Where would I feel most comfortable? (Long....)
 

I'm a Junior Transfer in my late twenties who is seriously into volunteer work and wants to make new friends, keep up with volunteer work and be a helper in general. I'm extremely interested in Greek Life for these reasons.

I've searched the forums and read up on some Sororities that I am interested in approaching during rush as well as information on rushing at my age. Yet, some of what I've found has left me in deep thought and I wondered if the ladies here on Greek Chat may be able to offer another opinion.

About myself:

As I said, I'm in my late twenties.
3.0-3.3 GPA
Active in the Performing Arts at the Community College I'm transferring from.
Very active with Volunteer Work
Many past internships and as a result, many possible recs are available for me to request.
I live in the Mountain West.


The Sororities are:

XXZ has very little information online. Their National Website doesn't have a link to individual University Chapters and no contact information for the local chapter is available on the University's Greek Life pages. I'm interested in them, but wonder if I won't feel as comfortable even though they are a traditionally XYZ Ethnic Group Sorority, and even though I am part of XYZ Ethnic Group I've never had much association with others of my Ethnic Group due to geographic reasons. I wonder if this will cause myself, and potential Sisters discomfort.

XYZ is a NPC and while I adore their philanthropy, motto and general modus operandi, I've read that for someone my age to even receive a bid is extremely unusual. So, I'm sort of afraid to try.


I'm also interested in all of the NPC Sororities that are active on campus, but have my preferences, as all of us do. I think that it would be a complete privilege to receive a bid from one, let alone more than one.

My friends say that even throwing my hat into the rush process is silly, then again, they think that Greek Organizations are silly. Which is an opinion that I don't share. :)



So, ladies.... do I sound like someone who might actually fit into Greek Life....or would you advise me to look to other activities on Campus?

Thank you!

The best way to get a feel for the sororities is to actually participate in recruitment, learn more about the organization, and talk to the members. It's fine that you already have your preferences, but it's a little silly to form those opinions because you've read or heard something about them. (I figured since you're a transfer student, you haven't gone through recruitment at this campus before.)

That said, I don't think anyone here is qualified enough to determine whether or not you'd "fit." We don't know you or your school. Even if we did, it would still be silly to make that call. It's like PNMs coming here -- they tell us a few facts about themselves and ask us what their chances of getting a bid are. WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

What we do know is that if you go through recruitment, there's a possibility you might just get a bid. If you don't go through recruitment, you won't get a bid. The choice is yours.

I already registered for Rush, so I look forward to seeing what I learn about each group. I also hope that Rush will be a very positive experience, whether I receive a bid or not.

The preference for XYZ is based on the experiences of two young women who are in XYZ. They married into my family, and we're all of similar age....so we got to chatting and all of what they had to say about XYZ was positive. So I did some research and was even more impressed by what I read.
Just an FYI so that makes a bit of sense.

This has been brought up before here. Although it is unusual for a non-traditional student (and late-twenties would put you into that category) to join an NPC sorority, there are campuses where this is possible. I would say if you want to go through rush, go through. If you feel wildly out of place at round one, you probably have your answer about whether this is going to work for you. I can't speak to Ethnic group sororities, but since their recruitment doesn't function the same I'd assume their "typical member" also is not the same.

Thanks DubaiSis

Also if you love doing volunteer work, check out a volunteer organization. Gamma Sig, Alpha Phi Omega, might be a good choice for you.

Those are only a good choice IF you aren't using them as a "consolation prize" for not getting a bid to an NPC or NPHC or other social group. Alpha Phi Omega is also coed. It also considers itself a service fraternity, not a volunteer organization. :)

A pretty basic thing to say is: if the school you are transferring to is listed in this thread, you don't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting a bid at your age. Other than that, DS is right - if you go through round one of rush and find no one in any group you can converse with or vice versa, you'll know it isn't for you. If you find a spark somewhere, keep on going.

As far as your two in-laws in XYZ, unless they were in XYZ at your future school, that was THEIR experience. The XYZ chapter at your school may be light years away from what they described, and had they gone through rush at your school, they may have hated XYZ. Don't let what they say color your preferences one way or the other.

Thank you for your feedback.

I would never consider these organizations to be a consultation prize. Sorry if it came off that way. Gamma Sig is a co-ed sorority-- and yes we had boys. But there were just two. It was a GREAT part of my Greek experience. I love both of my orgs. :)

ETA-- I also knew that APhiO is a co-ed fraternity, but not knowing what campus she's at, neither of these may be available. So I was thinking there might be some other way, a volunteer organization, for her to get involved with. Whether it be a GLO or just "Volunteer Club."

Neither of those organizations exist where I'm going to school, and from what I understand, the Campus is NOT looking to expand to new orgs at this time.

There may be other interesting organizations to join that may not be GLO's, as you said.

I'll start a recuitment story thread as it gets closer to that time. :)

Bump

If you want to be around women more your own age, rather than 18-21 year olds, please consider a local chapter of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, www.gfwc.org. Some cities also have junior GFC groups where the members are all in the 21-40 age range. GFWC members are students, working women, stay-at-home moms, and retirees, united by a shared commitment to volunteer community service. I love my GFWC sisters.

If I move to an area where they are active after I'm finished with Undergrad, I'll definitely give the local chapter a call.

Thanks for the tip.

Some schools don't count bringing APO or GSS to the campus as being affected in any way by the Social Greek Organizations on campus anymore than the Social Greek Organizations would affect whether to bring on College Republicans, Circle K or Pi Delta Phi French Honorary...

You had mentioned that you had access to recommendations from numerous internships, but I wanted to make sure that you understand that only sorority members (for most, alumnae, but some allow collegians) of that specific sorority can write a recommendation for a PNM. They do not have to be from the same chapter.