Not to beat a dead horse here, but regarding the JL-- they don't recruit yearround, once you are in, it takes roughly a year to progress from provisional membership to full membership. As others have said, some JLs require sponsorship, the dues are expensive and most won't let you join if you are under 21 (I think NYC is the exception, and a few others).

School starts in a few months. Any volunteer work you do in the next two months will look like resume padding.

I recommend that you spend your time preparing for your move to your new school and all the things you need to do that go along with that... and enjoying your summer.

Actually she's starting in Fall 2008..........

Oh, thanks! OP: Are there any other schools you would consider other than Ole Miss for your transfer school? I don't mean to pry, just curious-- I thought it was set in stone already! :)

Yeah, I'm starting in Fall 2008...I am considering looking at schools in Texas as well, but I am really leaning towards Ole Miss.

As far as JL goes in Seattle, I have looked into it and members may join at 18, and they accep tnew members during the summer months...

I don't want to discourage you from joining JL and I don't mean for this to sound harsh. The league has been a great experience for me and if you're sincerely interested, then by all means pursue it. However, I sense that you're doing it as resume padding or because you think it will help you during recruitment, which seems insincere. And please remember that Junior League requires a commitment of both time and money. You must apply, be accepted, and complete a provisional period, so joining isn't something to take lightly. I wouldn't advise doing it unless you're committed to being an active, contributing member of the league.

Well to be honest, I had not heard of it prior to a few weeks ago. Like I mentioned, I volunteer on my own now - I have been doing some research online and it looks like it is actually something that I would enjoy - I just read what I posted and I didn't do a very good job of conveying what I actually meant to say (actually, it sounds horrible now that I have looked at it a second time).

What I was getting at was whether or not it would be something that would benefit me, or if they would look at it as just a "oh, she's just trying to fit in/look good?"

I guess I should have asked whether or not it would be detrimental, rather than beneficial (because that one is obvious) :) Sorry guys.

Speaking as a current undergrad, I would be surprised to see Junior League on someones resume (and not nessicarily pleasantly). Junior League is (in my limited opinion) genrally something you do after college.

For clarification on Junior Leagues social status read Prudence Mackintoshy 'Just as we were, a narrow slice of Texas woman hood'. Basically in the steriotypical deep south social scene, you (starting in youth) are supposed to
1. go to the right camp
2. go to the right private school
3. pledge the right sorority
4. serve your time in JL (and she literally describes it as service).

Hold off on JL till you graduate college!

Thanks for clarifying! That is more along the lines of what I meant!

Kite - also thanks for the Lilly Pullitzer suggestion. I just checked out her website and the dresses are adorable!

I have a question too for anyone who is down south right now, regarding handbags. Up here Dooney & Bourke and Coach bags are HUGE - is this the case down there as well? If not, what is popular? I have heard rumors of PNMs being judged on what designer handbag they carry - is this the case?

you don't bring a purse into a recruitment event-- so this won't matter. Your recruitment counselor will watch over your stuff (cell phone, purse, makeup) when you go into a party.

I'm as un-Southern as you can get, and I turn up my nose at Dooney & Bourke, unless they're the old vintage ones.

I would think when they say "designer" they mean more along the lines of Prada or Kate Spade, or Bottega Veneta.

I also want to gently point out that it is very feasible to finish up your BA/BS in WA and then move to the South to get a job, go to grad school, etc.

You can join the Junior League there, as well, and be involved with sorority alumnae life if you join a sorority in undergrad.

I went to school in FL and fit in just fine with my AA and the Alum Panhellenic in my area of Texas quite well. Just something to think about since you have a year before you would transfer to a 4-year school. :)

If you are really interested in sorority membership, rushing at the majority of schools in the "Deep South" or an SEC school is not going to be a very pleasant experience for the vast majority of upperclassmen. Just putting it out there. I'm sure you will make the decision that best fits you and your needs.

Thanks for the advice.

A friend of mine is against me going to college down South (mainly just because she thinks it is ridiculous to pay for out-of-state tuition) however I am having mental battles.

On one hand, I really want to go to school in the South. I have for a while now and I think that if I didn't, I would regret it. College is not something that you can just go back and do over. It's four years of your life that you will remember forever, you know what I mean? I'm sure I'd get a good education and have a good time here in WA but I think I will always regret not going to a Southern school.

On the other hand, sorority membership is something that I want very badly as well. I'm sure I could pick somewhere else and go to school there, as well as be 99% certain I could get a bid, but then how would I feel about "selling out" (for major lack of a better term) just so that I can be in a sorority?

Then, when I think about it like that, I wonder just how happy I would be at a southern school if I weren't in a sorority.

Meh. I am conflicted. But I am definitely 90% that in the end my decision will be to go down south and go through with it, if for nothing else than to know that I actually tried and put my best foot forward. I'd much rather try and fail than never try and wonder "what if" 20 years from now.

You have a wonderful outlook and plenty of time to make the decision. Definitely apply to the schools you are interested in, both closer to home and in the South and make the decision when the time is nearer and you've analyzed the pros and cons.

Please keep us posted! I personally think you'll have a wonderful experience, sorority or not, no matter where you go to college. :) It is all what you make of it, and you're absolutely right-- you don't know if you don't try. :)

I've been repeatedly invited to Seattle Junior League orientations, and I haven't gone to a single one. Why? Not because I'm not interested (I am), but because I know I don't have the time to dedicate to it right now.

As others have said, Junior League is a major committment, both in time and MONEY, and it's not one of those clubs you can join and then just not attend meetings. There is a two-year provisional period where you are a "trial" member; during that time you are expected to be very actively involved in the group's committees and projects. That is why most women who join Junior League are older - they're more settled, have a better handle on their time, and have more expertise and leadership skills to offer. Also, you should know that the Junior League of Seattle is one of the country's oldest, and it takes membership very seriously.

It sounds like you've read up on the Junior League of Seattle...if so, you saw that the League is very involved in mentorship programs for young women. To be frank, I think you're too young and inexperienced still to act as a kind of mentor that this League offers (career-based in many cases). Once you're out of school and have been in the workplace, I think you'll be better prepared for the League.