Very well said!! That is exactly how i feel now that i am currently researching and trying to get to know the sororities i am in interested in...you cant just look at something this important as a black and white issue or rather rush is 10 or 50 dollars. in the end none of that matters as long you are apart of something that you feel you are very comfortable in and as long as you love it you need not to denfend your decison to anyone......thats just how i feel anyway

I tell girls who are going through Recruitment that even if they do not get a/the house that they want, sisterhood is what they make of it. They are happy because this house wanted them. I don't think I have had a girl go through Recruitment saying that they want a house for its national policies/philanthropy/reputation. Once in a while one will say things like
I like pink so I want to be a Phi Mu
My mom was a KD so I want to be a KD
I feel strongly about St Jude's so I want DDD
But usually their decision is based on mutual compatibility.

Our $30 application fee goes to buy supplies for the woman's shelter after all of the bills are paid.

I would have been so scared to participate in recruitment if I had known that it was for one sorority and in an all or nothing scenario. I also know that is something that you are either comfotable with or not. I know girls whose rush is that way can't see why I would want a bid "for the sake of just being in a sorority"

Oh my gosh, that's so funny!!! The most common thing that I heard when I was going through was, "Hey *Becky* you'd look so cute in pearls, you should go KD!"

Again I think it's just a different mindset. Since we don't rush the same way to start with there is no expectation that all of the applicants will make it. In fact there's a fair expectation that upwards of seventy percent (at least) of the applicants won't be accepted during any period an NPHC sorority is having intake. Folks are welcome to reapply numerous times on the undergrad and graduate level but membership is not ever promised, not to say it is during NPC rush but hell you have a better shot at it really. While I can say that I understand that all sororities do good work and are somewhat the same I couldn't honestly say that if we had a similar process I would have been happy taking a bid from anyone BUT Delta. As a matter of fact, I ignored my legacy status in all of the other NPHC sororities (mom, sister and stepmom) to pursue JUST the ONE I wanted. Was it scarey? Not really because I knew after looking into the organization it was where I wanted to be period.

Co-signing Delta's Response
 

I want to co-sign the previous entry...we also "rush" differently than NPC. We have various Soirees (Information Sessions) throughout the semester, not just during a 1 week period in the beginning of each semester.

We encourage ladies to attend information sessions with different organizations, in order to learn more about what is available. We have interest groups at each school so they get to know the sisters and each other better.

We have events with our interest group including community service, girl's night in, fundraising events, etc. Sometimes girls stay in the interest group for a few semesters until they are ready to pledge.

Also, just because a girl joins our interest group, doesn't mean she has to pledge for our organization. Maybe along the way, she find another GLO that she prefers or maybe she just doesn't end up pledging at all.

In addition to that, ladies do not have to be a part of our interest group in order to pledge.

Another co-sign to the above entry is the fact that we do keep close ties with all of our chapters. We aren't just a member at one school. We are a very close-knit organization and visit and support all of our sisters from all chapters, if possible. Not only that, but our pledge classes from our chapters are close and create a huge network of support for one another.

O-O-P-C...."Whiskers!!!"

I have to share that even 25 years ago...at the small, Southern, Baptist, liberal arts school that I attended...we had 4 NPC groups & 2 NPHC groups -- On the first day of NPC Rush, each of the NPHC groups made a presentation to all of the rushees. None of the groups were racially diverse, but we had a better understanding & sense of mutual respect which started, for me, from those presentations.

I think I understand some of the differences in the NPHC vs. NPC groups. I certainly have a great respect & admiration for the alumnae involvement of NPHCs -- all you have to do is look at the #s of women who attend their national meetings. If you've ever been in a hotel, like I was one time with an AKA meeting...you'd know what I mean. The show of unity & pride in their organization is amazing. (And these comments are coming from a Chi Omega who witnessed the largest gathering of any NPC group at our Convention this summer.)

Quick question, I'm not sure if it has been addressed before but I know someone has mentioned, in either this thread or another thread regarding questions about NPHC intake that someone must do their homework or research before they commit to pursuing a particular sorority. What did they mean by that? Do the sororities expect potential members to know all their stuff about them before they walk in the door or is it a matter of reputation and what girls fit in what sorority on campus?


