DUE TO COVID-19 ALL IN PERSON EVENTS FOR WINTER QUARTER COULD POTENTIALLY BE HELD VIRTUALLY
IFC Info Night Spring 2020
Recruitment Guide
Potential New Members:
We would first like to congratulate you on taking the first step in joining the Greek Community here at UC San Diego. As we attend one of the top public universities in the nation, it is imperative that we continue to emphasize instruction in scholarship, leadership, service, and brotherhood, inside and outside of the classroom.
As a potential new member looking into the Greek system, you may feel uninformed and overwhelmed. We conceived this document in hopes of answering most of your general questions, while creating a medium in which future Greek men can amend this document and continue to elevate the quality of life within our Greek Community.
Making the Right Decision:
During Rush week you will be presented with a great decision. It usually comes later in the week (Wednesday or Thursday) and the chapters that feel you are a good fit will extend you a Bid Card.
At the end of the day, it is YOUR choice which bid card you sign, and we cannot stress how important it is to wait until you have heard back from every chapter you are interested in before signing anything. Most events in the last few days of Rush Week are usually invited only. Do not see this as you will be getting a bid for sure, but take it as an opportunity to really get to know each chapter you are invited back to. You have to bring all of your blank bid cards to an IFC Executive Board Member to sign in front of him for it to be valid.
This is a decision that will undoubtedly shape the rest of your college career, put some serious time and thought into it!
We hope that this short guide will give you all some sort of insight into the Greek community.There is a lot that cannot be said for the sake of keeping the experience interesting. However, as some of the brightest students in our country, you should never be in the dark about any important decision you make in your life.
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An educated decision is a good decision, and we hope that this guide helps you accomplish that!
Recruitment FAQ
What is Rush or Recruitment?
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Formal Fraternity Rush takes place the second week of the fall and spring quarters. Through a wide variety of events, chapters will share the meaning of their brotherhood. Rush is also an opportunity for the chapter members to get to know the potential member and for the potential member to get to know them. It is a relaxed setting for the potential member to meet as many chapters and chapter members as possible and to ask whatever questions the potential member feels pertinent, such as finance, scholarship, activities, housing, and time commitment. Most importantly, the potential member should look for a chapter where he feels comfortable with the men.
What if I don’t receive a bid from the chapter I want to join?
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Most likely the brothers of the fraternity don’t know you well enough at that point, and the best solution to this problem is to continue attending Rush events. Usually bids are given throughout the last days of Rush. If you do not end up receiving a big from the house you wanted, it does not mean that you should give up. This is a good opportunity to go and check out some other fraternities around campus, and see what they have to offer.
Above all, we want you to have a good time during Rush, so take advantage of all it has to offer. Remember that joining a fraternity is a big decision; so make sure that you feel comfortable about where you choose to go. All the fraternities on campus have lots to offer, so wherever you end up, we’re sure you’ll have a blast.
If I join a fraternity, am I going to be hazed?
Hazing is a violation of the University of California, San Diego laws and university policies. Every national fraternity or sorority has banned hazing, and each chapter is obligated to comply with these regulations. Most chapters have a new member program (a.k.a. a pledge program) where new members learn what it means to be a member of the chapter. Once the program is completed, new members are initiated into membership. In addition to the hazing policy, all university policies apply to the fraternity and sorority community.
My parents don’t want me to join a fraternity because they think it will hurt my grades. Is this true?
Most parents who do not want their kids to go Greek do not know all the great aspects of going Greek. Aside of the opportunities of leadership, community service, social interaction and friendship, the Greek community has a number of valuable resources to further your academic career. At a school as rigorous as UCSD, the challenges many students face can seem overwhelming. Many fraternities have older brothers who have gone through similar majors and can provide tutoring or old quiz material to help you prepare for your exams. Many fraternities even offer incentives such as free dues to the highest GPA achieved by a member for that academic quarter. In virtually every class you take, there will be other Greeks in the class as well, giving you the opportunity to form study groups through the connections that fraternities encourage. Whatever sort of academic support you may need, being a member of the Greek community will offer you the resources that you may need.
I am a transfer student, am I too old to rush?
No. In fact, many of the new members recruited in the Fall quarter are transfer students who want to make the most of the last two or three years they have in college. All Greek organizations are always welcoming new members and age is not a factor in membership. Fraternities are looking for people who they feel will make a great brother and if you possess the qualities they are looking for, then there is no age too old.
Are there long-term benefits to being a member of a Greek organization?
Joining a Greek letter organization is a life-long commitment. There are continued opportunities to enjoy the benefits of membership even beyond college. On a campus with over 17,000 students, it is important to find a network of friends and allies to provide the support needed to be successful. As an undergraduate, the fraternity/sorority experience provides opportunities to meet students from other campus chapters. Members are encouraged to participate in other campus life programs and to join other student organizations. Intramural sports and special campus events provide even more opportunities to meet students, faculty and staff from various agencies and departments. The chapter also provides opportunities for members to meet brothers and sisters from chapters at other campuses, usually through a regional or national leadership conference. The fraternity and sorority experience is not limited to the college years, as it continues through adulthood. Alumni associations are available across the country and the potential for career connections are endless. Alumni and national volunteers provide advice and guidance for the chapter and its members as well as serve on house and alumni corporations.