Create a New Standard of Excellence. Theta Xi at Iowa State is not a "frat", it is a men's fraternity. Theta Xi doesn't come with a label or stereotype. Our fraternity is not about a look, it's about finding the best of the best to create an incredible leadership experience for all involved. We will welcome anyone who is willing to put in the time and effort to make Theta Xi the best fraternity on the ISU campus. Here are some of the traits we are looking for in new members:
- Leadership roles at the high school or college level
- Community service, from donating blood to building a home for disadvantaged families
- A strong worth ethic
- Academic success
- The ability to form lasting friendships with fellow students, faculty, family and friends
Fraternity Recruitment FAQs:
What is Rush?Put simply, rush is the process by which Greek organizations recruit new members. Formal rush usually takes place during one week each Fall and Spring, when a number of different recruitment activities are planned around a fixed schedule. Theta Xi recruits continuously, which means we are always looking for outstanding gentlemen to join our chapter at any time during the year.
What is Recruitment and how is it different from Rush?
Recruitment is the year round process whereby chapters look for men whom they believe would make valuable contributions to the chapter. These men are typically found among other leadership organizations on campus, volunteering their time in community service programs, and participating in athletics. New members are also found among friends of the brothers themselves. This process is much less formal than traditional rush and may be best for those who fell pressured by the fixed schedule of rush events.
What happens when I join a fraternity? Is it like in the movies?
"Animal House", and more recently "Old School", were very funny movies, but they were extremely bad for the image of fraternities. Furthermore, some fraternity chapters have actually tried to live up to the poor image that these movies promoted, in the hope that this will attract college students to join. Theta Xi is not one of these chapters, and we are actively working to restore the reputation of college fraternities as valuable pillars of the community among the general public.
When you join Theta Xi, you will never be hazed, mistreated, embarrassed, forced to consume alcohol, perform meaningless tasks, or in any other way be treated as anything less than a friend and brother. However, you may be asked, and will have the opportunity to: manage a budget, plan a community service project, represent yourself and your fellow students to the University, or even help direct the operations of the national organization! The difference is that we will never ask you to do anything unless the brothers are doing the same thing, working alongside and supporting you the entire time. Theta Xi provides you with leadership opportunities to enhance your personal development, and lets you learn from other brothers who have endured the same challenges.
Aren't you buying your friends by joining a fraternity?
You have probably heard that by joining a
fraternity, you are simply buying your friends. But how does that differ from
going to college, paying your tuition and housing, and becoming friends with
the guys on your dorm floor? A dorm assignment gives you little choice in the
matter. Wouldn’t you rather make your
own decision?
Fraternities give you the ability to surround
yourself with like-minded men who are driving towards similar goals. By joining Theta Xi at Iowa State
we will help you grow, mature, and ultimately have a more well-rounded college
experience!
Will my dues money be spent on alcohol?
No. Our operating budget is carefully prepared each year to provide the most amount of money possible toward events that do not include alcohol. Our activities set us apart from the crowd and give us a wide and unique range of college experiences we would otherwise not have had. Simply put, it would be a shame to not take advantage of the opportunities afforded to us by living in Ames.
Is there room for me as an individual?
Definitely. Theta Xi prides itself on its diverse make-up, both inside and outside the classroom. Academically, brothers are normally spread about evenly between liberal arts, business, and hard sciences. Outside of the classroom, each of our members shares different strengths and talents with the brotherhood, giving us many opportunities to learn about a variety of subjects. We have an excellent alumni organization of professionals and entrepreneurs who are more than willing to assist brothers by giving career counseling or even obtaining employment. If you want to do or are interested in just about anything, there’s a good chance someone here knows how to do it.
What about scholarship and academics?
Academic achievement is the primary goal of everyone in school, and we stress that fact. A Theta Xi is more likely to have better grades than someone who is not in a fraternity. We also strive to maintain a chapter GPA that is one of the best in the fraternity system. Additionally, the Theta Xi Foundation offers a range of scholarships to the most outstanding undergraduate members in the country.
Do you have requirements to join?Yes, we have several requirements. The two most important requirements are below:
GPA: Incoming freshman must have a High School GPA of 2.5 or greater to be considered for membership. Current college students must have a 2.3 college GPA, and a 2.5 High School GPA.
Leadership: You must have demonstrated evidence of your leadership abilities. This can be in the form of an Eagle Scout rank, community service, National Honor Society, sports clubs, high school leadership experience, or anything else that you feel can demonstrate your ability to become one of the future leaders of our fraternity.
What kind of time commitment are am I looking at?
Like anything else worth doing, you only get out what you put in. Men that aren't willing to take responsibility for themselves as well as others will not be asked to join Theta Xi. During the associate period, the formal time commitment is no more than three hours a week; however, we expect that anyone interested in becoming a part of Theta Xi would demonstrate his interest by coming to our events joining the brothers for dinner or study. Furthermore, the viability of the chapter depends on every man fulfilling his commitment to remain active with the brotherhood throughout his undergraduate career.
Brothers will share with you that the time commitment is reasonable, especially in light of the fact that the brothers of the chapter determine their lifestyle and activities so one is participating in the events and programs they have organized and planned.