//just curious...

Clarification...
 

I just wanted to clarify that my GLO is not a NPHC member....I was just in agreement with the soror of DST that not all GLOs "rush" the same as the NPC GLOs....

My sorority is actually a Multicultural Sorority and we are a founding member of NMGC (National Multicultural Greek Council)...

Well, everyone has their own interpretation of "homework" and "research". When I tell an interest to do her research, I want her to do several things. First, she should have an understanding of the basics of each org, such as founding date, location, number of founders. She should be aware of the community service projects that each org does on a national level. She should know some of the accomplishments that these orgs have made in the community. Beyond that, an interest should also take the time to get to know the young ladies in the chapter. She should come to events, educational, social, and community service, so that we can have an interaction in various settings. She should talk to members informally about the org to get an understanding of the dynamic of the chapter. Overall, before an interested young lady shows up to an informal rush for my org, she should at least a few members of my chapter, she should know basic history (which can be found in numerous places), and she should also know about the other 3 NPHC sororities, so she can choose which org is best for her.

I agree with Jubilance.

ETA: Our National website provides all the information that interested ladies need to know. The other information can be found on those campuses that have chapters.

The things I learn at GC. Thanks, that was really helpful

:)

I've said this before, but my mom, who became a Delta in 1971, tells me that all organizations rushed together on her campus. Everyone had a tea, and even if you only wanted to join one particular org, you had to attend every org's tea, NPC and NPHC.

She still kept her souvenier from the Delta Zeta tea (a pink and green mitten made of felt).

That's cool and it would probably be a good idea now so we don't have folks joining the colors they think they could rock the best but you know some campus climates now would still make a big deal out of who went to what rush or spent x amount of time at each one. I know when I went to the rush in undergrad the other sororities SAT in front of the buiding and wrote down the names of folks that went in. Now that was just a hot mess. Especially since the AKAs were up in two windows scoping out folks and when one of them saw me they SHOUTED "there goes my RA", oh the memories ROFL.

I think that's a great idea. I encourage interests to look at all orgs available: NPC, NPHC, NALFO, local. Why? Because I KNOW that Sigma Gamma Rho is the best, and I only want women who also believe that Sigma Gamma Rho is the best. As msn4med1975 stated, I don't want a woman who thinks blue and gold look good on her. I want a woman that believes in what my sorority stands for, and is committed to working hard and being an asset to the sorority and a sister to every member.

While I agree with Jubilance and Msn4med...let's be honest.

There are indeed some campuses where it is heavily looked down upon for an interested man/woman to attend everyone's informational...

VERY.....

Maybe I missed it higher up in the thread, but I'd still like to know why this is considered such a faux pas on some campuses. I have NPHC members in my family who feel the same way, but when pressed, they can't really give me a good answer.

Maybe it's just my family members, though. ;)

It's part of that whole "research" thing that jubilance mentioned before. As a NPHC interest folks truly expect you to be certain of your choice prior to showing up for rush. Now you could still get there and be totally wrong about what you were thinking, fine to a certain degree, but unless you have a very open campus you would be frowned up greatly for attending all the informationals. Attending a meet the greeks is different but as some orgs have closed rushes (ie you submit your app that night, at least they did on my campus) then you would be highly suspect after attending that event and then applying to another org.

when i was pursuing Iota.....there were no other choices on the horizon. i only went to ONE organization's smoker.

if you're attending everyone's interesting meeting it's going to get around, and you're going to be labled as someone who just wanted some letters.

On the one hand, I understand that attitude. On the other, and I'm just speaking purely from my personal perception here, how could I possibly say I knew everything there was to know about all of the NPHC sororities without attending each of their interest meetings? Sure, the websites are informative, and there are books and magazine articles available, but these materials can only tell you so much.

It seems that the mental model for the NPC is "get to know the women, then get to know your organization". The model for the NPHC seems to be the exact opposite: "get to know the organization, and then get to know your sisters." Would that be a correct assumption, or am I way off base?

What about attending the meetings just to get a "feel" for the women in the different chapters? Yeah, I know -- you're joining "the whole organization", but for the four years a woman is in college (and the umpteen years after that), she's going to have to put up with the sisters on a chapter/local level. From what I've read/gathered, it's almost like a few folks are saying that even if they hated every member on their campus, the fact that they're an XYZ carries more weight than the interpersonal relationships they might build. If that's true, that's just.... I don't get it.

