Non Traditional Student
 

Hello everyone! I'm an adult (29) transfer student. I'll probably be a sophomore when I go for rush. I'm pre-med with a 4.0 and many years of philanthropy under my belt. Any chance I'll actually get a bid?

NPC, NPHC, What kind of recruitment environment?

NPC. I'm not sure what you mean by environment. From what I've been reading on this site about the particular school I'll be attending, the rush experience seems to on par with other schools.

Thanks for the response!

That's a good point. I'm not sure how to feel about it. I am sure that I want to make the most out of my college experience either way, and I understand that the majority of my classmates will be younger than me. Until I sort out how I feel about hanging out with younger women.. the question still remains.

Would I even have a shot at getting accepted?

So there are not any formal age exclusions I take it?

I was thinking about your question. Taking a hard look at myself I realized I appreciate all types of people. To discriminate against someone for any reason is unacceptable in my book. So I'm sure I'd be ok hanging with a group of women younger than me. I look at my classes now. My cliques in each class all consist of younger people, simply because they outnumber me. Yet I always end up befriending classmates.

Is it a school where you need recs and it's super competitive?

I do however agree with OTW I'm not sure what you'd have in common going to mixers and stuff with 20 yr old men and women.

Nanners, I'm not sure how to find that information. A read a few old threads which cited about 600 people at rush. That was a few years ago.

I can see where you are coming from regarding mixers! lol
But I'll tell you one thing, along with my age comes the knowledge on how to throw a REALLY good party!

Gotcha. Makes sense.

Thanks again for all the replies!!

So how do I find out the dynamics of Greek life at this particular college?

What school is it?

U of Arizona

If I'm not mistaken, Greek Life at UA is composed of traditional students. Most of the members are traditional aged (18-22ish). UA recruitment has been known to be diffcult for juniors that are typically 21-22. It's not likely that a 29 year old is going to get a bid.

Alright! Thanks! Where did you find that info?

Question 2: Would I fit in better with a group like Alpha Phi Omega? My understanding is they are strictly service oriented.

Makes sense, but if I'm too old for an NPC experience what other choices do I have! I definitily want to get involved in my college community in some fashon.

Thanks KSUViolet

Like many have said, if you would like to try, there is no harm in it. Like most other things in life, the worst you'll get is a no and you can just move on.

My chapter (not at your school) pledged a woman who was thirty once a while back. (I recently met her and now I see why. [She's awesome!]) Would it happen now? Not as likely, but still a small possibility.

Everyone is welcome to rush. Bids, however, are not guaranteed. If you feel something more service-social than social-service or academic-social (ala AKPsi or BAPsi or what have you) rather than social-academic is a better way for you to branch out, then by all means investigate those options at your school.

Very true.

The same holds true for professional GLOs.

Well, I still have time to decide how much humiliation I'm willing to endure being the "old lady" at Rush. Maybe I'll amuse everyone here and post about my experience if I go through with it. Although at that point I'll probably need a new screen name! ;-)

Looks like I have more research to do! Thanks!!

I don't mean this to come off as rude, but at 29, you have no possibility of receiving a bid at Arizona. There really is not an easy way to say that. It may be the west, but we have one of the most competitive recruitments outside of the SEC. Greek life is extremely traditional and so is the age range of the members.

Also all chapters have a live-in requirement. Would you really want to spend two years living with the daily drama of a bunch of 19 and 20 year olds? Trust me. It's hard enough when you're the same age range! :)

Is Arizona big into recommendations for recruitment?

I'm not sure if U of A is big on recommendations. What I do know is that recruitment numbers (girls participating) has gone up, chapter sizes have gone up and that is why we were asked to come back a year early. I heard that about 1000 girls go through recruitment, not sure if that is true or not.

I'm 30. I love being in my sorority. I am absolutely thrilled that my chapter of initiation is back at U of A, but quite honestly I can't imagine being an active member now, at my age. I say this mainly because their priorities as an 18-22year old, are completely different then mine.

Also, as bear_down said, the chapters do require a 2 year live in. So you would need to ask yourself, "can I live with 18-22 year olds for 2 years". On the other hand though, age is just a number.

Now, with everything that has been "said" and you still are like "I wanna try it", I say go for it! Yes, you might not get a bid, but you will meet new people and since you have stated that quite a few of your friends are people in this age range, you might make some new friends.

None of us can speak for the chapters and how they will respond to you. As OTW said, recruitment is a mutual selection process.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

this is true .. last year over 1100 women signed up for recruitment.

Yes.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I was going to say, just from what I've learned about the school on GC. Don't embarrass yourself, and don't put the rushees in the position of having to feel bad about cutting you.

Join Alpha Phi Omega IF AND ONLY IF you are committed to service and joining for service first and foremost. It is not a social Greek substitute.

Most schools have some sort of an organization for nontrational students - I would look into those.

Keep in mind that at a school that large, there are likely to be tons of organizations you can get involved with...colleges can have clubs for just about every interest/hobby/goal imaginable and membership is often open to any student. Are you already at U of A or will you be starting in the fall? Keep your eyes and ears open for clubs and groups that may be of interest to you. Good luck!

If you are really into service, maybe check out the Junior League in your area. Being involved w/ the JL still affords you the opportunity to make new friendships while helping others.

If you were going to a commuter school or smaller local college I might say go for it. But at a traditional campus with a large Greek system, the odds are not going to be in your favor. I'll quote one of my collegiate pesidents (age 21 and talking about her chapter) when I was a Rush Adviser talking about a PNM of your age - "Why would she want to hang out with a bunch of hormone driven twits?" Out of the mouths of babes....

Ditto this. I am finding my Junior League to be very much like my sorority...sisterhood, philanthropy, very social. Follows the same parlimentarian procedures.

So does Beta Sigma Phi and Epsilon Sigma Alpha. They are community based sororities. Membership is by invitation, but it is a hell of a lot easier a process that NPC sorority recruitment. The members are of all ages. Time committment may be a little less strenuous on you too if you are a pre-med student.

www.betasigmaphi.org
http://esaintl.com/

Ditto P.E.O.

Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions. I already do a ton of community service through my work (media) and on my own so I am looking for something a little more social. I adore meeting new people!! I'll definitely look into all the options suggested here!

Thanks again! :-)

Remember that you can still have a great college experience if you are not involved in any GLO! At a school the size of U of A, I am sure there are TONS of clubs to choose from and get involved in! Get involved in something you are passionate about!