Office of Student Life

Sorority and Fraternity Life

Recruitment Information

Whether you're a prospective member eager to join our vibrant community or a current student seeking more information, you've come to the right place. Here, you'll find everything you need to know about Interfraternity Council recruitment and answers to frequently asked questions.


Recruitment Process

Joining a fraternity is an exciting journey that offers countless opportunities for personal growth, friendship, and leadership development. The recruitment process at Ohio State's IFC is designed to be inclusive, transparent, and rewarding. Recruitment events usually take place during the first to second week of the spring and autumn semesters. Dates below for IFC-hosted events are shown but check with each chapter to see when they will be hosting individual chapter events. Most chapters share information on their Instagram page or through tabling fairs hosted by the IFC. 
 

Key Dates for Recruitment:

  • New Member Registration Opens: Currently open for the 2024 Autumn Semester, register at the link below
  • New Member Orientation Week:
    • Potential New Member Orientation: Thursday, August 22nd at 7:00pm in Independence Hall, Room 100
    • IFC Tabling Fair: Friday, August 23rd from 6:00pm - 8:00pm on the main Oval 
  • Individual Chapter Events Begin: Saturday, August 24th, check @OhioStateIFC on Instagram for updates on events

 

New Member Registration: To participate in fraternity recruitment, ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements listed below. If you do, you must register by completing the SFL new member interest form before or during recruitment. Filling out the new member interest form does not lock you into your decision to join a fraternity. 

New Member Orientation Week: Attend information sessions to learn more about Greek life at Ohio State, the recruitment process, and what to expect as a potential new member. Tabling fairs will also happen this week, allowing you to meet different chapters and collect information, such as contact information and when they will be hosting individual chapter events. 

Individual Chapter Events: These events are hosted by IFC chapters and take place after IFC orientation week finishes. Events are typically hosted at fraternity chapter houses but can also sometimes be at venues around the campus area. These events are a great way to learn more about fraternities and what they are like as well as express your intent to join their chapter specifically. To know when individual events occur, check out the IFC Instagram, @OhioStateIFC, where we will share events from members on our story. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who can participate in fraternity recruitment?

A: Any student enrolled at The Ohio State University who meets the eligibility requirements can participate in fraternity recruitment.

Q: What are the eligibility requirements for fraternity recruitment?

A: Eligibility requirements may vary slightly among fraternities, but at a minimum, prospective members must be enrolled as full-time students at Ohio State, have already completed 12 credit hours and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. This also means that if you are a first-semester freshman at Ohio State, you will not be eligible for recruitment until your second semester of freshman year after completing, at minimum, 12 credit hours. 

Earned credit hours through advanced placement credit, college credit plus, or credit by examination do not count towards the minimum 12 credit hours needed to be eligible for joining. Students transferring from other institutions will only have their previous institution’s grades considered for eligibility only if they are participating in recruitment during their first semester at Ohio State. If a transfer student is participating in recruitment and has grades from Ohio State, then those are the grades that will be used during recruitment. For eligibility, cumulative GPA will be based on the GPA information that is available in the Student Information System (SIS) through the Ohio State Registrar.

Q: What should I expect during fraternity recruitment?

A: Recruitment typically involves attending information sessions, open houses, and various events hosted by individual fraternities. It's an opportunity for you to get to know different chapters and for chapters to get to know you. Many fraternities will have their own interest forms typically found on their Instagram accounts or flyers. These are used to share information on chapter-hosted events and provide a way to begin connecting with the fraternity. Events vary across each fraternity, but events are your way of connecting with active members and learning what the fraternity is about and its values. Your attendance at recruitment events also increases your likelihood of receiving a bid, a formal invite to join the fraternity. Many fraternities will have a deadline to accept after receiving a bid. Should you accept, the fraternity will report your acceptance to the IFC to be added to a chapter roster. After recruitment ends, you will begin the intake process and new member education process to be initiated into a chapter. 

Q: Can I join a fraternity at any time during the year?

A: While the primary recruitment period typically occurs at the beginning of each semester, some fraternities may offer opportunities for membership intake at other times during the year. Contact individual chapters for more information. We will also share information via the IFC Interactive Newsletter and IFC Instagram as information becomes available on which chapters recruit continuously. 

Q: What if I have questions or need assistance during recruitment?

A: If you have any questions or need assistance during recruitment, visit the SFL general FAQs section. For additional questions, don't hesitate to contact the IFC VP of Recruitment or IFC Advisor.