Frats are the lifeblood of UT, Who is best?

#202
#202
First off, at UT the frats arent 'life blood'. The great thing about UT is that its big enought that if you want to be greek, there's plenty to choose from. If you dont, its not a big deal. You're not shunned if you elect not to go greek. In smaller schools, yes they are the lifeblood.
 
#210
#210
You should ask EricVol, who is an active member of VolNation, he was heavily involved in the Greek scene and a rush master at Lambda Chi. Really this kid knows a lot of people. I also know a Sigma Nu and Pike that regularly use this website that could advise you. There have been a lot of fraternities kicked off at Tennessee in the past 10 years, with KA, SAE and Kappa Sig recently coming back, so the dynamic has really changed.

There are a handful of strong fraternities, literally probably 8-10 fraternities I would join after knowing what I know and interacting a lot with different chapters. One of the biggest differences the past ten years has been the rise of Phi Sig and I am not a fan of that chapter because I believe they benefit solely due to their house, so this is hard to say. When I first started at Tennessee in 2002 they were an afterthought, then when I left in 2006 they were quickly becoming one of the top 5-6 fraternities. They had an incredibly strong rush class in 2005 and 2006 which really put them where they are now. On top of that they have the nicest house on the row (or did as of 2008, haven't been back in a few years), which use to be their only recruiting tool because they were such a medicore frat and are NOT GOOD NATIONALLY (they still are crappy nationally, that won't change). They are a strong chapter at Tennessee now and probably in the top 4, but don't judge a chapter soley by their house or you will be incredibly disappointed.

I think the top two fraternities at Tennessee historically are Sigma Chi and Pike. They are currently a lot like Bama and Florida's football teams in the SEC. It's hard to compete with them in regards to recruiting because Pike has such a strong Knoxville base (Bearden and the other elite public high school in Knoxville) while Sigma Chi gets a lot of Chattanooga private school kids and Central Tennessee guys. Sigma Chi definitely rules the roost re: private school guys and although they have a strong chapter they seem a bit of elitist, nothing wrong with that if that's what your into, just wasn't for me. Pike is great at sports and have a lot of athletes (that don't play college sports). They have a terrible reputation for hazing and I know first hand they use to haze the living crap out of their guys, not sure if they toned it down or not. I liked the guys in their chapter, just would never have pledged there due to the ridiculous hazing. SAE use to be in the same category as Pike and Sigma Chi, more similar to Sigma Chi, but has dropped a bit due to numerous probations and getting their charter revoked. SAE has typically dominated the Memphis prep school kids and also done really well with Knoxville kids. They used to have by far the most expensive fees and are also considered an elitist fraternity nationally. I actually liked SAE a lot, thought they were a diverse group of white guys, although drug use in the chapter was ramped in CERTAIN circles. I'm sure they will do well again. Back in the day SAE at Tennessee had 200 members, which was some sort of national record for any fraternity, anywhere.

Currently, the next best fraternities would be Phi Sig and FIJI. FIJI really benefitted with Memphis kids when SAE was kicked off campus for a few years. Then in no particular order SAE, Lambda Chi/ATO, Sig Ep and probably some other fraternities on the row I am forgetting, Kappa Sig is probably good again, not sure. Sig Ep was pretty big when I left but they always gave out WAYYYY too many bids which diluted their quality. You could see they were always about numbers and they didn't haze, so not many people quit and they just walked into the fraternity. I'm not a fan of hazing, but I understand why it's done and it's ridiculously hard to get rid of after becoming an instilled tradition. A lot of people consider Sig Ep guys weak and pussies for joining a frat that didn't haze. They were nice guys to me, just never really stood out in anyway.

With that being said, lots of good choices at Tennessee. Everyone has something to choose from, just ask around campus and more importantly meet the guys yourself and don't base things from hearsay. Also, DTD is terrible, so don't consider them, I think that's something a lot of people can agree about.
 
