How to join a frat after I graduated?
 

I recently graduated from college and one thing that I regret the most is I didn't rush/join a fraternity

Does anyone is it possible still join a frat as an alumni and which fraternity will do so?


Thanks

Look for fraternities that might give out an honor membership, you are essentially a member just don't pay dues and don't have all the rights of an initiated brother. But really I don't think fraternities look for PNMs out of college, you may be interested, but what can you offer the fraternity? How would you relate to a 18-21 year old who is mainly focused on girls and alcohol?

Also you could look to see if you have a relative who is an initiated brother of one. Fraternities are known to initiate relatives of members as full members.

There are a lot of fraternal organizations that are open to membership after college, and that have social and philanthropic and ritual aspects. Check out the Masons or Odd Fellows or Eagles or Lions or Elk or Hibernians or Knights of Columbus, etc.

If you're looking for an NIC-type, I wouldn't encourage that. I've been a part of the application process twice in my time with Sigma Nu. Once was for our longtime faculty adviser. The second time was for a gentleman who was a non-initiate, non-collegiate, who had supported us as an organization for many years. First as a friend to a couple of our members, but after they graduated, he still came around. He wasn't seeking membership, it was simply bestowed upon him. If someone came to me seeking to be initiated as an alumnus, it'd take a lot more than "I regret not joining while I was in college." We're fraternities. We're not wish granters.

If you're looking at NPHC fraternities, I got nothing. I'd recommend you check with them individually and directly. Not on a public forum.

You are finished with college. You don't get a do-over. Move on.

He could go back to college and work on a 2nd degree...

If his only goal is to join a fraternity, that's a terrible idea.

I suspect he's not talking about non-IFC type organizations, otherwise he would know how to go about asking about graduate membership.

What do you hope to gain from this? Do you regret not being a member of a fraternity generally, or do you regret not having the collegiate fraternity experience? Because even if you found a fraternity that initiates honorary members and found you worthy of that honor, you're still not going to have the collegiate fraternity experience.

thanks everyone
I am looking for a lifetime friendship and more important is the connection since I am a business major

Why don't you look into the Masons or the Shriners?

People are going to see this for what it is: pretentious.

http://alteredobsession.files.wordpr...has-sailed.jpg

Lifetime friendships can be made in lots of different contexts. If it's business connections you're looking for, then I would suggest Rotary, Kiwanis, Jaycees or whatever other civic groups are active where you live. If it's a fraternal bond you're looking for, then as others have said, try the Masons (or the Knights of Columbus if you're Catholic), the Elks, the Moose, etc.

The Shrine is as appendant body of Freemasonry; you have to be a Master Mason to be eligible to be a Shriner.

What is up with this sudden influx of men here who want to join fraternities after graduation? That would be the last thing any of the men I know would think of if they were looking for networking, social or volunteer opportunities.

Why do so many people seem to think that a Greek affiliation is some sort of magic bullet in the business world? In some regions of the country and some industries, people will look favorably on it, but there are just as many where it will work against you.

If I were looking for business networking, I would look to organizations in my community -- Rotary, churches, Optimists, Masons, my town's "booster" club -- before looking to a GLO. I love my GLO, but it is far less useful than local organizations for business networking.

Thank you for that info, I had no idea.

When my father joined the Masons, he was probably in his late 40's or early 50's at that time, his lodge was thrilled to have such a "young" member join. And he moved up through the degrees pretty quickly, because they wanted to get him into a leadership role. He also eventually became a Shriner. So, I would imagine if someone joined at an even younger age, the opportunities for leadership, networking, community involvement, etc would be a lot more plentiful than what someone would gain by joining a college-based fraternity.

My guess is these men have graduated or are nearing graduation from college and realized they failed at one of the most critical education paths in college- developing a lifelong network of friends and future colleagues - and they're trying to find a way-back machine. Sorority and fraternity life doesn't give that as a part of the membership packet; it comes from 4 years of close contact, project work and socializing with like-minded people. If you were one of those members who initiated, attend the minimum required events, and nothing else, you probably would be just slightly ahead of the guy who never joined at all, except for having access to the password protected part of the fraternity website.

If you join a civic organization and do the work that fraternity members did at 18 and 19 years old, you will be able to make up time pretty quickly, and compared to the fraternity man who graduates and loses all contact with his brothers, you'll be miles ahead. Just look down a different path.

FYP.

Knight_shadow, thank you for reading my mind. ;)

It's funny. I'm 26 and am one of the youngest Masons in my Lodge and I think, but am not sure, the youngest Shriner in the Temple for North Idaho.

I don't think you should be speculating when you haven't even received a bid.

I know you said this last year, but he asked the question, I provided an answer. Lots of folks go back to school after they realize their communications/underwater basketweaving degrees aren't going to earn them a living.

Playing devil's advocate: One reason that many people might think this is because so many fraternities play up this aspect as a reason to join. If you talk to chapter members during rush or read the chapter website, you will see an emphasis on "how many successful business alumni we have", "the alumni will be there to help you after college", and "you'll make connections to help you in your life and/or career after graduation".

Like DBB said, it depends on the regions and like someone else said it depends on how much effort you put into the chapter when you were there.

Lol. Blast from the past.

Your answer seemed to be framed as "Go back for another degree JUST so you can go Greek" -- that's a waste of money and a hell of a gamble. Going back for academic reasons is fine.

I figured he'd be able to figure out whether that was worth it for him or not.

FWIW, I have heard of grad students rushing fraternities before.

bumping an old thread here but more on this please?

Use an Internet search engine. Research different fraternity councils and conferences, research individual fraternities, and research which fraternities have graduate/alumni initiation. Some of these fraternities are opposed to people fishing for membership but you will figure that out as you go along.

It's possible, but it's uncommon as hell. Even if a fraternity allows graduate students to be members, they may not want to actually pledge grad students.