The Fraternity Advisor

The number one deterrent to pledging is the financial obligations of joining a fraternity. This is a huge hidden expense that not many freshmen were planning for when they entered school. It would be a tremendous recruiting advantage if a fraternity did not have pledge dues.

Where do you find guys to rush? This is the most overcomplicated part of rush. Popular mantra is that you need to have weeks worth of elaborate recruitment events. You need to dorm storm and put flyers up all over the place. You need to attend the IFC’s rush functions and help out with freshman move-in. But do you?

Let’s assume you did your job and you have found guys to attend your rush event, and your fraternity has adequately prepared. Now you have to sell them on the idea that joining your fraternity is best for them. To do so, you need to realize why guys join fraternities.

It amazes me that nearly every fraternity pledge program concludes without teaching pledges anything about recruitment. Recruitment is the life-blood of the chapter. It is essential that the chapter takes the time to educate the pledges on how to recruit.

Finding yourself in a chapter house for the first time is a daunting experience. The first time I was in a chapter house I was awestruck by the fraternity paddles hanging on the mantle and the brothers everywhere. It is an overwhelming experience, but one you will get used to quickly.

Nearly all of my articles deal with what to do if you are in a fraternity. But what if you are just beginning rush? Here are some tips on how to make sure you find the right fraternity.

So the next question is how do you get them to attend a rush event? I always thought it was best to calm the fears that the rushee may be having. He is going to be worried about cost and transportation. He’ll be worried about being pressured to join. Having been through rush many times, these are questions that a brother may overlook. However, rush is very intimidating for someone new to college. I always did everything possible to make the rushee feel comfortable with attending our event.

You will not have a good recruitment if you do adequately prepare. Rush needs to be planned months in advance, and the recruitment chair needs to ensure that everyone is on board with the recruitment plan.

Eventually, during every recruitment, the conversation happens. It happens at different times for different people. The people that are truly interesting in joining a fraternity will ask the questions that all fraternity men have asked. When they ask you these questions, you have to be prepared to answer them.

Fraternity recruitment should culminates into a single, invite-only event. This event should carry are certain mystique, and the brothers should hype it for the entire rush period.