Recruitment FAQ

Per the Greek Life and Student Societies Handbook, "to be eligible to go through recruitment, a Dartmouth student must have completed at least three terms of classes, have sophomore status, and be of good academic standing, with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above." Additionally, those intending to participate in recruitment are asked to complete anti-hazing education, have completed the First-Year Experience offered through Student Wellness, and acknowledge they understand the Expectations of Membership. 

Transfer students may also participate in recruitment given they meet the above standards. 

IFC rrecruitment at Dartmouth is an IFC-led process supported by the Office of Greek Life. Because Dartmouth Fraternities are a mix of national and local organizations, ultimately, all guidelines related to recruitment are governed IFC bylaws and the GLASS Handbook. 

Expectations and deadlines around PNM requirements are set by IFC and the Office of Greek Life. 

Technological issues with required modules or forms can be brought to Greek Life staff.

Rush takes place over two nights (7-9PM on both Friday and Saturday) of a predetermined weekend. During that two-hour window on Friday, all IFC houses will be open for rush and PNMs can and should rush multiple houses during the formal process to indicate interest in joining. On the second night, only certain houses that did not fill their rush class on the first night will be open. By visiting a house and signing their roll, a potential new member (PNM) will have "rushed" that house. However, PNMs may only "shake-out" at one house at the end of a formal rush period. This means that a PNM must be at their top choice house by 9 pm. "Shaking-out" is similar to the early decision process in college apps. While not actually binding in this case, it is an indication to the fraternity chosen that they are a PNM's priority house. The advantage of "shaking-out" at your top choice is that it shows commitment to the house being rushed. Houses are looking for dedicated new members to join their tightknit communities, and this indication that a PNM prefers a certain house over others is a strong message. "Shaking-out" is not the only way to receive a bid, but it is by far the most common way of doing so.

Bids can be given out to both individuals that shook out and individuals who expressed interest throughout the term but may not have officially shaken out at that house. It is possible after rushing to receive multiple bids from multiple fraternities. However, a potential new member can only "sink" his bid at one house, indicating his intention to become a member of that fraternity.

After PNMs shake out and "sink" their bid, the current members of the houses will deliberate and then deliver either "bids" or "no bids" to everyone who shook out. The process of delivering bids depends on the house, but you will usually be notified about whether you got a bid a few hours after shaking out. If you get a "yes" bid from a fraternity, they are inviting you to accept a bid at their house and become a member of their organization.

During rush, both brothers and potential new members traditionally wear appropriate formal attire. Although a coat and tie are encouraged, no prejudices will exist towards those potential members not wearing coat and tie. Each potential new member is required to conduct himself in an appropriate manner. Intoxication will not be tolerated. Be respectful. Enjoy the experience of getting to know new people. 

If you get a "no bid," it means that the fraternity that you shook out at is not in the position to offer you a spot in their house. If you shake out and do not receive a bid from that house, you still have the option to accept bids from other houses you visited earlier that night. This is why the IFC recommends visiting multiple houses. Also, if you do not receive a bid anywhere after the first night, you still have the opportunity to rush other houses again the second night. Not all houses may be open again on the second night since many tend to fill their classes after the first night. Otherwise, the second night of shakeout works identically to the first night.

All fraternities charge chapter dues to their members. Chapter dues go toward programming and chapter operating expenses. The exact amount of dues varies from house-to-house, but usually range from $170 to $600. Before rushing, it is a good idea to ask about the financial obligations of the houses you are interested in. 

In addition to these official chapter dues, fraternities often charge informal social dues to pay for events. Lastly, Dartmouth's national fraternities (Psi U, Sig Nu, TDX, and Zete) may also have national dues.

Most fraternities at Dartmouth offer generous financial aid and make a strong effort to meet your need. Financial aid is often available for social dues as well.