Military Vet Transfer
 

I'm currently in the military finishing my term and I have started looking at colleges that I would like to transfer to. I have always been interested in Greek life even before i joined the military 2 years ago.

My question: How understanding or welcoming would chapters be to a transfer veteran?

I plan on transferring in the summer to become more familiar and involved with the school and Hopefully rushing in the Fall.

It really depends on the school and what the campus culture is like.

I haven't decided what school but I have narrowed it down to my top 10:

App State, U of Louisville, U of Toledo, UNC Charlotte, Georgia State, Florida Atlantic, University of West Florida, Ohio University, University of Miami (Ohio), and Middle Tennessee.

Does anyone have any insight on the Greek life at these campuses and if they would be welcoming to someone of my background (Military vet & Transfer)

Are you a man or a woman?

lol I am a female! I joined the military to pay for college

I don't know the answer to your question. I just wanted to say Thanks for your service!

Thank you! I'm proud to have been serving, it has been one of the most tough but rewarding experiences !

I think you are probably going to have to narrow it down to maybe one or two schools before we can really offer much help. Decide which university will offer you the best education in your field and then look at Greek life :) Glad you are home safely.

Its so hard to choose but your right I need to narrow it down.

& Thank you I'm glad I was blessed to make it home.

You won't be extended or denied a bid based on your veteran status. It will just be one more thing about you that helps you to be memorable like any other "extracurricular" and is certainly something that a chapter would view as a strong indicator that you work well with others and have leadership qualities.

I would say that today's Greeks are understanding and supportive of the military. We had many Greeks involved at ROTC at my undergrad. We did pledge a sister who, like you, was a veteran and in her early 20s. We bid her because she was a great fit with the members, however, and she would have been that great fit with or without her military background. She was actually older than many of the members we would normally pledge, so she was an exception. But she was (and is!) an exceptional person and, as I said, would have been a great fit no matter her age or her veteran status. At the end of the day, that is what sororities are looking for: a member who is a good fit for their chapter. And the time to determine that is during recruitment. So definitely give it a shot and see what happens!

Veteran status aside (as per the above), do note that older students and upperclassmen may not have as competitive of a recruitment as a first semester 18 year old freshman on a "traditional" campus. But it really depends on the make up of the student body and the make up of the sororities themselves. If older prospective new members are the norm, it won't be as big of a deal; at others your year in school or age could account for early cuts in the recruitment process. Some of the schools you're considering are "commuter schools," and will probably have a more diverse student body and Greek system when it comes to second career or older students. Ask around and see. That being said, I encourage you to pick the right school for you and to register for recruitment to see what it is all about. Student life is just one of many considerations when deciding on what college to attend.

Thank you for your insight! You actually gave me advice that should help me narrow down my choices I never thought about the "type" of college I wanted to attend I was going more off of my major only but after researching a little more into what you said you are completely right. A commuter school that is diverse is the type of college I should looking into.

University of Toledo
Youngstown State University
UNLV
U of Louisville
GSU

Are the def Universities that I have started to Apply to . Hopefully I can find my home away from home there !

It's not really your military service that might get in the way, it's more your age. At a lot of schools chapters have heavy preferences towards 18 year old freshmen.

Also one of the things you need to ask yourself is how will you deal with being surrounded by a bunch of silly people right out of high school after everything you've already experienced? It could possibly drive you insane!

You have a good point and I've thought about that and I still want to rush. I never got that experience or even the option because I joined the military so soon after graduating high school so I could pay for college and have the experience that I really want.

Live-in requirements may also be something you may need to take into account. I know that UToledo has greek housing, so you may need to think about how you feel living in a double bedroom in a house with strict alcohol and visitation policies.

Yes! & I could see why that would be a problem for someone that has lived on there own but Alot of people don't know this but on some post (mine) Unfortunately we live with on other people in the barracks so living with another person isn't a problem. At least it will be someone That i share common goals with.