So I guess I'm in the minority here as I was Greek in college. TN, I'll be honest: joining Lambda Chi was one of the best decisions I ever made. I have lifelong friends and our bond goes deeper than that of my other/high school friends. It never once hindered my ability to have a good GPA (if anything I spent more time in the library due to mandatory study hall every week) and it truly made my college experience unique and memorable.
That being said, the worst thing you can do is join the wrong fraternity/chapter or join one that is only about drinking and hazing. If it's meant to be, the right organization will give you a bid. You could even try to rush again and talk to different chapters the next time around. If you don't get a bid or decide not to try again, then find other ways to get yourself involved on campus. Intramurals, clubs, whatever it may be. Make some friends in different dorms, and branch out as best you can.
I will say this, though: joining a fraternity is great for networking after you leave college. It's nice to create connections either through active or alumni brothers for help in getting a job.
I pretty much agree with everything here.
I am also a Greek. The fraternity I joined was easily the best decision I ever made. It taught me so much about leadership, organization, politics, and gave me opportunities to do things on campus that 90% of students could not do (formals, Greek week, sorority mixers, mountain weekends, alumni networking events, brotherhood retreats, leadership conferences, just to name a few). I have been out of college for almost 10 years and I have also used my Fraternities alumni network a lot in my professional career. Lastly, I formed the greatest friendship of guys who were in my wedding, etc. I even met my wife through my fraternity (she was in a sorority).
If that group of guys didn't give you a bid, and that is the fraternity that you want to join, try to form friendships with some it the brothers, goto their parties, hang out with them, etc...you will probably get a bid next semester.....unless you rubbed someone the wrong way.
