Selecting a Business Fraternity Between Delta Sigma Pi and Alpha Kappa Psi

Hey!  So I've tried to do research myself on Delta Sigma Pi and Alpha Kappa Psi.  Those are two business fraternities at my university.  They both seem to participate in the same activities.  I was just wondering which one should I join from a ibanking/business point of view?  Your advice and insight is really appreciated!
Thank you!

DSP and AKPsi Business Fraternity Rankings

During college joining a business fraternity (bfrat) can help students make friends and build a professional network.

When selecting a bfrat, there are four elements that you could consider:

  • The strength of the national network
  • The strength and intensity of the local chapter
  • The fraternity's placement record into your career of interest
  • The social factor

Our users shared commentary below:

@monk-E" commented:

On a national level, I don't think there's really any difference aside from the fact that AKPsi has been around longer and probably has more alums. What's more applicable to you is what the current members are focused on. If you casually mention during a social stage that you're really interested in IB ... you should get a feel .. their response will be "Oh, we got plenty of people who are going to be doing IB next year .. have you talked to x , y , z ? They're all working at bulge bracket firms blah blah blah...

@pattimayonnaise" shared their belief that Delta Sigma Pi is the favorable choice:

Seems like a no-brainer to me...

  • DSP is selective to only business majors- not like campus-wide business clubs or social fraternities (or AKPsi)
  • They are the only business org. that has a national staff consulting/providing support constantly
  • DSP is a member of the Professional Fraternity Association allowing for networking and leadership development among 40 other professional fraternitites (AKPsi is not a member)
  • DSP has membership for life with no renewals (or alumni dues)
  • DSP hosts the largest national convention of any similar fraternity
  • The national website provides jobs posting section for collegiate and alumni members nationwide
  • DSP is in more than 47 countries around the world

@Closer121" echoed @pattimayonnaise" sentiment that DSP is the better choice:

DSP is the best business fraternity. At my school, a VERY non-target, they sent 5 people out of a 10 seniors into IB/S&T and 3 into Big 4 Accounting.

@yawster" shared:

This is a ridiculous question. Of course the fraternities will differ from school to school. Some schools have a stronger DSP chapter, some have a stronger AKPsi. If it were me I would join the more hardcore one -- the one that places the most people into banking/finance. I would also spend another quarter/semester pledging an IFC house. That would be the best of both worlds... of course this is assuming you could handle 2 pledge quarters/semesters.

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on a national level, i dont think theres really any difference aside from the fact that AKPsi has been around longer and probably has more alums.  whats more applicable to you is what the current members are focused on.  If you casually mention during a social stage that your really interested in IB ... you should get a feel .. their response will be "Oh, we got plenty of ppl who are going to be doing IB next year .. ahve you talked to x , y , z ? theyre all working at bulge bracket firms blah blah blah'

just my opinion...good luck with rush ..

 

you should go with the fraternity where you think you'll like the people the most.  it doesn't matter what type of presence the organization has if you can't mesh with the people.  neither of those organizations are so tight-knit anyway that they'll shape your entire career...remember these are professional fraternities, not "brotherhoods for life"

​* http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting
 
Best Response

Seems like a no-brainer to me...

-DSP is selective to only business majors- not like campus-wide business clubs or social fraternities (or AKPsi)

-they are the only business org. that has a national staff consulting/providing support constantly

-DSP is a member of the Professional Fraternity Association allowing for networking and leadership development among 40 other professional fraternitites (AKPsi is not a member)



-DSP has membership for life with no renewals (or alumni dues)



-DSP hosts the largest national convention of any similar fraternity



-the national website provides jobs posting section for collegiate and alumni members nationwide



-DSP is in more than 47 countries around the world

 

This is a ridiculous question. Of course the fraternities will differ from school to school. Some schools have a stronger DSP chapter, some have a stronger AKPsi. If it were me I would join the more hardcore one -- the one that places the most people into banking/finance. I would also spend another quarter/semester pledging an IFC house. That would be the best of both worlds... of course this is assuming you could handle 2 pledge quarters/semesters.

 
iambateman:
join a real frat, dont be a gdi
couldn't agree more with bateman. when a banker sees that you're in akpsi or delta sig on your resume, unless he's from one of those "frats" himself, he'll probably think you're a shallow finance douchebag. oh wait...
 

cool, well just make sure that when you're on campus, every time you have the opportunity to drop the name of your organization, you respond with "alpha kappa psiiiiiiiiii!!!!" cuz that's how the real gangstas roll. you are guaranteed to make many friends this way (only if you're hardcore, though)

​* http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting
 

finance frats- dont throw parties, dont attract hot chicks, dont funnel beers, dont help kids get jobs social frats- parties, keg stands, beer bongs, hot drunk chicks, bankers

honestly i would rip on a kid in a finance frat and ask him when he didnt join a real fraternity...but thats just me

 
iambateman:
finance frats- dont throw parties, dont attract hot chicks, dont funnel beers, dont help kids get jobs social frats- parties, keg stands, beer bongs, hot drunk chicks, bankers

honestly i would rip on a kid in a finance frat and ask him when he didnt join a real fraternity...but thats just me

Real talk. Basically every kid I've ever met that was in one of those "frats" was a tool.

But go ahead and join, you fuckin' puppet.

 

agree with bateman. barring the 2-3 cute girls in each of those "frarorities", they're filled to the brim with one dimensional d-bags.

