Originally Posted by Tess_DreamBig (Post 2125252)

Hey all, I'm a senior at Arizona State University and never rushed for a sorority. I was born and raised in Arizona, so I had a lot of friends going to ASU with me and decided against rushing. Now I'm looking into going out of state for grad school next year, either University of Central Arkansas or University of Alabama, and was wondering, especially since these are Southern schools, if I have any shot at all getting a bid for a sorority as a grad student. I will be 22 at the time of fall rush, which is still young, yet considerably older than most of 18 and 19 year olds who will be rushing at that time. I know there are many sororities at both of those schools who claim to accept grad students, but I am sure it's not often.
This brings me to my next question, would it be better to go through informal recruitment at ASU and try to get a bid in a sorority that has a chapter at the school I end up going to so I can attempt to simply transfer over to that chapter when I move?

Thanks for any help or advice you can give!

Originally Posted by Tess_DreamBig (Post 2125252)

Hey all, I'm a senior at Arizona State University and never rushed for a sorority. I was born and raised in Arizona, so I had a lot of friends going to ASU with me and decided against rushing. Now I'm looking into going out of state for grad school next year, either University of Central Arkansas or University of Alabama, and was wondering, especially since these are Southern schools, if I have any shot at all getting a bid for a sorority as a grad student. I will be 22 at the time of fall rush, which is still young, yet considerably older than most of 18 and 19 year olds who will be rushing at that time. I know there are many sororities at both of those schools who claim to accept grad students, but I am sure it's not often.
This brings me to my next question, would it be better to go through informal recruitment at ASU and try to get a bid in a sorority that has a chapter at the school I end up going to so I can attempt to simply transfer over to that chapter when I move?

Thanks for any help or advice you can give!

Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor (Post 2125269)

Most chapters at ASU probably wont look at you since you will graduate in May. Sigma Kappa might have been a possibility but they just completed their colony. I do know that Gamma Phi Beta will be doing COBing (saw it on a tweet) other then that I don't know any Chapters that would take a second semester senior. As fair as getting initiated at ASU and then transferring there is no guarantee that you will be able to affiliate with the Chapter once you get there. It is done by vote. I can not speak to the recruiting as a grad student at a competitive school. Good luck to you.

Originally Posted by Tess_DreamBig (Post 2125274)

I am probably going to sound hopeless right now lol but what is COBing?

Originally Posted by psusue (Post 2125267)

Also (and if I'm out of my lane here I will delete this) I know that Sigma Kappa is expanding to Arizona State this spring (so right now), have you gone to any of their rush events? Sometimes colonies do take senior members in order to get a normal class distribution. It is by no means a sure thing (I know that Sigma while colonizing at Drexel University in Philadelphia only took about 6 seniors, and this was fall semester) but it might be worth a try if bid day did not happen for them yet.

Otherwise there are some sororities that allow for graduate membership but mine is not one of them so I cannot give you specific details from personal experience. I also believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) that the chapter still may not choose to take graduate members, even if their organization allows them to.

Furthermore graduate level classes may not give you adequate time to pursue active sorority membership, even if you did have the desire. Also as the population of a collegiate chapter will (likely) be mostly undergraduates, you may not feel as much of a connection with them emotionally and socially. Just some things to think about as you're considering this. Best of luck to you, whatever you decide and let us know how it goes! :)

Originally Posted by Tess_DreamBig (Post 2125279)

You're definitely right. Sigma Kappa did expand to ASU this spring. I am student teaching this semester, though (meaning I'm almost never on campus), and didn't see their new chapter signs until the tenth, which was their bid day =/ Supposedly if they still have openings they will make exceptions, but obviously I would not expect anything lol. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong too, as I know absolutely nothing about Greek life except for what my brother has told me about his fraternity at Loyola New Orleans.

I know that there are a few sororities at each university that say they take grad students, but as you said, it does not mean they will take any. I guess I will just have to wait and see! Thanks for all of your help!

Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor (Post 2125269)

I do know that Gamma Phi Beta will be doing COBing (saw it on a tweet) other then that I don't know any Chapters that would take a second semester senior.

Originally Posted by psusue (Post 2125292)

I don't think she meant any harm by it. She was just trying to be helpful to the PNM. Remember PNMs are free to come to recruitment events of any sorority that is hosting them, that does not mean that she was implying that the chapter would extend a bid. Besides, if it's on a tweet it's kind of public knowledge, is it not?

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek? (Post 2125290)

How dare you even suggest this of any sorority except you own? You think the struggling chapter will be so desperate that they'll take a second semester senior who's student teaching who wants to join simply because she wants to join as a grad student elsewhere? From everything I can see, Gamma Phi Beta does not even accept graduate students (as if 99.99% of organizations who technically can would.)

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek? (Post 2125295)

It's the "I don't know any other chapters that would take a second semester senior" part that's the issue since it takes five seconds to figure out others are COBing there.

Originally Posted by Tess_DreamBig (Post 2125297)

There's no need to get upset, now. They were just trying to help me out. I knew it'd be a long shot, but saw recruitment stories from other grad students and figured I'd take my chances asking for advice before I went off and actually tried to do anything. Thanks for your help, though

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek? (Post 2125295)

It's the "I don't know any other chapters that would take a second semester senior" part that's the issue since it takes five seconds to figure out others are COBing there.

Originally Posted by psusue (Post 2125300)

I mean if I were you I'd go for it. Yes it isn't the most likely scenario that you'll get a bid but if you try and it doesn't work out at least you know you'll have gone for it. Besides, the worst thing that can happen is that you'll end up not being Greek, but you're already not Greek, so what do you have to lose? You know your odds but you can still try. Best of luck to you!