Just go to recruitment week with an open mind. Don't make your decision based on what the house looks like or it's location. Talk to all the girls and see where you fit. Don't listen to kids who trash talk certain sororities or hype up others. My daughter was (she graduated in '10) in Sigma Kappa but had friends in each of the sororities. Many of my friends daughter's are currently in AEPhi and DPhiE, the "traditionally Jewish" sororities. Everyone is happy to be a part of the Greek system at UF. It is a great way to make a large school smaller.
what is considered the best jewish fraternity? anyone know?
I think they are AEPi, PiLam, and TEP? at least they were 35 years ago
I was a Pike, but I am not sure how they are doing since they got back on campus.
I am trying to aim my son in the right direction when he goes up in the Fall. I agree it is a good idea to visit the houses and see how you feel with the current brothers.
yeah I heard that one was predom jewish. in your opinion, do you think it matters that if it's a jewish sorority and i'm not any religion, would it be a big deal? like would it affect me personally ?? just curious (:
gator4ever, AEPi is a really good Jewish oriented house on UF campus. My S got a bid from it and 2 other fraternities, but ultimately decided that his major (double major in Mech/Aerospace Eng.) was too difficult to join a social fraternity. Your S can rush in the Fall. It is really low key....just go to a meeting at the Reitz Union about Fraternity Rush, and they will give him a schedule of different parties at different houses ( BBQ dinner, Pizza Nite, etc.). He can choose which houses to go to. Hopefully he can go to the meeting with some guys on his dorm floor who are interested. Here is a "rating" website of UF fraternities for all it is worth: University of Florida - UF Greek Life - Fraternities - GreekRank.com
More importantly, here is the official UF Fraternity guide/website: UF IFC
The three "traditionally Jewish" (though they do not discriminate) Fraternities on campus are:
AePi, TEP and ZBT. AEPi tends to be guys who are very smart and motivated and are very socially involved on campus. Also it is more low key than TEP or ZBT. I know quite a few guys who are in or hoping to get into ZBT. Every one of them spends a lot of time working out with weights. They are the work hard, party harder types. I don't know anyone who has been in TEP but have heard that they are very bright.
seiclan so if my son is majoring in engineering, does excercise but is not a freak about it, and is very socilable, it sounds like he should check out AEPi.
Hi there, I'm actually a member of one of the sororities you're asking about and almost preffed the other, so this thread falls right on what I know!
The three Jewish fraternities are:
AEPi - geeky, really Jewish, focused on school, not too much into partying but their parties tend to be good! Really nice guys.
ZBT - South Florida! About 50/50 Jewish, getting more just South FL. Definitely the partying types but a lot of them are also very focused in school.
TEP - Alternative Jewish fraternity? I've met a TEP or two and they're alright. Also nice guys. No definitive style but a little bit on the South Florida side.
PIKE is back on campus and doing pretty well I'd say. A lot of recruited athletes and they have socials w some solid houses thus far. Also decent guys.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) - the house with the lion out front! Has socials regularly with top houses and is relatively solid. Known as the "Southern Gentlemen" (not Southern as in shooting things etc...KA).
ZTA (Zeta Tau Alpha...sorority) - mixed house. No defining reputation...maybe a little on the South Florida side. One of the more competitive houses to get a bid from; they always fill quota and haven't had to do snap bids/Spring Rush to my knowledge as of yet.
Feel free to ask me if you have any specific questions about the fraternities.
You'll find people of Jewish background spread throughout a lot of houses at UF, not just Jewish houses. Personally, I wouldn't want to pick the fraternity just based on that background; you'll really limit yourself and like I said, they make up a large portion of Greek students.
The more popular sororities are Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Gamma, Kappa Delta, Alpha Omicon Pi, Tri Delta, Alpha Delta Pi.
I like ZTA personally, they do a lot with my house and multiple others.
Last edited by lookingtofuture; 06-17-2011 at 12:29 AM.
KD is a top sorority as well, so yes they'll be selective.
I guess they fall under the 'Southern' category but I feel like they're pretty mixed, lots of attractive girls like the other top sororities. My fraternity does a lot with them as well.
A note on PIKE: They had a strong recruiting season with extremely cheap dues which attracted a lot of older lacrosse players. They're, for the most part, leaving or have left already (as in graduating) and I have a feeling their membership is going to decline once they have to charge legitimate dues (much higher than what they currently charge). They've also been known for lacking a true pledge process as of yet. In my opinion, not a strong fraternity by any means but I suppose they could become one in time.
lookingtofuture that is sad news about the Pike house.
I am not sure what happened there but it is shame.
I pledeged there in Spring of 77 I graduated in 81. Our house was truly amazing. We had a good mix. A few surfers from Lauderdale, a few preps from all over, a few country boys, and the balance just regular guys.
It was a battle for #1 between Pikes, ATO, SAE. TEP and PI Lam were very strong as well, especially in athletics. Then they got into trouble lost the chapter got kicked off campus and now they are having a rough road.
I am going suggest to my son to stop by. But I think AEPi will be a better choice for him.
PIKE may be his cup of tea so it's definitely worth checking out at the very least for himself. Being one of the first pledge classes of a newly founded chapter and building it up is not for everyone, but he may like the idea of it. Either way, it's still too soon to tell where they're going to end up.
You're not kidding about PiLam. It seems their glory days are long behind them. TEP isn't doing too bad for itself though by any means. TEP and ZBT are more relevant on the social scene, then comes AEPi, and PiLam a distant last.
As far as the Jewish fraternities go, the descriptions above were pretty accurate. An easy way to pick between them is determining whether he's going to be okay with a pledge process that incorporates hazing or not.
If your son's looking for a socially top fraternity experience like the one you had then I can elaborate on that subject as well.