IFC fraternities place as many people in finance and we got laid way more.

yea! eff social fraternities!

 

Agree with the two above. Many of my friends in IFC fraternities got SA positions with top banks. I think theres a stigma associated with business fraternities also. Most people I know that aren't in them view them as places for people who need anything they can get to get accepted into a bschool program. May be much different at schools without undergrad bschool program.

 

hm. that's very interesting you guys but i think it depends on the school. Really- like the business fraternity that i joined at my school has a shitload of parties and it has a lot of really cool people in it. hah :p. I'm sorry if it's different at your school.

And TheKing, thank you for calling me a puppet.

 

oh, and btw, idk how it is at other school, but many people in my business fraternity aren't business majors-probably at least half. Even have a visual arts major so it's really a lot different than you know it be.

 
DaniNo:
oh, and btw, idk how it is at other school, but many people in my business fraternity aren't business majors-probably at least half. Even have a visual arts major so it's really a lot different than you know it be.

And there is your AKPsi/DSP comparison haha. DSP only takes business majors...

 

Usually you wouldn't expected people in banking to comment that negatively, but hell, if numerous people are they might be on to something? Haha, I think it varies from school to school though. The ~6 people in DSP here that applied for banking all got solid positions. At the same time, don't ever say a professional fraternity can throw a party anywhere close to the caliber an IFC house does. Trust me, that's just plain wrong. That, or the Greek system is underdeveloped at your school.

 

Business frat equates volunteering and paying money to someone. Real frat equates massive hung over and paying money to someone.

I have to say I'd rather get a hung over if I am paying...

But instead I chose: finding girlfriends to sleep at their houses, crashing on my friends' couches, sleeping in my car, or studying abroad as the better option. Cause nothing beats free rent!


Remember, you will always be a salesman, no matter how fancy your title is. - My ex girlfriend

 

wow. it's funny that every time someone comments on this post i have examples from my bus. fraternity that's a lot different than what other people think. Maybe it's because I'm from a really cool city in the south or something.

Last night: bus. frat party=$1 drinks=hung over.

 

Congrats on Joining AKPsi... I think you made a great choice and this is coming from a person who is on both sides of the fence... Business Frat and a Social Frat... I am a Brother of AKPsi as well a Brother of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated... DaniNo when did you cross?

KeiSongz AKPsi-Sigma
 

Congrats on Wharton. Join a sorority. Have a good time and go develop some solid social skills. You sound smart and ambitious already, but if you master the social side of things you'll be the total package. I actually think being a girl should make it easier for you. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

Any one of those business fraternities will be fine.

 

I am in both a business fraternity and a Greek fraternity, and while some here like to look down on business fraternities, mine has helped me a lot. I was recently contacted by a recruiter due to one of the older members, so the network is invaluable.

Anyways... PM me if you have any questions about rush, I'll try to help you out.

 

I was in AKPsi along with a Greek sorority. Join either AKPsi or DSP, the other one doesn't have any brand name. Whether it helps depends 1) which school you're at, and 2) how hard you want to network. I've never used my AKPsi connections for networking, but ymmv. Rush process also varies by school. At some it's super simple. At others it's a hazefest (coughStanford).

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

I am in Wharton and AKPsi. I think at Penn each of the b-frats has a different reputation and is involved with varying activities on campus. The best thing to do is to scout all three out first semester, as no freshman are allowed to join a b-frat, sorority, fraternity, cultural frat/sor. first semester. Then second semester pay attention to your top two choices and then go for it. You can rush more than one frat, but make sure you are getting to know the Brothers, as that is the most important part. Additionally, I can assure you that there are international students in all three of the b-frats, some of them being close friends of mine. If you have specific questions, please ask away; I was rush chair for AKPsi last semester.

 

First off, the people saying join a real fraternity either have reading comprehension problems or do not understand greek life.

If you want to excel socially you will have to leave your comfort zone. Sure, you could join a business fraternity only and hang out with only Asians at Penn and perpetuate Asian stereotypes. I would advise you to rush a sorority and be yourself and make friends that way. Maybe you will luck out and get a bid.

 

I am currently in both a business and a social fraternity, so I will give you my view on this subject. The people in my bus. fraternity really bug me. They get a bad rap on here, and, honestly... it's warranted. I go to the meetings, come up with as many excuses not to go to things, etc. There really isn't a 'brotherhood', I've seen some members turn a cold shoulder to other members completely ignoring them if they see them outside of meetings. If you are looking for brotherhood, get to know some of the members first; see if they are actually people you could see yourself hanging out with. So, maybe the bus. fraternities at my campus are just weird, I don't know.

As far as networking goes... that's just the luck of the draw. Again, mine has let me down in this respect as well. Nobody really has any connections in high finance. I have gotten referrals for other industries via the fraternity, but nothing that I couldn't have gotten anyway. Point is, there may be members that are connected, or you will have a lot of first generation students.

My advice: join an organization that actually interests you. IMO you are just as likely to meet somebody who's dad is a VP of a IB in the mountain biking club as you are a business fraternity.

Just my .02

 
wallstreet321:

I would say not much... Everyone knows that business fraternities are just clubs for minorities that want to say there in a 'fraternity'

^Extremely accurate. I was in a social fraternity in ug and I can say that guys will go to bat for you in some way to help but I highly doubt that is the case in business fraternities.

 

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