New and in need of guidance
 

Growing up the only sorority sisters I've ever met have been National Pan-Hellenic but I've decided to venture out and attemt to rush Panhellenic this fall. I'm an incoming freshman, scared, and kind of lost. With all this informtion floating around I don't know where to begin. If anyone could answer a question of mine or even give me some advice it would be very helpful!

Is there much of a difference between Pan-Helllenic and Panhellenic? How would I go about finding reccomendations if I can't find anyone through my family?

Yes

It's Panhellenic. And yes, NPC and NPHC member intake are VERY different.

My advice is to begin reading as much as you can. If it's truly NPC membership you wish to pursue, read the discussions in the Sorority Recruitment forum, especially the Stickied posts. Read as much as you can before asking any more questions here. You'll get a wealth of information there, including info about recommendations.

You also should be VERY sure you do not want to pursue membership in an NPHC group before you take this step.

Thank you Always AlphaGam I'll read the stickied posts

33girl Is there something I'm missing? Is it not common?

I've read through many of the threads and couldn't find how taking a break from school before high school would effect a freshman pnm.

The best time to join an NPC organization is during a woman's freshman year (sophomore at the latest), especially at really competitive colleges and universities. I see you have your location as Florida so if you are planning to attend UF, FSU, UCF, your best bet is to go through formal recruitment your freshman year. If you take a break before attending college say for a year, you will be one year older than most freshman going through recruitment if you do indeed decide to go through. If you wait longer, you risk being say a 21 year old freshman and having most of your pledge class still 18 years old, there is a lot of difference in age and maturity there.

Also, even though NPC and NPHC are 2 separate conferences, one NEVER joins one sorority from each, it doesn't work that way. Besides, why would someone want to? If one organization found out, you'd likely be terminated from both and it would look VERY bad.

Who said that she was interested in joining both?

True, I should not have formed my own conclusions but you never know.

Oh, no. I don't want to join both. I finally decided on NPC.

I won't be a 21 year old freshman. I'll be 20 but I look younger. I took time off for personal reasons. I did however keep up with my studies during my time off. I'm debating on whether to take clep to get credit. I graduated in the top 20% of my class

I wish you the best of luck if you decide to go through formal recruitment :)

I don't know your campus and that could change things. On my campus there were women who took a year off in between and had a fine recruitment. It isn't the same as going through as a sophomore. You would still be a freshman. So long as you understand that you will be in a new member class with 18 year olds and won't be superior to them in anyway, it probably won't be a big deal. We had a women on the board who talked of being a "mother" to the other new members. Please for all that is Holy don't do this.

Stay active in your off years by volunteering and etc. It will be important to note those activities and not just those in high school.

I've worked for through the whole break. I also volunteer at my old high school from time to time and until recently a local church.

I don't feel superior to anyone. Age isn't a big thing. I have a lot of 18 year old friends (a few coming in the fall as freshmen with me)