Pledge Over 40?
 

I know that some think it might be odd for a person over 40 to want to join a fraternity, but I'd be interested in seeing if anyone here has had experience with older men who are interested in joining a fraternal organization later in life.

I'm returning to college this Spring to get a BSN in Nursing in Southern California and although this will be my second bachelor's degree, I didn't have a chance to join a fraternity the first time around. I assure you, I'm not looking to scam on young girls, since I'm already engaged, and my fiancee is encouraging me to look into fraternities. I truly want to experience Greek Life and be involved with service and brotherhood.

I believe I have a great deal to offer an organization and a lot of life experience to share with my future brothers. I'm a good person and very open-minded and feel that I could learn from other members as much as they could learn from me.

Do you think I would be welcomed during Rush or is this just a pipe dream? all opinions are welcome, positive and negative... and please share your experiences with pledging older members.

Have you looked into Alumni Initiation? I'm not sure how an organization would look at this. The oldest person in my group just graduated a year back, at 27.

Thanx... I started looking into Alumni Initiation... it might be an interesting alternative!

Granted I am swerving out of my lane, I just don't see something like this happening unless the campus is extremely open minded, liberal, perhaps a commuter campus. Keep in mind, you would be pledging with 18-20 year olds, and the superiors for your first few years would be young enough to be your kids. You would witness a LOT of immaturity. How would you handle any sort of "live in" requirement? Would you really be ok with that?

It's worth a thought to give other organizations consideration, those geared more toward older professionals who are interested in brotherhood and service. (I'm thinking Elks, Freemasons, Kiwanas, etc). Why does it have to be a greek letter fraternity?

Perhaps you should look toward a professional fraternity, such as a nursing group. It might not have the same advantages as a social fraternity, but it is something.

Sorry but I can't imagine even the most desperate for members social fraternity at the most liberal commuter school in the country would even look at you. Try to remember back to when you were 18. Your ship has already left the port and traveled halfway around the world.

Like others said, maybe you should look into service organizations.

If we're talking about IFC.

That's what he's talking about.

Maybe.

Either way, I wasn't refuting what you were saying, so my post still stands.

Since you are looking at Southern California schools, greeklife is often more open to different types of members and individual chapters may be willing. Many men come out of the military with experience that chapters often want, and you would be welcome. A few months ago, I met a gentleman from the army who attends UM Kansas City and is a well-received associate in the LXA chapter.

My thoughts would be to seek out the veterans on your campus and see what any of them have done. Also, look at chapters that have mentor programs such as Balanced Man, True Brother, or similar programs that may suit you better.

There's a big difference between a 24 year old military veteran and a 40 year old professional, not just in age but in experience. I would focus on the professional fraternities. It will still provide you some of the brotherhood you're after minus some of the 18 year old crap you'd get sick of in about 5 minutes. I'm not sure how the service fraternities look on this sort of age situation, but that may be another avenue to follow.

Although technically it would be possible to join an NIC fraternity, and AI is also a (stretch) possibility, I don't think they'd offer you what you really want/need. I haven't seen it come up regarding fraternities in the past, but if you look at some of the AI threads you'll get an idea of likelihood and what's actually involved.

I don't know about SoCal, but here in Oklahoma, we'd stamp your card and send you on your way. At best, you might be picked up by one of the more desperate-for-numbers houses which are depending on a good Rush to stay alive, but that's really about it.

AI probably isn't an option. I wouldn't waste too much time on that Fraternities don't generally do that, although I've twice been a party to it, in each case, it involved our active chapter petitioning our national governing body.

Whoever said you ought to pursue membership with the Elks/Lions/Masons/Knights of Columbus, is probably making the best suggestion here.

That said, if you rush and get in somewhere, I think we'd all be very interested to hear about that.

I have to say, the Elks would be the best option for you. Their website seems pretty open about membership.

As for AI, the only people I see initiated in my group are rabbis. I haven't heard of another fraternal group doing AI however.

I would think even that would be rare, because if a chapter is in a "rebuilding year", the last thing they want is to be known as "the chapter with that 40-year-old pledge".

I am kinda wondering why the OP's girlfriend recommended a fraternity. Was she a sorority girl, and so she wants you to have the same experience? That's just not going to happen.

BUT, as other people have mentioned, professional or service fraternities could be options for you, and I know many people who've had strong experiences in those groups.

I have a feeling she could get lots less encouraging once he started having to attend sorority mixers without her.