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#213
#213
atxvol2010 said:
You should ask EricVol, who is an active member of VolNation, he was heavily involved in the Greek scene and a rush master at Lambda Chi. Really this kid knows a lot of people. I also know a Sigma Nu and Pike that regularly use this website that could advise you. There have been a lot of fraternities kicked off at Tennessee in the past 10 years, with KA, SAE and Kappa Sig recently coming back, so the dynamic has really changed.

There are a handful of strong fraternities, literally probably 8-10 fraternities I would join after knowing what I know and interacting a lot with different chapters. One of the biggest differences the past ten years has been the rise of Phi Sig and I am not a fan of that chapter because I believe they benefit solely due to their house, so this is hard to say. When I first started at Tennessee in 2002 they were an afterthought, then when I left in 2006 they were quickly becoming one of the top 5-6 fraternities. They had an incredibly strong rush class in 2005 and 2006 which really put them where they are now. On top of that they have the nicest house on the row (or did as of 2008, haven't been back in a few years), which use to be their only recruiting tool because they were such a medicore frat and are NOT GOOD NATIONALLY (they still are crappy nationally, that won't change). They are a strong chapter at Tennessee now and probably in the top 4, but don't judge a chapter soley by their house or you will be incredibly disappointed.

I think the top two fraternities at Tennessee historically are Sigma Chi and Pike. They are currently a lot like Bama and Florida's football teams in the SEC. It's hard to compete with them in regards to recruiting because Pike has such a strong Knoxville base (Bearden and the other elite public high school in Knoxville) while Sigma Chi gets a lot of Chattanooga private school kids and Central Tennessee guys. Sigma Chi definitely rules the roost re: private school guys and although they have a strong chapter they seem a bit of elitist, nothing wrong with that if that's what your into, just wasn't for me. Pike is great at sports and have a lot of athletes (that don't play college sports). They have a terrible reputation for hazing and I know first hand they use to haze the living crap out of their guys, not sure if they toned it down or not. I liked the guys in their chapter, just would never have pledged there due to the ridiculous hazing. SAE use to be in the same category as Pike and Sigma Chi, more similar to Sigma Chi, but has dropped a bit due to numerous probations and getting their charter revoked. SAE has typically dominated the Memphis prep school kids and also done really well with Knoxville kids. They used to have by far the most expensive fees and are also considered an elitist fraternity nationally. I actually liked SAE a lot, thought they were a diverse group of white guys, although drug use in the chapter was ramped in CERTAIN circles. I'm sure they will do well again. Back in the day SAE at Tennessee had 200 members, which was some sort of national record for any fraternity, anywhere.

Currently, the next best fraternities would be Phi Sig and FIJI. FIJI really benefitted with Memphis kids when SAE was kicked off campus for a few years. Then in no particular order SAE, Lambda Chi/ATO, Sig Ep and probably some other fraternities on the row I am forgetting, Kappa Sig is probably good again, not sure. Sig Ep was pretty big when I left but they always gave out WAYYYY too many bids which diluted their quality. You could see they were always about numbers and they didn't haze, so not many people quit and they just walked into the fraternity. I'm not a fan of hazing, but I understand why it's done and it's ridiculously hard to get rid of after becoming an instilled tradition. A lot of people consider Sig Ep guys weak and pussies for joining a frat that didn't haze. They were nice guys to me, just never really stood out in anyway.

With that being said, lots of good choices at Tennessee. Everyone has something to choose from, just ask around campus and more importantly meet the guys yourself and don't base things from hearsay. Also, DTD is terrible, so don't consider them, I think that's something a lot of people can agree about.
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SAE still hasn't recovered and it will take time... don't think they'll ever get back to where they were to be honest.. and they need a new house bad. Also - Lambda Chi was hurt for awhile too because their house was condemned and they just had a bunch of crappy pledge classes over about 3 years.. but its finally done and they survived so I see them stabilizing again since they are such a prominent fraternity, especially in the south east.