But that's the great thing about GC - we can learn so much from each other.

I know you probably can't answer this publicly, but I'm going to ask it anyway. :D

Is it common practice to distribute applications for membership at a rush meeting, or would there be several other information sessions held before the chapter held a proper rush meeting?

That sounds like good rush advice in any system.

there are websites that give you adequate information. there are members who can give you some insight. the organization is bigger than an individual chapter. if you don't like those that are on the yard, and the organization is in your heart....you'll wait until it's your time to pledge.

you won't really ever truly be able to grasp the concept until you do more research.

that's between me, myself, and I. but no one knew.

are you interested???

Of course I'm not interested - I'm already in a sorority. Are you implying that the only people allowed to ask this are potential members? Just curious.

I personally don't like that stigma myself. I think its dumb that people assume that just because you go to all the NPHC sorority's informational meetings then you just wanted letters. Because the girls in the chapter play a large role in whether or not someone joins. If the girls in the chapter do not uplift the image and ideals that their sorority was founded on then that would lead me to look somewhere else despite what i thought i wanted to do. If i did my reasearch and wanted to be ABC then i went to campus and saw that the ABC's had a low GPA and didn't do anything on campus and had bad reps why would i want to associate myself with them? I would just look into something else, and i don't see the problem with that because ultimatly you're the one who has to live with your decision not anybody else. I know one of my line sisters went to the informational of XYZ sorority as well as SGRHO and it only solidified her choice. So I agree I don't see the big deal when it comes to that. But outside of informationals and rushes there are plenty of oppertunities to get to know the memebers of the chapter. NPHC orgs have all kinds of different programs that people (perspectives and non perspectives) can attend where they can get a look at the girls and see what they're about and see how they interact with each other, and with others. As far as doing research goes I think what people mean is that when you are deciding what org you want to join you should know the basics about the org but i think also you should know why you want to join this org to begin with. Thats something i think people should do reguardless of what council or what org you decide to join. Figure out why you want to go there and i think that's where the do more reasearch part comes in because in that reasearch you might find the answer. Sorry for the lengthy reply guys.

UGH!! I think it's silly that people can get into BIG TROUBLE about telling a sorority whether or not you're interested. I think it depends on how an interested person approaches you. If they're bold and they come up to you (this really happened to one of my prophytes) and gives you a b-day card that was signed "from your future sigma soRHORs," or if someone comes up to you (this really happened to me) and tells you "I have decided that i think i want to be a sigma how much will it cost" then I could see how that could cause some trouble. But if you just come to all the programs and you have your stuff together and you let someone know respectfully that you're interested then i don't see the problem. The only thing is when you tell a member that you're interested that's like telling the whole campus because if after that you decide to do something else please believe that everyone will know that you wanted to do something else first. That's just the way it is. The greek world is a VERY small one.

Would this kind of be for freshmen and other people who have not clue one about what they're doing, i.e. the whole NPHC rush process in general? Are first semester freshmen even allowed to attend these events?

Sorry if I'm being nebby but you & Jubilance are doing such a GREAT job explaining things I want to strike while the iron is hot! :)

for Sistermadly, it depends on the organization. we do things slightly different.
at Univ. of Cincinnati, the Meet the Greeks is an annual event put on by the NPHC greeks. all students are encouraged to attend. it gives those students a chance to meet the members on campus and ask questions of them and their advisors.
anyone looking to become a member of an NPHC organization SHOULD plan on attending. this is just for UC, can't speak for other campuses.

How we do it
 

I agree with what my fellow NPHCers have already stated.

Ok, this is generally speaking how it goes.

Interestee makes a decision to be in a NPHC sorority. She must research which organization is to her best interest. Official org websites, speak to family or friends who are members, and very importantly she needs to contact and speak with members of her local chapter.

After making her decision, she must attend our community service events (and that's in plural as in not singular) and not be a bystander but a hands on helper. We want people who are interested in the betterment of community and willing to do the work.

She must get to know the members of the organization. We do not take members we don't know.

