Does a 21 year old grad student have a chance?
 

I was wondering if sororities accept graduate students? I'm going to be a grad student in the fall and really want to join the greek life. I will have finished my undergraduate degree in 3 years so when I graduate I will only be 20, and then turn 21 this summer before grad school so I was wondering if that would help seeing as I would be around the same age as many of the other girls. I know having some random 30 year old grad student as a sister would probably be weird due to the age difference and being at different places in life, but because I am younger would that be in my favor?

I second KSUViolet's comments, and I would like to add that it is the case that the vast majority of NPC sororities do not accept graduate students to membership.

There is an Alumnae Initiate option of course, where you could be initiated as an alumnae but your involvement would be with the alumnae chapter more. If you go to Recruitment there is an entire 11 pages on AI that you could read and see if you think this option is for you. But be warned, I have been looking into it myself, reading the forum, going to HQ websites, and this process has taken some a matter of months, but it has taken others up to 5 years. It is not for the weak of heart. Make sure it is something you really want.

If you would like, since people don't really like posting them on threads, you can PM me and I could tell you the couple of chapters that do sometimes accept grad student members, that way you could see if they are on your campus and focus on them.

No. DO NOT think that AI is something you do. AI is not considered a viable option for women who simply did not pledge while in college.

Disasterscookie: You would do well to take heed of this too, especially because you AREN'T a member and therefore should NOT be giving membership advice.

Here's an idea. Take 4 years to finish your undergrad instead of 3 and join a sorority as an undergrad. It sounds like you are finally waking up and realizing you missed a lot by cramming 4 years into three.

And no, disasterscookie is NOT an NPC member, and even if she was, it is not her place to share the names of the groups that do allow grad students if she's not a member of them. dc - feel free to disseminate all the info about O Phi A you want, but honestly, it needs to stop there.

I'd be interested to know which NPC groups allow graduate members -- I didn't know any did.

Thanks, KSUV -- I saw your post right after I asked the question! :)

You're right.

I know what is involved, I stated that I have been doing research. I never said that I knew everything about it, I was simply guiding her to information. I have read Navane's thread on AI and I know what is involved, but alas, as a student I didn't have the time to type it all out, hence why I directed her to the threads. I also stated that it was an option she could look into, not saying it was a sure thing, as recruitment, bids, etc. never really are. I figured if she read the thread, she would figure that out herself.

I didn't take it as mean, I just didn't want to be misunderstood. I would never pretend to be something I'm not. I just happen to be researching this and saw the thread, suggested a few things... what have you.

I'm guessing you don't understand, but AI SHOULD NOT BE AN OPTION! AI is not an alternative for people who didn't pledge an NPC organization as an undergrad. That is why many NPCs are "editing" their websites and taking off the information for AI.

You are still an undergrad and shouldn't even be pursuing AI in the first place.

Not only that....you are an undergrad who JUST joined a great Greek organization. Focus on that for the present and stop worrying about NPC and AI. If you can't do that, you need to quit the group you are in now. If I was in school still and one of our just-bidded APO pledges was on the net talking incessantly about NPC AI, she'd be at the top of my poop list (to say the least). No one is saying you can't be in both, but you need to be respectful and see how much time commitment #1 is going to take up before you attempt to take on commitment #2.

Greekchat.com should also not be the main source of AI information/research nor is it the official source of NPC chapters. HQ's of the NPC chapters are the only official source that should be used.

Now would be a good time to stay in your lane, lady.

I love you.

Re: the NPC groups that do allow graduate students to join, I would bet that at most campuses, the chapters would never consider letting a grad student join. Sorry to be so negative, but I'm sure it's true. I mean I bet a grad student would run into difficulty even registering for formal recruitment at most schools... Basically I think that only at campuses that have informal/partially structured recruitment situations would these groups even consider bidding graduate students.

I have no experience with this in person, but I am just 80% sure from what I do know about NPCs in general that this is probably the case.

I wasn't saying "what have you?" like as a question... I was saying "what have you" insofar as "whatever" or the like. I wasn't challenging her like "What have you suggested?"

The internet is not a good place to imply meaning in things.

Not only are you weaving into the wrong lane, you are driving on the wrong side of the road. AI is not and never will be an "alternative" to not joining an NPC in college. No matter how much "research" you have done on the interwebz, you clearly DO NOT understand it. I'm astonished that you are researching and considering it for yourself at all. You are still in college. You left a multi cultural GLO. You failed to accept a bid during NPC recruitment and are now a new member of a service GLO. Please stop dispensing your "expert" advice on a subject you have no understanding of and have no business advising others about and concentrate on your studies and your current service GLO.

Amen.

Seriously. Disasterscookie- you and your advice are a DISASTER.
SHUT UP!

Stop spouting off about stuff you have no clue about, and that you have no business talking about.

OP- sorry for the hijack, but Ms. Disaster keeps on giving disastrous advice

$100 says that distasterscookie is researching NPC AI policies to pursue them after she finishes school. Heads up, Northern Arizona Panhellenics!

I know I can't possibly be the only one who sees that.

Well she's already said she's been researching AI, and also wondering if NPHC and NALFO orgs allow graduate members.

Seeing as how supposedly she has like 3 years of school left, i'm gonna bet she's gonna be like that other AI person who did all the "paperwork" (or whatever you do) before she even graduates.

ETA: I'd also add a "heads up" to the Northern Arizona OPhiA's. Cause like 33 said she just joined that organization and she's already looking for something else.