Information for Parents & FAQ
Thank you for taking the time to learn about the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. We want you and your son to both feel excited and comfortable with understanding everything that Phi Tau has to offer for you. We will be clear with details regarding our fraternal affairs, and we will also make sure to give your son everything that he needs for his success. We created this page dedicated to parents as well as housing information in which will help you two make a decision.
As quoted by the Oxford dictionary, a fraternity is "a group of people sharing a common profession or interests." At Georgia Tech, Phi Tau and other fraternities on campus house a bright group of young men with one common interest: striving for the best individual and to work together with his community. A common sterotype regarding fraternities are that they're dangerous, unecessary practices. This is not the case, especially at Georgia Tech. Academically focused individuals help foster a nuturing relationship with each other, helping support each other in academic, personal, and recreational affairs. There are many benefits with joining a fraternity, such as networking, events and experience, and an overall good time at Georgia Tech.
Joining a fraternity is a very beneficial decision for many. Joining a fraternity will open a new door of new people to meet and new experiences to enjoy. Being cost effective for all of the benefits one recieves is also a big plus.
Our scholarship chair focuses on ensuring that each individual member recieves the support that he needs to be successful. An academic program is set in place for all of the brothers so that each knows the trajectory they should take with their4 classes. Many brothers will recieve internships over the summer, from Microsoft, to NASA, to Delta. Some of these internships stem from the networking of other Phi Taus, whether they be Alpha Rho alumni or nationally.
All fraternities vary by price. At Phi Tau, our dues are cheaper than most others on campus! At Phi Kappa Tau, our fraternity dues are $1100 per semester and Phi Kappa Tau housing is $3500 a semester, which combined is less than the $4800 semesterly North Avenue apartment lease. It's not required to live in the house, but it much cheaper than on campus housing. There are also meal plans offered by each fraternity, in which we have a private chef who makes lunch and dinner 5 and 4 times a week respectively during the weekdays. It is not required to be on our meal plan, but the Phi Taumeal plan costs $1000 a semester. For freshmen and newly joining members of a fraternity, GT Dining also offers refunds for freshmen switching from their dining plan to a fraternity meal plan. For more financial details, you can talk with our treasurer or rush chair during rush.
The new member process is a several week process that a young man will undergo throughout his first semester of joining a fraternity. He will learn about the history of the fraternity, meet the brothers of his chapter, and get to connect and bond with the other young men who are going through the same new member process as him. The member orientation officer will guide this group through the process and help them whenever they need help.
Fraternities at Georgia Tech have a very strong anti-hazing culture compared to fraternities at other schools nearby, and Georgia Tech will not hesitate to suspend a fraternity that crosses the line with hazing. Here at Phi Kappa Tau, our mission is to build men of character into men of distinction, which we believe we can accomplish without having to haze. That being said, the pledge process is still a lot of fun and all our brothers who have been through pledgeship recently can attest to how the process enriched their experience at Georgia Tech.
If you have any questions regarding anything that happens regarding fraternities, you can refer to the Interfraternal Council (IFC) website, as well as emailing gt.phikappatau@gmail.com. You can also contact the recruitment chair who will be able to answer any questions you may have. If you want to mail anything/ come by for a visit, our address is 175 4th st NW Atlanta, GA 30313!