Sig Ep's house just reopened.. its really nice.. wish I had considered them at the time but I kind of just ignored the fraternities without houses at the time I rushed. Same with Lambda Chi, my brother is one at another school and I wish I had given them a look rather than believing what other fraternities said about when they would get their house back.

Right now its still Sigma Chi/Pike/Phi Sig. I'd put ATO a bit ahead of Fiji though.. not sure what's going on there they have gotten in a lot of trouble and I think a ton of row fraternities are actually about to have some bad stuff go down. Money will always rule - and Phi Sig is all Brentwood guys and they got lots of money.. as do the Sigma Chi's.

Kappa Sig is big again.. (over 100 people I think) but they don't have near the same presence they once had.. and aren't highly thought of. I think they just bid a ton of guys to build back up.
 
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#214
#214
Everyone who was in a fraternity will say their own. I'd be more inclined to discuss which sororities are best.
imo
Tier 1 includes ADPi, AOII, DDD, PM, (recently added) AXO
Tier 2 includes KKG, KD, DZ, XO, ZTA
Tier 3 includes SK, PiPhi
 
#215
#215
crusse10 said:
Everyone who was in a fraternity will say their own. I'd be more inclined to discuss which sororities are best.
imo
Tier 1 includes ADPi, AOII, DDD, PM, (recently added) AXO
Tier 2 includes KKG, KD, DZ, XO, ZTA
Tier 3 includes SK, PiPhi
Click to expand...

I think Chi O's should definitely be tier 1. I'm biased on two fronts for this one though.

1. I was a Pike and our sweethearts were always XO's.
2. My wife was a XO at Mississippi State. :)
 
#216
#216
andrewh said:
I think Chi O's should definitely be tier 1. I'm biased on two fronts for this one though.

1. I was a Pike and our sweethearts were always XO's.
2. My wife was a XO at Mississippi State. :)
Click to expand...

Pics or it didn't happen. :)
 
#218
#218
crusse10 said:
Everyone who was in a fraternity will say their own. I'd be more inclined to discuss which sororities are best.
imo
Tier 1 includes ADPi, AOII, DDD, PM, (recently added) AXO
Tier 2 includes KKG, KD, DZ, XO, ZTA
Tier 3 includes SK, PiPhi
Click to expand...

I'd switch KD and PM.

And I'd probably have 4 tiers to be honest. And Pi Phi needs a tier of its own so 5 tiers.
 
#220
#220
Sooooo...
1. ADPi, AOII, DDD, PM
2. AXO, KKG, KD, XO, ZTA
3. DZ, DG, SK
4. PiPhi
 
#222
#222
Bassmanbruno said:
Why? Haven't been that impressed with too many PM.



I like Zeta but I don't think they're much better than DG or DZ.
Click to expand...

PM has always had wonderful sets of personalities.

And to say Zeta is on the same level as DG is, imo, laughable.
 
#223
#223
crusse10 said:
PM has always had wonderful sets of personalities.

And to say Zeta is on the same level as DG is, imo, laughable.
Click to expand...

I think they're better than DG.. but I guess I hang around the prettier DGs and some of the not as hot Zetas.. but I always have a good time with Zetas. I still would have ZTA > DZ > DG though. Love the KKGs though, haha.
 
#224
#224
Bassmanbruno said:
I think they're better than DG.. but I guess I hang around the prettier DGs and some of the not as hot Zetas.. but I always have a good time with Zetas. I still would have ZTA > DZ > DG though. Love the KKGs though, haha.
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Always end up hanging out with some of the DG seniors on their weekly Thursday night at Tin Roof. Love 'em, but I just can't rank 'em high. Sad times.

And I know they aren't all the #1 hottest, but I always have a good time with ADPis. Took some of them to the Derby this year.
 
#225
#225
golfballs03 said:
Yeah all fraternities do that, so your right
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

Not saying all do, but the Pikes did while I was there, got into some big trouble for it too... Person I quoted was talking about the benefits of frats and was a Pike. While indeed it was a smart a** comment, its a true story.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
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