Read here. The locked threads should be particularly pertinent to your question.

This outfit, Center for the Studies of the College Fraternity http://www.indiana.edu/~sao/cscfsite/ published a pamphlet outlining achievements, famous people etc. of fraternities and sororities. It mentioned how most all-sorority GPAs are higher than all-women or all-students, graduation rates are higher, outstanding leaders who are Greek etc. Also check the NPC's Web site, www.npcwomen.org, I believe they also have persuasive information. You might also ask your parents to talk to your school's Greek advisor.
You need to show your parents that you have maturely thought this out, explored the idea and show them the reasons you think it wold be a good idea to join (and that it's not all parties). Good luck to you!

My APH group gives scholarships to local women in NPC sororities as well as local incoming freshman women who attend a school with at least one NPC chapter. The latter group isn't obligated to join an NPC group once they get to college. Some eventually do, but some decide that Greek Life just isn't for them.

We should all try to understand that when you come from a first generation family as OP does, you don't necessarily have that, "Dad/Mom, can we sit down with milk and cookies at the kitchen island and talk about something" relationship. The roles are clear-they tell you what to do and you...do it, game over! Having a child go to college is both the ultimate dream and nightmare for these parents, who want to see the child succeed but can't handle the child's growing social independence and differing goals/desires.

While in an advisory role, I met women who did not tell their parents they were in a GLO at all and handled it all on the down-low. If you (RedRaider) go that route, you need to be aware of the risks of hurting or upsetting your parents if and when they ever find out, and balance that against your wishes to be part of a chapter and forge your own way. I think keeping it from your parents could be challenging and create more tension between you and them, but only you can decide what is worth this kind of risk. You would have to make sure no sorority mailings went to the home address, and sometimes, that's out of your control. Be ready to pay for everything on time. We saw women who could not meet their financial obligations freak out when we said that the next contact would be the parents. Full disclosure with a complete plan in place (dues covered with extra job, grades not suffering, etc) is in most cases the best route.

People who are unaware of things such as GLOs or anything else for that matter are always afraid of them.

PS, you just do not plan or think you can get into a Sorority through AIing. It is something earned and not given.

If money is a major problem then I suggest you do not even think about it as there is time and money involved.

What ever happens, the very best of luck for you.:)

I didn't tell my parents until after initiation and they've never paid my dues, (even now and before during times when I'm not working have they paid my dues) so it can be done, but you better be sure that it's a realistic option for you!

There are, in fact sororities that are geared towards southeast asian women. One of the biggest ones is Delta Phi Omega http://www.deltaphiomega.org/ . If you feel that cutural would be a big issue (as you mention in your posts) groups like this would probably suit you more. Maybe you can even try alpha Kappa Delta Phi http://www.akdphi.org/ , which is to date the largest asian sorority. Good luck!

Actually a friend of mine is the president of DPO Alpha Chapter. The only problem with that is we have an very small [2 people] chapter of a similar sorority...
Delta Kappa Delta... but its on the verge of closing... and the south aisian community here is not very supportive of a sorority, and waning.

Although I'm not that familiar with the restrictions resulting from your religion, I have quite a few Indian friends from work so I completely understand the cultural implications involved. I would strongly advise against trying to do something behind your parents' backs. It will almost certainly blow up in your face, and your parents will never trust you again.

Instead, look for a sorority that meets your sisterhood needs but will also make your parents more comfortable with the whole idea. I'm sure the NPC and NPHC chapters on your campus are admirable, but your parents may be more comfortable with a cultural (Indian or multi-cultural), Christian, or service sorority instead. Research your options, even the option of bringing a new one on campus if none of the current ones feel just right. Fortunately, on most campuses the process of bringing one of these chapters on campus is a bit quicker and easier than bringing a new NPC chapter on.

Find one that you think your parents might be comfortable with, and then approach them with a specific proposal ("I am interested in joining the XYZ sorority and here is why I think it would be good for me") rather than the general "I want to join a sorority" statement. Best of luck!

I know some people that pledge against their parents thoughts. Some of them actually continue to hide it til this day. The choice is yours, I don't think Greekchat.com can help you with that. At the end of the day, your parnets may still be against it. Or they might began to love it. Who knows????

to be honest, i pledged as a junior without my parents knowledge. they too didn't see eye to eye on being in a sorority with all the bad images of girls going wild and what not. basically i just raised the money myself and plus my chapter was really supportive and understanding about dues and what not. also after i crossed, i told my folks that i was in the sorority and it was for life. nothing they do could ever change that. fortunately for me, they understood. although they prefer me not to be too involved, but i do it anyways. don't get me wrong...i have really really strict folks, but yea- it's possible.

Redraidergirl: i am pretty sure in the bible it doesn't say "Thou shalt not have short hair, or date" yeah there are guidelines.... but nothing like "those who wear their shoulder bare shall be cursed"


I know this is an old thread, but this website will explain where the not cutting hair interpretation comes from. See verse 6 in 1 Corinthians 11.

http://www.bible-researcher.com/headcoverings.html

and the part about not wearing pants is commonly cited from this passage:

Deuteronomy 22:5 - The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

I'm bored & was rereading this thread. ASA has a scholarship specifically for a nonmember, who is majoring in the special education field (since Special Olympics is one of our philanthropies).

If your even still reading this b/c it's such an old thread....

I pledged my sorority against my parents wishes. Once I was finally initiated I introduced them to my new sisters and after that they were better with it. I've now been in for a year and now that they know my sisters personally (I live a half hour away from campus and they always come visit) and they will actually how different sisters are.

i'm still around, but now i'm working with girls to start an engineering sorority. there are reasons that i am doing this....
some of you can do some sleuthing and put together some clues... it shouldn't be that hard....