24 & pursuing PhD - fraternities?
 

Hi,
I'm a new member on this forum. I'd like to join a fraternity, but I'm 24 and I'll be doing a PhD. I was wondering which fraternities would accept me.
Regards,
Rob

There's no master list of Ph.D. accepting fraternities. You're going to have to get that information from members of the GLOs on your campus.

Just be sure you'll be comfortable with 1) the time commitment and 2) the fact that 18-20 year olds will be "in charge"

I see. Is it possible that I may get hazed by 18-20 year olds? I think this may become an issue if I teach, like a lot of PhD candidates do.

It could happen. If you're being hazed, though, your Greek Life office should have resources to report what's going on.

I'm not afraid of getting "hazed". Most hazing incidents are nothing but antics blown out of proportion in the media. University administrations also tend to blow them out of proportion, unfortunately. This is why I may be at risk of getting fired/kicked out of the PhD program if it gets out. But this is an extreme situation.

Would there be particular fraternities/schools that would accept me?

Extreme or not, if the organization is hazing and gets found out, it's going to cause a shit storm for pretty much everyone involved.

And no, there are no organizations or schools that lean toward pledging grad students. Like I said, this is something that has to be discussed with members of the organizations at whatever school you end up at. I do hope that you pick a school based on how it's going to help you in your academic pursuit and not based on how easy it is to get into a GLO.

What would be considered them being in charge rather than hazing?

Think of it like having a boss who's younger than you. Some people can deal with that, some people can't.

I don't think I'd have a problem with that. I'm just wondering what would be acceptable behavior -- them being in charge -- and what would be reprehensible?

QFI

What does that mean?

Oh for fucks sake. Any 24 year old PhD candidate who has even a passing thought of joining a fraternity needs to see a shrink. No one wants to play beer pong with the old dude who's going to be conducting their lecture at 7:40 the next morning. Really. Grow up.

*And yeah, I know it's a troll but still feel the need to lay it out there for any future dullards who might do a search on this topic.*

My one point of contention with this would be to mention that a 24 year-old PhD candidate considering joining a fraternity through the traditional means (i.e. rush/undergraduate membership) needs a shrink. But then again, my fraternity is fairly open to alumnus initiates.

ETA: If we're going to make general statements for future dullards.

His other posts in the RM forum talk about wanting to move into a fraternity house. He wants to be an active.

And I forgot to mention what a sorority girl magnet the old dude is going to be. But at least the pledge class will have someone legal to buy their beer.

Are you doing your thesis on hazing?

You might not have a problem being a 24 year old and a grad student - if it weren't for the fact that your posts all make you sound like you're 50.

there is a guy who is 34 pledging in my fraternity. all is well brutha. just enjoy it man.

Right. This guy = total nutjob. Other people should understand that their are other avenues to fraternity membership with different obligations and expectations. I just don't like generalizations.

This post reminds me of my favorite character in one of the series I'm reading. She goes by Aphrodite, and is the girl that everyone loves because they're too scared to hate her.

Yes, totally random, but it's not like the rest of this thread was all that thrilling.

^^ House of Night?

Yep. Can't wait til November.

I gave up on them a while ago, I realized I'd read a whole book and nothing happened. I might go back to them later.

Why the hell would a 34 year old ever want to pledge a fraternity (provided the person is referring to NPHC or a non-IFC group)? Mixers and socializing can't be that fun when you're almost double the age of people in your pledge class.

I don't know -- if the guys in his pledge class have tOgGlE cAsE uSeRnAmEs, he may be triple their age.

I don't know why everyone's being so mean. 24 is not that old.

It's not old at all, but you'll be older than other members.

In Greek life, 18-22 is normal. 24 is old.

FYP. ;)

I've noticed that, too. Actually, to me, it seems like in each book they solve one problem and get themselves into three more. I can accept some of the non-plot movement of the books because 1. They seem to have a clear direction where they're going, and each problem is leading to that end, and will play a role in the ending and 2. There are just so many "lead" characters and sub-plots, it's hard to advance them all at the same time and get anywhere in one book. I do like how they've recently started shifting between different character's POVs. I'd rather read 3rd person, and I like not always following the same person around. It does bug me, though, that they contradict a few concepts that they've earlier introduced, and how Zoey has OMG every single power imaginable and can use her powers to get her out of anything, and still has zero self-confidence.

Yes, this is the kind of crap I read. And I like it.

^^ Also, at the start of the series they're seeing 300 in theaters, by the more recent ones they mention Twitter. Despite the fact that in at least one book all of ... what.. 3 days go bye? Maybe?

We have a number of brothers who associated when they were over the age of 24 and everything was fine because they were still undergraduates...someone getting a PH.D on the other hand....

Touche, thank you!

Why thank you. :D

My cousin's son just returned from five years in the army and was 24 when he entered Temple U. If there is a House there that welcomes him and he wants to join it, I see nothing unusual.

There were waves of older ex-soldiers returning to or entering college after World War II, Vietnam and now the Middle East. Many of them joined Fraternities. I don't see any insurmountable problems. We had some older guys in my time and if say, there was a Pledge mixer with a sorority, the older guys had the sense to skip it. It wasn't like we took attendance.

Thirty four though, is different, but some of us enjoy the different.

All very different situations from being a PhD or Grad student. By that point you just have to realize that ship has sailed.

Yes, and what bothers me more is that once you're in such an advanced state (getting a PhD), don't you normally choose the school that a) is best for your specialty, b) the best one you can get into and afford, and c) the best chance for you to end up getting a job after? Why on earth would he choose a school based on whether or not he could get into a fraternity there?

On another note, Old School was a funny movie, but not so much in real life.

I just Googled for the Hell of it...300 was 2006 and Tw¡tter was launched in 2006, but I would guess it really wouldn't have caught on big for a few years. However, the ones who talk about it are the computer geeks, and it seems to me that they're "cutting edge technology" people, so I'll buy that. Besides, it's all alternate universe anyway. The disappointing part of all the POP culture references (Glee and Jonas Bros in the newest one) is that most of that stuff won't be relevant in 20 years (heck, maybe even 10), so they've defeated any chance they had at longevity. Twilight might still be around in 50 years because there isn't anything (or much) in it that wouldn't still be as relevant as Jane Eyre and Emma are today.

Glad to be part of this community !

You also don't normally want specifics on what students could do to you to take advantage of you or that would be 'reprehensible.'

While people can I'm sure with some effort deduce what chapter I'm alumni from, I think they can take it if I share this bit.

I was in town running a conf call on invite night for this most recent Spring rush. There was a 24yo going through that was just out of the military. Couple combat tours. Good record. There was a discussion about the age thing. No one really had a problem with a 24yo member, but they though 27 when graduating might be a bit more awkward. He was initially voted down. A fight almost occurred. Later on he was called up on re-vote and accepted.

There's a LOT of older guys coming through rush now after the military. Many in fraternity chapters in our greek system. Frankly, if some group of 18yo girls is going to be creeped out and thereby penalize people for serving their country, then screw em.

I realize grad student isn't the same thing. I know from an advisor perspective we want as many alumni as possible in faculty/administration. So, this is not necessarily a bad pick up despite being unusual.

The actual execution of it would be complicated. Any fraternity will excuse a pledge for classes and appropriate study time, normally for work as well. I'm sure if they wanted to make this work they could. All sides would have to understand what they're getting into.

If this is a serious question, check your campus greek affairs policy, then email all the nationals of the fraternities on campus to see what policy is (undergrads won't know). Then email chapter presidents to have a discussion about it.

If you really want to talk about hazing/expectations I'll do that too, but check first on the policy issues.