out there in case it would.</p>

<p>Aaand that's about it. Thanks for reading if you're still with me; please leave your thoughts/comments/concerns/ideas, anything would be appreciated! :)</p>

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<p>Don’t know very much myself so I’ll try my best.</p>

<p>1.) Ya, Sigma Nu hazes hard. I know that for sure. Not sure if all sigmas do though, but I have heard they aren’t the most understanding when it comes to hazing. PiKapp is not into hazing and when I rushed in fall they seemed very friendly and laid back. Check them out. They aren’t hardcore “frat bro” stereotypes but they do party so you get the best of both worlds. </p>

<p>2.) I don’t go to frat parties all that much so by no means am I a “regular” in the scene but I do have moderate experience. I can’t really tell you a lot about frats with “notorious reputations” but all I hear about is how Pike is very sleazy and stereotypical. This is what I hear as common consensus so I am just passing it on. I can’t obviously confirm it since I am not affiliated with Pike, but if you are looking to avoid people stereotyping you then don’t rush Pike because whether it is deserved or not, people seem to have given them a bad rep around campus. </p>

<p>3.) If you are a computer science major check out Triangle. They have winter rush as well so you can rush starting next week. I know a couple of the guys there and they are very nice and welcoming - not big on hazing at all. I’m not even sure if they do it. They are an engineering/science only fraternity so it is definitely a different environment so I am not sure if that is what you are looking for but it wouldn’t hurt to look and see if you like the house or not. </p>

<p>My recommendation after my own experiences and rushing:
Look into PiKapp, Triangle, Theta Delta Chi (nice guys and big house), SigPi (loved the house and the people there but they might haze, not sure), and ZBT (cool guys, a little too hardcore for me but they are high up on the frat food chain so check them out). </p>

<p>Good luck. You’ll find a place that will definitely make you feel at home. There are a lot of houses. I’m sure you’ll find the right one if you want to join.</p>

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<p>I literally never go out so all I can comment on are the stereotypes. </p>

<p>I agree with gold3n about the guys in Triangle being super nice, but they do have a reputation for being really nerdy. Not surprising considering that it’s an engineering frat. Also the name of the frat is kind of ***.</p>

<p>On a completely different note, if you pledge SAE you’ll probably immediately be labeled as a ******. </p>

<p>Those are the only negative stereotypes that I know of. Other than that… all of my impressions are made solely on knowing individual frat guys that I dislike, and not actually hearing much about the reputation of their frat as a whole.</p>

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<p>… I don’t understand why my W T F got censored???</p>

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<p>I don’t really go to parties and stuff, so I’m also not completely familiar with all things greek, but I have heard about Pike being somewhat sketchy. Now, I’ve never actually knew anyone from Pike, (though today was the first time I saw a guy from Pike) but I even remember my freshman year, how a friend was commenting how she had to be careful when going to a Pike party cause “the guys there are really shady.” Not sure if these rumors are based on any fact though.</p>

<p>I’ve met some ZBT guys before and they were kinda douchy. Maybe it’s just me. </p>

<p>I’ve also met a couple of guys from Triangle, and they really are nice. But yeah, they’re also quite nerdy.</p>

<p>A friend of mine knows a lot of Theta Chi people. She found them to be really nice, though they did find that dead guy at their house. (But the guy wasn’t a student here and died of an overdose.) Your call. </p>

<p>Oh yeah, if you’re thinking about rushing an “Asian” frat, I hear stories that they haze pretty badly or something cause they’re not Panhellic. (Whatever that means.) Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve met several people from Asian frats, and they don’t <em>seem</em> hazed and appear to like being in them. </p>

<p>Maybe search old CC threads or google for more info?</p>

<p>@g0ld3n Last quarter you thought about rushing, how’d that turn out?</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for your very in-depth comments! I’d still love to hear anyone else’s two cents, though, too :)</p>

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<p>Silvercross thanks for asking, I didn’t know people remembered that long of posts on collegeconfidential haha. I ended up rushing and got 3 bids to Theta Delta Chi, Sigma Pi, and Triangle. I decided to wait a quarter and decide which one to pledge (or to just rush again and get a new place to give me a bid) and officially pick one in the spring and all 3 frats that gave me the bid were ok with that so I have yet to decide which one to join officially. The entire rushing experience was great though. Free food, made some friends that I still hang out with even if I am not in their frat, and got some bids to give me options for next quarter. It was a great experience and I recommend anyone that is thinking of joining a frat to just at least try rushing.</p>

