Congratulations on deciding to go through fraternity recruitment! You’re on your way to an amazing four years of your college life, and you will create friendships and memories that will last a lifetime! However, in order to make the most of your time in a fraternity, you need to understand how to go through recruitment. If you follow these five simple tips, I promise you’ll join the right organization for you, and make the most out of your time and money.
1. Leave the misconceptions at the door.
Far too commonly I hear potential new members (PNMs) saying that they can’t wait to rage face, or hook up with sorority girls. Yes, that’s a part of Greek Life, but it isn’t the important part. When you go through recruitment you need to go through it with a clear head. Understand that this isn’t a small thing you can do on the side, it is a lifetime commitment. You will attend weekly meetings, philanthropic events, mixers, social events and perform community service, all while being asked to do well academically. This isn’t an easy task, especially with little to no college experience. It doesn’t help to just know this going in, you need to understand it. Understand this will be a rewarding experience, but for every benefit, there is work that you have to put in.
2. Don’t go through recruitment with your friends.
As much as I would love to say that you and all your friends should be in the same house, that isn’t the case. You should join a fraternity based on what you like, not your friends. You may have different interests, enjoy spending time with different people, and amazingly enough, you may be looking for different things. Go into this process knowing what YOU want to get out of it. If something feels right, then stay, if it doesn’t, find a place that you feel like you can be yourself. Don’t ever let one of your friends decide for you. Keep in mind this is a multi-year commitment and usually, you can only choose once. You must ask yourself where you want to spend four years of your life? If you and your friends are meant to be together, you will be.
3. Forget reputations.
Don’t let reputations force you into a house, or turn you away from one. Every house is known for something, whether it be academics, social events or social standing. Never let this make you stray away from a house. There are always going to be people who try to put another house down, and that is only because they are jealous of another houses accomplishments. For instance, I happen to be in a “nerdy” house, but I always laugh when I hear this. I feel that PNMs think this means we don’t have social events, don’t talk to girls and don’t have fun. Some actually think that all we do is study. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. In my experience, all that means is that we take school seriously. I mean, why wouldn't you? You’re paying thousands of dollars to attend school, might as well learn something from it. Furthermore, one thing that I love saying to people who tell me that other fraternities called us nerdy or smart is this: The people that call us nerdy now, are the people who will call us boss later, what do you want to be called?
4. Don’t be a frat star.
If you think that you need to wear Sperry’s, Polo’s and Chubbies in order to go through recruitment, you're wrong. What you are wearing isn't going to get you into the "cool" fraternities, don't waste your time on trying to be what media has built up as "frat." Wear what you would normally wear. Act like you would normally act too, they don't want you to put on a show. Also, don't cite TFM. Yes, we all read it, hell its based on our lives. But that’s because we know the jokes, we get the references and we laugh at the idiotic things people do. But don’t come in with it as your bible. Tell us about yourself. Who are you? What do you like? Just be yourself, seriously. No one actually wants to recruit Jimmy Tatro, most organizations want someone who won't be afraid to be themselves, and remembers, you can’t fake who you are for four years. Eventually, the truth always comes out.
5. Trust the system.
You will hear this so many times and never listen. Do not take it for granted, because it’s the best piece of advice you'll get. Everything happens for a reason, and the system is designed for a reason. It is designed to weed out those who don’t belong and to make people truly appreciate the various houses they have visited. Complaining about getting dropped from the “top house” isn’t going to do you any good. Don't let it get you down, just get over it. Be a man, don’t complain because you didn’t get what you wanted. Don’t worry, you will end up in the right place for YOU.
Well, I hope you listen to these tips. It's extremely doubtful given that you’re probably an 18-year-old freshman with very little knowledge of, well, anything, but a man can dream.
