rushing a frat informally

Pick about 3 houses you feel you fit in with (spring Rush is shorter and you won't have time to see every house) and just go through rush in January and ask those questions. For the most part the popular houses that you hear about do something on campus.

Most houses have pages where you can find their recruitment chairs, and most houses have recruitment stuff going on throughout the semester.

A lot of the top houses are pretty selective, and with less people it might be good or bad for your chances depending on the impression you make. As far as fraternities with houses I'd check out DChi or Pi Kapp for starters? Not as hard to get in as others but still really strong houses. If you're looking for more of a brotherhood aspect I'd try TKE or Lambda, they both party less but have definitely improved a lot since I've been on campus.

Rush whatever house you feel you will fit into. If you do not make it then try again next semester. Spring rush is smaller and more selective but do not go joining a house because it is easy to get a bid. Also the brotherhood aspect, in my opinion the top houses have very strong brotherhood. Those houses would be Sigma Nu, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta.