Rush His Way – Everything You Need to know!

The Fraternity Rush Truth

There’s certainly no shortage of stigmas related to fraternity life at big universities. The 1978 classic “Animal House” and the newer, 2014 comedy, “Neighbors” have created reputations of fraternities having nothing but partying on their minds. And yes, while all Greek organizations make sure their experiences are “epic”, there are a lot of positives to be aware of when thinking about joining a fraternity at UGA.

HaveUHeard that UGA has 26 fraternities? That’s a lot, considering each also has its own house. So, here’s the real deal: there is a lot of partying, but there is also a lot of emphasis on sports, maintaining a GPA, philanthropic work, and keeping good relations with the sororities on campus. I’m going to try to ease your mind a bit about fraternity life.

Rush

For parents of incoming freshmen, you have probably already heard about the fraternity rush. You may also hear the term, recruitment, as that is the new word for Rush. Rush for fraternities is very different than for sororities, and a lot more casual, but I will give you the parent perspective on both (check out our blog on sororities here). There are those that do not like the process, but it really isn’t bad, and the advantages of joining a fraternity can extend far past graduation. And to ease the nerves of every parent, UGA does not allow hazing of any kind and vehemently prohibits it. Here is the university’s hazing policy. If a hazing incident is reported, the fraternity or sorority will face action from their respective Counsel’s board.

Formal Fraternity rush is a three-day event held the weekend before Fall classes start. It consists of a required orientation meeting and visits to all chapter houses. After that, potential new members can visit the houses of their choice to get to know the brothers better for the next 2 days.

The Hard Part

As those going through rush get to know the brothers and start to feel a connection, they may be asked to leave. Yes, as in “We don’t think you will fit in here. You can leave now.” It can be hard when you are putting in a lot of time into just a couple of fraternity visits and then not receive a bid. This could mean not getting into a fraternity at all, and that can be very disheartening. Try to encourage your son to have an open mind and to visit all of the fraternities, not just the ones that seem popular. Sometimes the reputations that come with specific Greek letters can overshadow the real parts of the brotherhood. I know of kids that focused on the “frats” that were the “biggest partiers” and the ones that had the best intramural sports teams, only to realize that they truly were expected to live a life that really didn’t fit them well.

Most boys do find their fraternity; others may not get accepted to the frat of their choice, but there is usually a second rush opportunity in the spring. Check the schedule of events here for more information. Your son may also find that one or more of the many clubs and activities outside of Greek life, bring them a sense of brotherhood that they were looking for.

Frat Row

So, since UGA is in the middle of Athens, fraternity and sorority houses are spread around the outskirts of campus. They are generally near or next to each other, but some properties can be a few blocks from campus. Some houses can look better than others, but most are in old homes that are being kept up to standard. This is where pictures of “Animal House” may come in, which are significantly different than the sorority houses. Again, keeping an open mind is essential because the popular Greek letters may have a housing situation that is not ideal. It’s wise to also consider the fraternity’s national standing. This can become rather handy later when looking to network and find a job in the world beyond college.

If your son receives a bid from the house he wants, then that is their formal invitation to join that fraternity. They may even receive more than one from a few fraternities, so there are a few things that they can do. They can either accept the bid, and Rush is over for them, hold the bid, in case they are waiting for other offers, or decline the bid and continue the hunt. There should be no pressure to accept a bid given, and communication with all the fraternities that your son is interested in should be ongoing.

They’re In!

Now that your son is officially a pledge, there is no shortage of silly things that may go on until their initiation. I know this is where the rumors of hazing can make a parent’s heart skip a beat, but chances are it will never happen. More likely, there will be washing brother’s cars, wearing costumes to class, being on call as the sober driver for brothers, and writing love letters to the chapter sweetheart in alphabet soup letters. New members will be required to attend seminars and workshops relating to hazing, drugs & alcohol, sexual assault prevention, and diversity & character development. These are non-negotiable.

The real deal is that rush is based on first impressions, judgments, and appearances. Social media does play a role as well, so make sure that your son does not have anything that would flag them to the brothers. It will be checked. So, why go through all of this? Being a part of a fraternity can build life-skills in boys to help them become better men. Loyalty, brotherhood, and communication are taught and expected. Representing their letters are taken seriously. Fraternities are very active on campus and are very involved in sports and philanthropic events. Frats provide leadership roles that can then be used when job hunting.

So, what does it cost? All fraternities require dues to be paid. They help to cover the maintenance of the chapter houses, yearly insurance, national fees and services, philanthropy & community service projects, and academic scholarships. For the Fall 2019 class, the average cost for the first-semester new member was $1589. It is $1532/semester if not living in a house, $4754/semester if living in a house with a meal plan, and $3465/semester if living in a house with no meal plan. These are averages, as each fraternity will have their specific costs. Some chapters do provide a payment plan, so that is something to consider as well.

For all other things related to rushing a fraternity, click here.

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