It’s a lot harder to rush a sorority than a frat

The bros said they’d be ‘decently down’ to let me join

Everyone has a moment in their life where they stop and think, “How did I get here?”. For some, this reflective moment comes when they’ve graduated college, or decided to study abroad in Thailand, or switched majors from Biology to English.

For me, this moment came when I decided to rush a frat. No, not an academic fraternity – an all male, social frat.

Well, it started off as a joke. One fateful day, where I was looking particularly bro-esque with a backwards cap, a friend jokingly mentioned how funny it would be if I rushed his frat. Before I knew it, the joke had escalated into me agreeing to actually rush to see if I could convince enough of the brothers to vote in favor of me joining the frat at their chapter meeting.

Despite being the only girl to ever rush this frat, the guys were surprisingly cool about it. Though I was initially nervous going in, I quickly realized I had nothing to be afraid of. Not only was I already friends with several of the brothers, but the people I did meet were genuinely interested in finding out why I decided to rush.

In the words of the chapter’s vice president, the brothers were “decently down” to let me join. Though I couldn’t technically be part of the fraternity – as in, the national board – I could pay local dues and enjoy the all the same things that the other brothers do.

In the end, I decided not to pledge, but was left with the satisfaction that I could have and a comprehensive outsider’s view into the fraternity rushing process.

Rushing a frat is a lot easier than rushing a sorority

Two of my roommates were rushing sororities at the same time that I was rushing the frat. While they trudged through long, twelve hour days of constant small talk and business casual dress codes, I slipped on some vans and a t-shirt and went to a “Barbeque and meet the guys” event.

All the fraternity rushing events were along the lines of some kind of game, sport, or theme, coupled with food – “Carnitas and casino night” and “steaks and cigars” galore.

Frat guys make chill friends

Sure, it starts off as a standard conversation of sharing your year, major, and hometown. It was a very casual setting; though they may have been asking me interview-like questions about why I wanted to join, I still felt at ease to joke around.

And now, even though I didn’t end up joining, I have a bunch of new friends that I can wave to on campus and chat with.

The rush events are always fun excursions or hangouts, and always include food and beer

What more could you want? Full bellies, a little beer to loosen up, and great music make for great conversation and ambiance.

What’s more frat than a Hawaiian shirt and salmon shorts?

Being athletic is definitely a plus

My bro-potential was greatly helped by the fact that I played soccer with a few of the guys and had demonstrated my skill with a football at one of their previous events.

While I may not be a brother, I think I can say with confidence that I am definitely a bro. Catch me at the next kickback, doing bro things.

Hang loose, right on dude – or something like that.

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