W&M fraternities and sororities

[Anonymous]

Would love to know more. Know it’s less intense at W&M but what’s the scoop? All this touse, mouse talk has me wondering. Most kids rush fall? Legacy, VA kids advantage?

[Anonymous]

Think of it this way, a kid in a lower house at UVA can get in a top house at W&M. A kid that wouldn’t get a bid at UVA can still get a mid or low house at W&M. It’s actually a really good thing.

[Anonymous]

Might vary based on sorority/fraternity, but I know my sorority announced there would no longer be any preference given to legacies. There were just too many legacies going through rush.

My son is there now and joined a fraternity his sophomore year. Very relaxed rush for the men. Each house has casual rush events where you can meet the members.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know which sorority is touse at W&M?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Think of it this way, a kid in a lower house at UVA can get in a top house at W&M. A kid that wouldn’t get a bid at UVA can still get a mid or low house at W&M. It’s actually a really good thing.

I thought all kids get a bid at UVA. Also, I am curious to know what personal experience you have to make this type of assertion.

[Anonymous]

I think a pretty massive number of women rush their first fall. About 1/6 of them will either drop out of rush or end the process without a bid. Sorority numbers have gone up significantly every single year.

1/3 of women overall participate but I'd be willing to bet it's more like 40-45% of the most recent freshman class.

Fraternity rush is definitely less intense although frat participation is growing too.

[Anonymous]

Also sorrorities (especially the top ones) typically have very few if any to give out during the spring so it's generally not going to be super successful.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t rush until sophomore year at W&M, but that was decades ago. I wonder if that’s still common? I’m sure it remains less intense than many other schools, but my guess is social media has changed the dynamics of Greek life.

[Anonymous]

What are the reputations of each frat?

[Anonymous]

Frats and sororities are great. Supposedly....I mean suppository ...they teach them how to drink beer with their butts. It's great!

[Anonymous]

Any insight into which to choose or avoid? DC is mildly interested in fraternity at w&m due to the less intense reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any insight into which to choose or avoid? DC is mildly interested in fraternity at w&m due to the less intense reputation.

Every frat will have lots of events during rush weeks. He should just go to an event or two at each frat and see if he likes the vibe or not. Some frats are super party heavy - others are more laid back but you won't know what you click with until you meet the people in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any insight into which to choose or avoid? DC is mildly interested in fraternity at w&m due to the less intense reputation.

Would you seriously go to your kid and say hey, a bunch of anonymous random people on the internet said these are he frats to choose or avoid? Let your kid figure out what he wants, for goodness sake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a pretty massive number of women rush their first fall. About 1/6 of them will either drop out of rush or end the process without a bid. Sorority numbers have gone up significantly every single year.

1/3 of women overall participate but I'd be willing to bet it's more like 40-45% of the most recent freshman class.

Fraternity rush is definitely less intense although frat participation is growing too.

My daughter rushed last year and ended up dropping. I have read that it is 1/5 of the girls end up dropping before the end, which seems like a large amount, imo.

Recruitment is hard at every school, I believed the myth that "william and mary is laid back and different," and I pushed her to do it, and frankly, I wish I had let her wait till her Sophomore year so she could figure out what she really wanted to do on her own.

Rush has changed a lot since the 1990s- Panhel changed the system so that before the big cuts were at the end of rush, now they are at the beginning. Sending a new college freshman through a process where she can be cut from half the houses after the first round is not for everyone.

Sororities no longer care about legacy status. It doesn't help them one iota.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any insight into which to choose or avoid? DC is mildly interested in fraternity at w&m due to the less intense reputation.

Would you seriously go to your kid and say hey, a bunch of anonymous random people on the internet said these are he frats to choose or avoid? Let your kid figure out what he wants, for goodness sake.

This is great advice. I learned the hard way.. stay out of it and let them figure it all out on their own. Best to your son, I am sure he will do great.