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<p>Anyone have any thoughts on these frats?</p>

<p>SAE, Sigma Chi, SigEp, Sigma Pi, Sigma Nu, ZBT ?</p>

<p>I am going to try rushing for the first time this Spring and would like to get some input on the guys… Any tips on them would be nice. (i.e. brotherhood bond, hazing, type of guys, stereotypes). All of that would be helpful.</p>

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<p>Anyone?? Help?</p>

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<p>Here’s my advice:
Don’t base your decision off of reputation. I rushed last fall (as a 2nd year) and ended up joining a fraternity It has literally been one of the best decisions of my life. However, if I had listened to gossip and random stories, I probably wouldn’t be in the house that I’m in (and love) today. </p>

<p>Instead, go to as many houses as possible, talk to as many guys as possible, and find where you really connect.</p>

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<p>I’m not going to listen to advice. I would just like to know reputations beforehand :/</p>

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<p>Anyone? Some advice?</p>

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<p>House Reputations</p>

<p>Zeta Beta Tau: Known as one of the top houses. There are a lot of tall and athletic guys in this house. Several Football players are members of this house too. Some people find these guys to be ******y, others think they’re chill guys. Big sports fans.</p>

<p>Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Nice looking house. These guys are like ZBT, some are tall and some are JACKED. They are a “top house” as well. They are known to be the ******bags of the row. </p>

<p>Sigma Phi Epsilon: Known to be a huge stoner house. Some of these guys are athletic, but most are rather average looking. Another “top house”.</p>

<p>Sigma Nu: Yet another “top house”. These guys smoke a lot and are big sports fans. </p>

<p>Sigma Chi: Considered bottom of the top houses. These guys are athletic, but seem to be on social probation a lot and aren’t very active party wise as a result. </p>

<p>Sigma Pi: Nice looking house. Don’t really know too much about this house though other than their Foam party looked pretty sick</p>

<p>Beta Theta Pi: Their coconut schooner party was sick and they are one of the first houses you run into as they are located on the corner of gayley and strathmore. Other than that they have a mediocre rep</p>

<p>Lambda Chi Alpha: Not your traditional frat guy thats for sure. The few guys I’ve talked to seem pretty artsy and raver types, however, that is only based on the few guys I’ve to. </p>

<p>Theta Delta Chi: Coke house</p>

<p>Delta Tau Delta: Nice house, chill guys, mediocre rep though. Has a lot of south campus majors</p>

<p>Triangle: Nerds</p>

<p>Pi Kappa Alpha: The guys I’ve talked to seemed nice, their rep has been damaged though.</p>

<p>Phi Delta Theta: New to the row, lets anyone into their parties.</p>

<p>Delta Sigma Phi: Meet a few chill dudes in the house, but some are kind of effy</p>

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<p>bumppppppp</p>

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<p>this totes needs a bump</p>

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<p>Anyone know more about Lambda Chi Alpha?</p>

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<p>Or Beta Theta Pi?</p>

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<p>Both, Beta and Lambda Chi, are rising fraternities. Beta Theta Pi is known for their huge coconut schooner party that is thrown the first few weeks of of fall quarter. Beta is known to have huge pledge classes, upwards of about 40+ I’ve heard, so its probably not that hard to get a bid. Beta does have the most expensive dues on the row from what I’ve heard though, but then again I have no proof.
Lambda Chi is another fraternity on the rise. They seem to be an eclectic mix of people, though I’ve been seeing more top house quality guys (muscular, tall, good looking) wearing their letters and tanks. They too have large pledge classes, spring 2012 had around 29 I heard. I don’t know how social Lambda Chi is because when I checked this house out during rush their social calendar wasn’t posted. Some people think they’re beat guys while the girls I know seem to like them. I agree somewhat with the poster above me, I have met guys in this fraternity who don’t scream frat guy or party animal</p>

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<p>Thanks RSX! In your opinion, are there any fraternities that you think we should stay away from or be wary of?</p>

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<p>Thanks RSX!</p>

<p>Approximately how much does it cost to be in a fraternity? How much are the dues?</p>