what happens if i transfer schools?
 

I am a freshman and I went through recruitment in september and got in. It was the best decision I ever made. I love my sorority and sisters so much. unfortunately, i have not been handling my homesickness very well and its been causing many problems. i plan on transferring to a community college in my hometown next school year (my soph year) to finish up my general ed. then transfer to another university (junior year) not so far away. my sorority has a chapter at the new university i plan on transferring to my junior year, but will i be able to be a part of it? or will i be an alum because i took a year off from my sorority? anyone who has transferred before please help :)

(ps: i know i should ask my chapter, but i have not fully made the decision to transfer and i dont want to announce news like that unless it's for sure)

If you're initiated then you probably have some sort of access to an (inter)national rule book of some sort, and it should have a section on what happens when a member takes alumna status and what rights you'll have.

Also, KSU, that's pretty interesting. Is there a particular reason for the rule?

I second the advice of contacting HQ.

After all, they're the ones who have all the info (instead of your own chapter) and that way, you can avoid the announcement.

Unless it's a monetary or academic issue that you simply cannot get around necessitating your transfer, I would give this another semester before you make a decision. Sisters are very good for curing homesickness, believe me. :)

Please don't transfer because of a guy.

Please don't transfer because you have a crappy roommate this year. (You can fix that next year.)

Please don't transfer because your parents are nagging you to come home (for non-monetary reasons). You need to leave the nest sometime.

Also, if the school you're looking at for your junior & senior year is appreciably larger/has a larger and more competitive Greek system, you may not be able to affiliate with the chapter even if your national policies say you can re-affiliate after you go alum. And even if you can, you may not feel comfortable with the chapter - or vice versa.

Great advice here! Please heed it.

I totally agree. First semester can be brutal for some kids, but second semester is where they start feeling that they have made/can make a place for themselves at that school.

Chiming in - I'm #3 to agree with 33 and what she wrote.

AND contact your HQ; each GLO has its own constitution/by-laws and that's what you'll need to abide by.

Good luck, and, by the way, congratulations on enjoying your membership. I'm with you on the homesickness thing and it can be rough...however, reread the advice given thus far and take things a day at a time.

I know that you ladies here know your rules, so please help me understand!! I *thought* that the rule was that if you transfer and do not affiliate with a new chapter (either no chapter on the new campus or are not invited) that you are considered inactive until your class graduates. Then you are considered an alum. Was I always wrong about this or has it changed?

Different organizations have different rules. I don't even know what my organization's rules would be in a situation like this to be honest.

Amen on what 33girl said. Sticking it out for another semester can be a good idea. Your first semester is a big adjustment, especially for students who haven't been away from home for extended periods of time before. You really might find you get used to it this semester after you've settled a little more and gotten used to the routine...and have an even better bond with your sisters.

I can say I know many girls who left because they were homesick or for a boy. Most of them left home again after a semester because they found out that they were stronger than they thought after all...and as for the boyfriends...I only know one person that stayed with the guy she left school for. Never make a life decision based on a boyfriend/girlfriend...choose what's best for you.

Wouldn't this vary from group to group?

ETA: Alumiyum types faster.

as many others have said, your best and most reliable information will come from your sorority's headquarters.

Yea, Alumiyum said the same thing as I did a few minutes before I posted.

I thought it was odd that there would be a blanket rule for something like that.