<p>I'm an entering freshman and I was wondering if anyone knows the top 10 social fraturnities at UM? (of the ones that own their own house).</p>
<p>If you want one that owns their own house the list dwindles...I know that Phi Psi, SigEp, Pike don't own their own houses. May be a problem for them in the future as some of the ones that closed or were kicked out come back to campus.</p>
<p>Anyways, maguo is pretty spot on. Pike, Beta, SAE, AEPi, FIJI have huge parties, generally are larger in membership. These are generally the ones that everyone on campus knows. The second group are smaller and don't have as many huge parties. You can add a few to that group: Theta Chi, Pi Kappa Phi, Psi U, Sammy.</p>
<p>You'll pretty much figure everything out in the first few weeks of school.</p>
<p>Maguo1 is right...to some extent. There is a heirarchy system, but it should not determine which house you rush/join (assuming you get a bid). Rush as many houses as possible and see which one works for you. There are over 30 fraternities at Michigan, all with unique histories and personalities.</p>
<p>That said, I will do my best to rank the top ten
1. Number one on most people's lists is Sigma Alpha Epsilon. They can invite whichever sorority they want whenever they want them. They have incredible alumni support, which has proven uselful when they get in trouble with the Interfraternity Council. They are also the most exclusive and most selective. Beta Theta Pi, which was just ufortunately kicked off, was just as good.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Phi Kappa Psi is next. Some would consider them to be as good as SAE, but it depends who you ask. They, like SAE can pull whatever sorority they want and are very selective. They rarely find themselves in trouble and are very involved on campus, having multiple members on the IFC executive board.</p></li>
<li><p>Next is Theta Chi. Theta Chi is smaller than SAE and Phi Psi, but it is a very good house. They have a lot of east coasters, but they have incredible relations with sororities and are well funded. They are also rather selective.</p></li>
<li><p>Next is probably FIJI. Fiji has grown substantially over the past few years and is now one of the strongest houses. They have won fraternity of the year twice now, placing well in IM sports and doing things in the community. They are establishing themselves as the model fraternity, with almost no social infractions. They continuously have large rushes and large pledge classes. They also have incredible relations with sororities. Their house is REALLY close to Sigma Kappa, Alpha Phi, and DG.</p></li>
<li><p>Next is Alpha Epsilon Pi. They are almost all Jewish and have an incredibly big house. They have huge parties with lots of girls. They party with the top jewish sororities as well as others, and with the departure of ZBT and Delta Sig, they are the top Jewish house.</p></li>
<li><p>PIKE. A couple of years ago Pike was a couple of notches higher but has since gone downhill. They are one of the biggest, if not the biggest, houses on campus, due to incredibly large pledge classes. THey have come to be known as "tools" on campus who think they are fratty. Nevertheless, they are probably one of the most involved houses on campus and in the community. They are strong in IM sports and greek week. They do rather well with sororities but failed to procure tridelt for the second year in a row for football pregames.</p></li>
<li><p>Psi Upsilon is next. Psi U is medium sized house with very chill guys. THey have fun parties and have a very close brotherhood. They have good sorority relations and are well liked.</p></li>
<li><p>Next is DKE. DKE is like psi u-it is a medium sized house with chill guys. THey have fun parties and are very laid back. They have good sorority relations and are well liked on campus and within the greek community.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>From here it becomes a little less clear...the difference between 8 and 9 is rather large</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I would have to say Pi Kappa Phi. Their highlight is continuously winning the frat im sports championship. They are a medium sized house, but their guys are kind of toolish. They do ok with sororities.</p></li>
<li><p>Sigma Nu. They were once a top tier house but because of apathy and probation, they have fallen. Nevetheless, I think their previous reputation earns them a spot in the top ten.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Loom for other houses to move up. Delta CHi is growing fast and well run. They are doing everything right-good rushes, establishing sorority relations, good alumni support. Delta Tau Delta, which just came back last year, will also be a good house. Sigma Nu will probably fall, as will pi kapp and pike. </p>
<p>It is important to go to as many houses as possible. Do not use this list to make your choice.</p>
<p>i'm gonna make no comment about what the guy above just said. PM me if you wanna know what I really think.</p>
<p>What happened to ZBT at Michigan? How'd they get kicked off? You can PM me.</p>
<p>i can answer that. they were hazing pledges. that is all i know. they're still here, just not an IFC recognized fraternity. they were not kicked out by their nationals.</p>
<p>ZBT was on probation for repeated social violations. This meant no recruiting or registered social events. In spite all of this, they recruited last fall and had a pledge class. The IFC became fed up and voted to kick them out. The article is somewhere in the michigan daily, which you can probably find by searchinf the archives on the internet. </p>
<p>Also, after reading maguo1's first post more carefully, I'm going to have to disagree. You will really only find a continuous string of blowout parties during welcome week and pre rush. After rush, it becomes much more selective (meaning only greeks and people on guest lists can get into the parties). SAE and Beta aren't really known for big blowout parties. They do have them, but I would say Pike and AEPi do a lot more. SAE and Beta usually party with just sorority girls and themselves. Phi Psi definitely does have big parties. Fiji usually only has 1 or 2 a year, with other social functions being mixers. Their islander weekend, however, is HUGE, as is DKE's tahitian weekend. Even so, when fraternities have big parties, they usually pre game with one or more than one sorority beforehand, so that adds to the volume. I can give a breakdown of the sororities, too, but that would be just superficial. </p>
<p>Maguo1, I am curious about your views on my previous post...pm me with concerns</p>
<p>What kind of stuff actually happens at rushes? I mean, no hazing... but is it as bad as some movies make it out to be?</p>
<p>You are confusing rush and pledge term. Rush occurrs in the beginning of the semester and is the time where the student goes to different houses and meets the brothers. Most houses have free food and some kind of entertainment. If a house likes the student, they vote to give him a bid to join the fraternity. A student may receive multiple bids but only officially (meaning with the IFC) accept one. Then pledge term begins. Hazing has a broad definition, and even things like study tables constitute hazing. Most houses at Michigan don't do poitless dangerous hazing, and the ones that do get kicked off.</p>
<p>How much does it generally cost to be a non-resident member at a UM fraternity?</p>
<p>IT depends. I'd say the average is around $500 a semester, but the I have heard as low as $250 and as high as $1000.</p>
<p>BTW, it does not matter if you are a resident or not. Usually it only depends on what year you are.</p>
<p>So it's the same price if you live in a room in the fraternity house as it is if you live on-campus?</p>
<p>depends on the fraternity. Some fraternities can be much much cheaper than dorms, others will be of a comparable price.</p>
<p>Are the Beta's having rush this semester?</p>
<p>From personal experience, I'd say Theta Chi and DKE have the chillest/most fun brothers on campus.</p>
<p>What Delta Upsilon like?</p>
<p>Beta probably will not do an underground rush this semester, from what I hear. The other two renegade houses, ZBT and Delta Sig, definitely are. DU is a smaller house (~30 guys). They aren't really a huge presence on campus, but they seem to have nice guys. Theta Chi, DKE, Chi Phi, and Psi U are probably the most laid back/chill guys.</p>
<p>What is the general reputation on campus of Phi Delta Theta? I haven't seen anything mentioned on this board about this frat......</p>
<p>Phi Delt is nationally dry, so they can't have parties at their house. They do, however, have a house on state street for football pregames. Their guys are really nice and chill.</p>