What is Rush?

Rush can be among the most rewarding or confusing of times for college men. Depending upon your campus, you may be forced to delay your membership for a term or more, required to pay fees to participate, herded through all the chapter houses en , or simply left to your own devices to even find the Greek system. Phi Kappa Psi supports open and unrestricted rush in order to make the process of meeting men and developing friendships as natural as possible.

Basically, rush is the act of making friends -- something you do every day on and off campus. It really shouldn’t be a task, nor should it be -- as the name implies -- "rushed." It takes time to get to know someone and to make sure that a man’s fraternity involvement will be beneficial to both parties.

The term "rush" comes to us from history. In the 1800s, when many fraternities were founded, freshmen came to campus and would meet fraternity men there. If they became friends, and the freshman was of the caliber that the fraternity sought, he would be asked to join. If he accepted, his initiation into the fraternity took place almost immediately.

Because colleges were usually in small towns, the train stations were the important first chance to meet the freshmen and each fraternity would "rush" to the station each day to help transport the arriving freshmen and their luggage to the campus. That ride back to campus gave the fraternities quality time to get to know a freshman and determine whether or not he would make a good member.

Today, the process can be very complicated, but it’s still a process which seeks to introduce you to fraternities and them to you. No matter what the process or prohibitions may be, there are some basic hints that will make you more likely to find a group where you’ll feel comfortable and have a great fraternity experience. Success in rush isn’t necessarily getting invited to join the biggest group, it’s more a factor of whether or not you really feel you identify with the members, are respected by them and will have the support to develop the skills that will make you successful in life.

Here are a few ideas to consider as you decide whether or not a fraternity or chapter is right for you... Determine why you want to join.

Depending upon your interests and needs, there may be only a few groups in which you would be most interested. Every group will offer social, service, athletic and alumni events at different levels. Sit down and list your priorities, so you can better match your needs to the offerings a group may have. And keep in mind that such a priority as athletics or leadership may not lead you to the intramural champion or most visible group on campus, respectively. You may find that a smaller chapter will allow you to contribute your athletic or leadership talents more than a much larger group might.

Go to as many groups as possible. Even if you’ve heard they have a bad reputation. The rumor-mill on most campuses is badly flawed and what is rumored to be a poor group one year can be a great group the next. Basically, you should give everyone a chance to tell you what they have to offer. And by the way, if one chapter is bad mouthing another, it’s usually because they’re jealous, not better informed. Look for a group who can talk about their own accomplishments, not the inadequacies of others.

Meet as many guys at each chapter as possible. Some chapters give a great first impression, but they may have some problem members hidden in a back room. You’re going to have to be brothers with them all, so make an effort to meet everyone. If you don’t like a bunch of the members, you’re not going to be happy joining their chapter.

Ask lots of questions. Don’t expect them to know what you’re looking for – ask questions! You’re shopping for a group where you’ll feel comfortable and be helped to reach your potential. Find out how they’re going to help. Find out the costs? Do you have to live in the house? How long is the pledge program and how much time does it require each week? How will they help develop your leadership skills? What is their chapter GPA? Do they have scholarships? Can their alumni help you find a job? etc., etc. Get answers before you pledge and you’ll be much happier with your decision.

Find out about the national organization. A good national fraternity will make the difference between a four year experience and a lifetime of involvement. What services does the national organization provide? Can they help you go to grad school? Do they have scholarships available? Are there alumni groups in cities where you might want to live? How can they help you? Are there dues to pay as alumni? etc.

Make up your own mind! Don’t let others tell you what you want. Too many men have pledged a fraternity because of what others would think of their decision. Join because you want to, not because it’s fashionable or might impress a friend. Remember, this decision is one that will affect the rest of your life.

Rush can be a lot of fun. You’ll meet some great guys and, if you ask, may have all your questions about fraternities answered. At best, you’ll find the perfect group for you and start a lifelong association with your fraternity. At worst, you won’t join, but you’ll have much better information about fraternities and what they can offer. Either way, you come out ahead!