One of my sisters last year went alum for her 5th year here. She wanted to focus on her last few major classes and besides, why pay 400.00 in dues when you don't have to? It's not like she cut ties with us, she's come to chapter and even lives with some sisters

We assume your collegiate career is the standard 4 years. One can apply for 5th year alum status only if she has completed 4 years of membership. So if one pledged as a sophomore, she would have to be in her 6th year of school to be eligible for 5th year alum status.

I took alumna status as a 5th year senior and I was initiated when I was a junior. It was just the right thing for me to do at the time.

I'm pretty certain that my scenario wouldn't fly with Kappa Delta these days. I think you now have to be an active for 4 years before you can take alumna status. Can any KDs clarify?

Phi Mu does not require the fifth year student to go alumna. From my understanding, it must also be your fifth year of involvement in Phi Mu, not just school. For example, I joined in my junior year and completed school this past fall. Even though it was my fifth fall, I don't qualify for fifth year alumna status because I've only been a Phi Mu for 2.5 years, not five.

I think the option is for those that really just need to get out of school or have put in their time and maybe aren't interested in trying to convince 18 year olds to join anymore or hang out with them (cos we know how NPC groups usually work, it can be a bit "stifling" if you're trying to handle your business when you have meetings and other requirements that may not be as important as whatever it is that you are doing at that time since you are in the 5th year of school!) .
Then there are those like my chapter's current president who came in about 2003 and just became president for 2008. They wouldn't leave for anything! And I had to leave cos I was graduating...

We allow fifth years to go alum. I was on the 4.5 year plan - I decided to remain active for that last half year, I even held an office. A few of my closest friends that were on the 4.5 year plan with me remained active that fall too.

If a chick goes alum as a fifth-year senior, does that somehow "free up" a slot during recruitment?

*outsider, just wondering*

It could potentially free up a spot. Once the member is an alumna, she is no longer counted as an active member and not counted in chapter total. However, this situation wouldn't necessarily bring the chapter down below total. (i.e. they could be well over total and losing only one member wouldn't change that.)

Basically, it depends.

For us, a 5th year senior can request active status. It's been my experience that the overwhelming majority would rather take alum status so they can concentrate fully on school, graduation and whatever their future plans may be.

I think this thread and this policy could be a word to the wise about girls who are rushing as upperclassmen who are saying "I'm going to be a junior but my program will require that I be in college for at least three more years, etc."

I think such a girl could understand that from the group's perspective, they may not want to risk pledging her because many of the groups' policies would allow her to go alum in her fifth year of school even if she had only been a member for two years.

What a young women might say when she wants a bid and what she might want after two years might be different and it's a risk for the groups, and any girl in a similar situation should know in advance what the deal is.

While this is true it doesn't necessarily mean that offering a bid to a junior is a waste.

Anyone can be a "risk." Freshmen and sophomores can just as easily de-pledge or resign their membership.

In Alpha Sigma Tau, a woman may go alum after four consecutive semesters as an active. I believe that it must be approved by the advisory board.

We rarely have anyone take it, as we do have professional status as well.

A lot of girls want to because it's sometimes their last year of school and they want to focus on internships, harder classes, graduating, finding a job, etc. Sorority life in the NPC can be time consuming, as there are many mandatory events.

On my campus, at least for my chapter, going 5th year alum means you are off the active roster, which frees up membership spots.

Yep, but my point is that a PNM shouldn't assume if she's at college where typically upperclassmen don't get bids, that the fact she actually needs more time to graduate counts for anything.

Agreed. :)
Not being condescending or rude, just want to make sure you know that the OP, shadokat, is not a PNM. She's an alumna of an NPC.

No problem at all. :)
I didn't think that the OP was a PNM, but, and this is wildly optimistic, but I was hoping that maybe some PNMs would read this information, like I said here: