Here’s the Truth

Important message for PNM’s (frats/srats): There are so many people who join the “best” house they get a bid to, and they’re miserable. When people say you need to trust the process, you really need to, because I’ve known a lot of people who dropped because they hated their house/PC and wished they’d made a better decision.

Also be aware that every house has something they’re looking for, and you may not fit that mold, and that’s fine. Guys: most of you will only get a bid if you know guys in the house or you’ve been hiding under a rock and you’re A+ in every way (personality, looks, vibing with current members, etc.). Not every guy gets an invite and not every guy gets a bid, that’s just the way it is in fraternity recruitment. Girls: you will get a bid, but I won’t lie, most top houses already have a list of at least some PNM’s they plan to recruit heavily (during my freshman year, a friend of mine got invited to Kappa in the fall because an older member “wanted to lend her a dress;” my friend’s now in kappa), but it’s nowhere near as tough as guys.

In terms of the “new member process,” some of it’s bs (no, Tri-Delt does not make you eat the beta fish, no, dke doesn’t make you do the elephant walk (anymore)), some of it’s legit (Kappas, be prepared to wipe down car windshields and make breakfast for seniors, get screamed at and messed with; sig ep makes their new pc run up and down the stairs and workout for hours; I saw phi psi making their new pc haul mattresses around the house in the snow), but every house is going to be very time-consuming in terms of making you know the current members and the members of your pc, so be prepared to drop classes or be inactive in other clubs for a while or take a leave from your internship or work study.

I hope this helps. Take it with a grain of salt, go in with no expectations, and focus on making genuine connections (both frats and srats), I promise it’ll work out if it’s meant to, and if it doesn’t, that’s perfectly ok too!