How IFC recruitment works
Most men's general fraternities on a campus belong to the Interfraternity Council (IFC). Recruitment (still widely called rush) usually happens over one or two weeks early in a semester. Each chapter hosts events: cookouts, sports, house tours, dinners and one-on-one conversations. Your son can visit as many chapters as he likes.
When a chapter decides it wants him, it extends a bid, a formal invitation to join. He can accept one bid. Some campuses use a structured bid day; others let chapters extend bids on a rolling basis during recruitment week.
The Divine Nine fraternities (Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma and Iota Phi Theta) don't use recruitment or bids. They join through membership intake, which works quite differently.
After the bid: the new member period
Accepting a bid makes your son a new member (some chapters still say "pledge"). For several weeks he'll learn the fraternity's history and values, meet alumni, attend chapter events and get to know his new member class. The period ends in initiation, a private ritual that makes him a full brother.
New member programs should be about education and building friendships, and member fraternities of the North American Interfraternity Conference agree to standards that limit their length. If his program seems to have no end date, ask.
Questions your son should ask every chapter
- What does the first year cost, all in? Are there extra fees after initiation?
- What GPA does the chapter require, and what's the chapter's average?
- What does the new member period look like week by week, and how long is it?
- Is living in the house required? When?
- What service and philanthropy does the chapter do?
Good chapters answer these easily. They're proud of their grades, their service and their alumni.
Red flags
- Alcohol at recruitment events, or pressure to drink to "fit in"
- Vague answers about what new members do, or "you'll find out"
- The chapter is on probation or appears on the university's hazing violations list (schools now publish these)
- Promises that sound too good: no dues, no time commitment
Read our full guide on hazing warning signs and what to do.
How parents can help
Set the budget together before recruitment, not after he's accepted a bid. Ask him to tell you which chapter he chose and why. During the new member period, keep the lines open: a quick text that says "how's it going?" makes it easier for him to tell you if something isn't right.
When initiation comes, it's a real milestone. See our initiation gift ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bid?
A bid is a formal invitation to join a fraternity. Accepting it starts the new member period, which ends in initiation.
Can my son join in the spring instead of the fall?
On many campuses, yes. Some IFC councils hold recruitment both semesters, and some chapters recruit informally year-round. Check the campus Interfraternity Council website.
Are fraternity recruitment events supposed to have alcohol?
No. The North American Interfraternity Conference's standards for member fraternities call for alcohol-free recruitment, and most campuses require it. Alcohol at a recruitment event is a red flag.
Sources and further reading
Updated November 2026