She must show us, by attending our functions (not including parties) how well she gets along with other people and that her interest in our org is not a passing fancy and that she supports our causes.

And, she will attend our rush. NOT to be confused with an "info night", rush is the final step before submitting an application to our org. By Invitation only (usually)

Again, this is generally speaking. I can not speak for the specifics of my NPHC sorors DST, Zeta or AKA, but as a whole, this is how it is done. Period. I hope this helps.

Because it's considered flip-flopping. We want people who are absolutely sure. Once you become a member, there are no second chances.


That is correct.
ETAOur Sorors ARE the organization so getting to know the org is getting to know us

The things you believe, what and how you feel, should match up with the organizations mission statement and goals. You should not pursue membership in something you don’t believe in.

Pardon me for repeating what's already been said, but if the NPHC websites provide all the info, how do potential members know if they fit in with the members of the particular chapter at their school? What if they like everything about ABC, but somehow don't seem to "fit" with the members of the chapter?

They will probably wait and join an alumni/graduate chapter.

SOME pick a second choice and find a home there.

It depends on what the aspirant finds most important.

THe websites provide official information, not all information. Anything else that needs to be known will be provided AFTER the membership process begins.

ETA:
Yeah, what he said.

WenD08,

My campus does a similiar event during orientation weekend. There is an ALL Greek night with NPC,IFC, and NPHC. Then a few weeks into the semester, there's an NPC rush info night, an IFC night, and an NPHC Q & A session. Though I'm already Greek, I work on the Orientation staff and made it a point to attend the IFC and NPHC sessions to show my support and learn something.

As alum, can they speak with several different GLOs the way you can wth NPC? I just find the NPHC method much more "rigid" than NPC. I really don't understand how you can make a decision based on what's on the website/printed info because you aren't actually interacting with the members. What the website says can be different from the members on one's particular campus.

Information
 

I have noticed that there is an emphasis for those interested in NPC/IFC to pledge their freshman year...sophomore the latest....

Although there are some NPHC/NALFO/NMGC members who pledge their freshman year, most seem to take their time to get familiar with their university and the GLOs themselves.

I didn't attend my first information session until my junior year, which is also the same year that I pledged. By that time I was familiar with the GLOs on my campus and even those at other schools.

The internet wasn't as prevalent when I was in school. Most GLOs did not have websites at that time, but we learned about GLOs by word of mouth of family, friends, Meet the Greeks, etc.

I had friends that were NPC/IFC, Deltas, Zetas, AKA, Sigmas, Ques, SGRho, OPC, CUS, LTA, LTP, LUL, LSU, MSU, PSP, etc. etc. etc. and continued being friends with them even after I chose the organization that was right for me.

Omega Phi Chi was actually the only GLO I looked into further because it was the right one for me. All the other GLOs are excellent, but the one I chose was the right one for me.

I think folks are interpreting this as hard and fast rules. People can do whatever they like. If they attend all the informationals some folks will see them as having tried to become well informed, however a vast majority will say they couldn't make up their mind. Because going into the NPHC process we know that we are expected to be active until health or death prevents us from doing so then the folks on a particular campus become less important than the national organization does. AGAIN because we do not live together in OFFICIAL sorority/fraternity houses and most NPHC orgs require you to be sophomores to join, there isn't as much time on campus together to begin with. On top of which we don't necessarily hold rush yearly so someone may really only get a chance to join in their soph or senior year if that is how the chapter is alternating.

As an alumnae initiate, I could have looked at the other NPHC sororities again but as another member already mentioned my personal ideals and goals matched up to Delta so there was no point in that really. And as I've mentioned before, while anyone is welcome to apply most folks leave the rush process without being extending an offer of membership because it is a HIGHLY selective process.

ETA: We don't do alumnae initiation the same way as NPC/IFC do either (big surprise lol) so there is no direct contact with HQ before a chapter has decided to have rush. As alumnae/alumni members we are initiated through alumnae/alumni chapters.

Do you go into an interview without having done some research on the company you want to work for??

Would you get married without knowing anything about your future mate's background?

Do you buy shoes without trying them on first?

Because of the complexity and requirements that GLOs put on their members I would strongly urge that anyone whether they are seeking NPHC, NPC, NIC, MGC, NALFO membership to do research.