Originally Posted by irishpipes (Post 1721286)

Try going to an Alumnae Pahellenic meeting where I live. The women most obsessed with tiers are over age 50. It's pathetic.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle (Post 1721697)

Some NPCs are stronger in some areas than others; some are larger, some are better off financially, some are more active philanthropically, some are better at expansion, some have impressive programming, but ALL have a great deal to offer pnms. We need the differences among us to be able to reach the largest possible variety of members. Viva la difference!

Originally Posted by irishpipes (Post 1721714)

Ha ha...It's not pathetic to be over 50, just to still only associate at the meetings with other ladies from a group that's up to their "standards." It is ridiculous. Literally - "Oh, sweetie, I'm saving this seat for my XYZ friend. Surely you can find a chair over there." (Followed by the under-the-breath muttering.) Some of the smaller NPCs have pulled out of the alumnae panhellenic because of the way they have been treated. I don't blame them.

Originally Posted by Fleur de Lis (Post 1722013)

I have really enjoyed reading this thread, as I had a similar experience to the OP. If my chapter had been another of the 25 NPCs, I still would have joined it. However, it has been wonderful to learn more about my sorority on a regional and national level and enjoy the sisterhood from alumnae around the country.

I do have an observation from our last Panhellenic Luncheon, and I'm interested to hear your feedback. I noticed that several groups projected a certain image overall. Not better or worse, just like they had a common theme among members. These would have been women initiated around the country and not from one chapter. For example, the DG table was filled with some of the best-dressed women I saw there. Seriously, they all looked super put-together. The ADPi women were all exceptionally pretty, and the Tri-Deltas looked like they had business meetings to go to so they could run their corporations. I'm not saying EVERY member or EVERY chapter will have these stereotypes, but do you think certain organizations attract certain types of women, or do the members of any group tend to start looking like one another? If so, is it possible that there are national or regional reputations? (Read: NOT TIERS)

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 1722018)

Regional reputations, definitely. Nationally, no.

Or it could be that they're all in an alum chapter together and hang out a lot outside of it and they start dressing alike - which many friends (Greek or non) do. :)

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 1722018)

Or it could be that they're all in an alum chapter together and hang out a lot outside of it and they start dressing alike - which many friends (Greek or non) do. :)

Originally Posted by irishpipes (Post 1720670)

I read this and interpret it as somewhat contradictory. On the one hand, you are saying that people think DDD is strong based on their limited, regional experience. On the other, you say that DDD's strength is national. (As in stronger than other NPCs.)

Originally Posted by irishpipes (Post 1721653)

At the risk of being flamed, I'll go out on a limb and say that I do think that there is one sorority that stands out to me as being the best nationally. I'm not talking about the quality of the sisterhood enjoyed by its members, but rather a combination of statistical success along with a consistently positive reputation. It's just my opinion, of course, but I know it is one shared by people pretty high up in my org. I'm just talking about the organization as a whole, not the individual members or chapters. Like every org it has some weak chapters and individual members, of course. That doesn't mean I would rather be a member of that org - just that I respect it as the best overall nationally.

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin (Post 1720628)

Am I the first Pi Phi to post in this thread?

I have a comment pertinent to the OP's original perception of Pi Phi (which does not offend me at all).

I was a Pi Phi in college, and not in a "top tier" chapter. That was fine by me! I knew in college, though, which Pi Phi chapters are generally considered some of the strongest/most popular/top tieriest. It was a topic of conversation! There was even some fascination with them... like... oooh... top tier Pi Phis. Of course, since this has already been pretty clearly outed in this thread, the Texas Pi Phis were one of the chapters that was mostly frequently mentioned.

Fast forward to me graduating and moving to Austin to go to grad school at Texas.

I have had Pi Phi benefit me in ways that are sometimes surprising. When I get around certain types of people and Greek Life comes up and they find out I am a Pi Phi, some kind of switch goes off in their head. Sometimes they get nicer to me. Sometimes they tell me chatty stories or start to think of me as their peer when maybe they did not before. A lot of times they say "You really need to meet and talk with my high school daughter!" In one extreme situation I was even given pictures of the daughter to evaluate.

I honestly believe that being a Pi Phi (specifically a Pi Phi, not having been president of a sorority and an award-winning member on a regional level in general) has helped me with job applications and that sort of thing. Because people see that I am a Pi Phi and suddenly assume that I am "one of them."

It is very interesting and I never would have guessed how widespread it is.

The funny thing is, that when I was active in my sorority I had a strong sense that Pi Phi was not nerdy everywhere or cool everywhere. I also knew, for example, that the "hot chapter" at my campus was only average at my best friend's college campus and bottom tier at some other schools I had friends at. But for these people in Texas who make assumptions about me because I am a Pi Phi, they don't seem to realize that the socioeconomic/class values they associate with Pi Phi may not apply to every Pi Phi chapter. I just don't understand how these people don't get it or don't "see through me."

I guess part of it is that my chapter, despite not being "top tier," was in many respects pretty preppy and southern-like. The new members we took were not like that, but the seniors we graduated were. So I guess people see me looking preppy or cute or put together or being socially competent or whatever and just assume I'm from an awesome chapter. eg I can pass, until they start asking me questions about politics or something. ROFL. And also a lot of Texas people go to my school so maybe they just assume W&L's tiers mirror Texas or UT tiers.

Anyway just my .02.

Originally Posted by Benzgirl (Post 1741891)

Damn. I thought we had killed this thread.

Originally Posted by TigerPiPhi (Post 1741896)

Sorry. I didn't know I was forbidden to post or have an opinion.

Originally Posted by OTW (Post 1741900)

Oh, for crying out loud! Quit playing the friggin' victim! :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by TigerPiPhi (Post 1741870)

Exactly! Which is why, as a Pi Phi, I can't help but be a little offended by the OP's original comment.

Pi Phi is considered by many to be a strong national sorority because there are a number of strong chapters in areas all over the country, not just in Texas or the South. The same with Tri-Delt. So while the OP may not have had the experience of a "top-tier" Pi Phi chapter (or any other GLO, for that matter) in her area, she should not have stated that it is a "surprise" to learn that Pi Phi or another GLO is considered strong. I found that kind of tactless.