Greek recruitment is akin to joining a highly motivated family with its own rules and outlook. While fraternity life is not for everyone, for many people it can be a way to feel like they belong to a specific part of the university. For this reason, finding a fraternity with which you genuinely share an outlook, as opposed to one which has simply been recommended to you, is vital. Despite the stereotypes and innumerable college movie portrayals, fraternities are less of an endless boozefest and more of a brotherhood of young men who want to make contributions to their surrounding community. It is the nature of these contributions that defines the character of each individual fraternity.
Intriguingly, in Canada fraternities are not nearly as popular as they are in the United States. While fraternities have existed in Canada since the early 1900s, they do not occupy the kind of cultural space that they do in the U.S. In the U.S., fraternities are linked with a certain kind of success. Those individuals who join fraternities usually form long-lasting friendships with like-minded people, and end up creating a solid class of doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and other civic-minded individuals who want to enrich their community. While many Canadian students have never considered joining a fraternity, it can be an excellent way to form connections that will last for a lifetime.
For those who are interested in being recruited, there are a few general guidelines to follow. The process of joining is known as rushing and generally involves interviewing with various fraternities to determine which ones are suitable. Depending on the particular college, there can be dozens of fraternities, which is why an interested individual should take his time choosing the appropriate one. The University of Ottawa currently hosts 3 fraternities, including Delta Pi, Omega Theta Alpha, and Sigma Chi. Many fraternities hold so-called rush weeks in the beginning of the fall and winter terms, which is a wonderful way to browse the various houses to get a feel for which one may be best for you.
Although some may want to join a fraternity immediately, its better to wait until at least the first quarter or semester of the first year is over. This gives you the chance to acclimate to your new surroundings. Make sure you’ve already attended a rush week, or at least done some initial research to help narrow down the field. Rely on your instincts. Remember that it does no good to try and get in to a place if you feel that you don’t really belong there. If your personality doesn’t quite fit the personalities of your chosen fraternity, relax. There will undoubtedly be another house that suits you much better. Much like dating, finding the right match takes a little patience and a great deal of honesty. Speak to everyone you can; often, a fraternity is composed of many disparate personalities. You may find that you get along famously with some members, while you don’t necessarily warm up immediately to others. While you don’t want to be rude, don’t be afraid to be yourself. If you can’t be honest about who you are, you will not be very successful, either in the fraternity, or in life in general.
Once you’ve found the house that you think you’d get along with best, be prepared for both the fees and the time commitment that are involved. While some fraternities are more expensive than others, virtually every house has some kind of basic fee structure. International fraternities, such as Sigma Chi, require events to be paid out of the pockets of their members, which is usually separate from the fee to join. National fraternities, such as Delta Pi and Omega Theta Alpha are capable of subsidizing their events; keeping the costs low for their members. Because a fraternity is like a family, the number of dinners, parties, and outside events can be all-consuming, especially for a student with a heavy course load. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible to join a fraternity and still have time for college, but it requires some masterful balancing. Those who want to explore their life outside of the fraternity should do so before joining.
Once you’ve been selected and have gone through the rushing process, taking an active part in your fraternity can be the best way to learn how to interact with other people. This applies not only to your fellow students, but older members of the community, including local civic leaders and neighbourhood groups. Learning how to effectively form coalitions, accomplish goals, lead other people and finish projects on time is a huge part of why fraternities exist in the first place. This type of experience is invaluable to building a more permanent place for you in the real world.
2 Comments on "Fraternity Recruitment 101"
i want to join this fraternity wat do i do?
Sign up for rush in that little contact form that follows you everywhere and show to events listed on our calendar.