formal rush fraternity

Delta Upsilon, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi are Mizzou's top 3 fraternities. Delta Tau Delta, because of grades and campus involvement, does get some consideration as a better than average house. Phi Kappa Theta and Sigma Phi Epsilon want to be considered among the top houses but fall far short, and Pi Kappa Alpha probably beats out both of them. Actually, all except DU, Beta, and Sigma Chi rank in a middle or low tier. And as far as being from out-of-state, Delta Upsilon has a significant number of out-of-state members.

Top: Beta Theta, Delta Upsilon, Sigma Chi
Upper Middle: Delta Sigma Phi, Kappa Sigma, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha
Middle: Delta Tau Delta Phi Gamma Delta, Farm House, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Lambda Chi Alpha
Lower Middle: Phi Kappa Theta, Alpha Gamma Rho, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon
Bottom: all the rest

I have a brother going through Fraternity Rush (and we're from out of state). He's asked me questions a lot like yours. What I've told him is pretty much in line with most of the replies you're getting to your questions: the best all-around houses are (in no particular order) Delta Upsilon, Sigma Chi, and Beta Theta Pi. Someone has already replied that Delta Upsilon does have several members from out of state, and that's true. Guys from the Chicago area, and Illinois in general, seem to join there pretty often as do guys from Texas. I know those are the 3 fraternities he's going to be paying the most attention to; and right now he seems to be most interested in DU and then Beta. Anyway, good luck to you whatever you choose. Enjoy Mizzou and Mizzou Greek Life!

I think the present Greek Rank "top five" is close to being accurate. The only thing I disagree with is including Delta Tau Delta in the "top five". I honestly think Delta Sigma Phi or Kappa Alpha has a more legitimate claim to the fifth spot. (However, KA does have really dismal grades; and I know that there's always a chance of inflated rank because of "self-ranking", but DU, Beta, and Sigma Chi are probably the least likely of any of the fraternities to get involved in excessive self-ranking. So, following is my agreement with Greek Rank but with Delta Tau Delta removed from the "top five" and what I believe to be more accurate inserted.

1 Delta Upsilon - ΔΥ

2 Sigma Chi - ΣΧ

3 Beta Theta Pi - ΒΘΠ

4 Kappa Sigma - ΚΣ

5 Delta Sigma Phi - ΔΣΦ and/or Kappa Alpha Order - ΚΑ

Top: ΔΥ, BΘΠ, ΣΧ,
(No specific order, easily interchangeable, each has a legitimate claim to be a top house: brotherhood, reputation, grades, parties, etc. Focus most seriously on these 3 if you can meet their standards/requirements...BΘΠ and ΔΥ are probably the hardest to get into)

Upper Middle: ΚΣ, ΔΣΦ, ΠΚΑ, ΚΑ, ΔΤΔ
(ΔΤΔ consistently does well in grades and has above average involvement in campus activities though brotherhood seems average at best and it is less popular and social; ΚΣ is a house that is improving considerably and ΔΣΦ is a respected fraternity)

Middle: ΑΤΩ, FH, ΛΧΑ, Fiji, AEΠ

Lower Middle: ΑΓΡ, ΦΚΘ, ΣΝ, ΣΦΕ
(ΦΚΘ and ΣΦΕ have fallen in reputation, brotherhood, etc. and are generally considered to be less respectful of women. ΦΔΘ probably should be listed in this tier as it is going through a far-reaching reorganization that should bring a much higher degree of respectability to this fraternity and start it on an upward swing from the bottom tier. Improvement could come very quickly.)

Bottom: The rest

Delt Sig a top house Hahahahahah

I, and a lot of my Sisters, would recommend that you go for ΔΥ and ΣΧ.

Most men rushing this year will probably be trying for Beta, DU or Sig Chi. It's pretty certain that they'll get who they want.

If you have a really good high school GPA, if you rank high in your graduating class, if you have a really good ACT score, and if you've been involved in extracurricular activities, held class office, been in sports, and active in community service, and if you're classy and socially cool then you'll be a popular rushee and will have most houses interested in you. And if you're all of these then you'll be most likely to be interested in Sigma Chi, DU and/or Beta. (If you have good grades and like to be involved in extracurricular activities you could also look at Delta Tau but it definitely doesn't rank with the other three when it comes to reputation, social standing, and classiness.) A few o the remaining fraternities are ok but just don't have as good a reputation of the top 3.

The middle frats are great too. Sigma Nu, FIJI, SAE, Delta Chi, AEPhi,Delt. Good luck finding your house.