<p>In terms of national fraternities, their main point is to make sure that you have some sort of support from above and a solid network of people who share a common bond of friendship.</p>
<p>Just like how people in similar life situations share a bond in shared experiences, people in the same fraternities tend to have the same bond through a common ritual. Exactly what that bond is differs by the fraternity.</p>
<p>However, what I do have to say is that founding/colonizing a fraternity is very different from joining an already-existing one. As previously mentioned, different chapters of the same fraternity at different campuses are different because they’re technically separate groups. As long as what you want out of your group is well in-line with the national fraternity’s mission, you’re good to go. The colony will morph itself, and you will play a huge role in shaping its culture.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s exclusive, but I’d argue that close friendships are more exclusive. Try to view it as a “family away from home.”</p>
<p>As for the particular question of Chi Phi: when I met some of the people from their nationals through some friends/contacts I met outside my own fraternity, they seem to be really cool. However, the chapter at my campus, which was recently shut down, had some issues of being quite “fratty.” If you were to start a chapter, this reputation won’t stick – you’ll be building it from ground up and it’ll be what you make it.</p>