23 year old transfer - too old to rush?
 

Hello there!

Just wanted to get some input from those who are most familiar with greek life regarding how old is too old to pledge?

I will be transferring to a private, urban campus in the fall and just turned 23 years old. I will be in Junior-standing and have a great GPA from my previous institution. I have always wanted to join a sorority, but as a commuter at my previous institution, the time requirements just weren't feasible. At my new institution, I will be living right near campus, and I would love to get as involved as possible for my last 2 years.

I have browsed the forum already and have read threads asking the same question I am, and have many times come across the common question of, "Will you be able to tolerate being around 18-19 year old pledges?". I truly do not see socializing with younger girls as being a potential issue as I am a very social, young, and open-minded person, and having once been that age, I remember exactly what it was like, and all the excitement and blissful naivety that comes along with it.

So, to all of you, aside from the above, do you have any other concerns about my age? And what do you honestly think about the idea of me rushing at 23?

Some things to take into consideration are:

1) 76% of full-time undergraduates at the institution I will be attending are <24 y/o
2) Since it is an urban, private instituion, greek life is not as prominent as it is at southern universities and Big 10 institutions
3) Transferring is not uncommon here - my school accepts about 2,000 transfer students a year and the total enrollment is about 12,000

Thanks for your time and feedback :)

Go for it.

I rushed as an older student, and although sometimes it was hard for me to bond as closely with my pledge sisters due to the age difference, I was quick to bond with older sisters who were my age (and in the same year as me at school).

I definitely think you should go for it! Make sure and make it clear why you didn't join before, and why you are looking to join now.

Key word: urban.
That usually means an average student who is older than at a traditional college, more likely to be working full time or at least part time, and be more mature.
Thus you have sororities who are accustomed to a non-typical student.

I agree with FSUZeta and AGDCanada11: Go for it!:)

There was a poster here a couple years ago who was rushing at a non-traditional campus. I personally thought she was way too old (older than you, but I don't recall all the details), but who am I to say, especially without knowing the exact school or her personally. She did end up pledging and it sounded like her pledge class was mostly older students, so she wasn't really out of her league. 23 year old junior at Bama? No, don't bother. 23 year old junior at a CUNY? Why not? You could have a great experience, although it's not going to be the same thing as the more traditional pledge class of 50 almost exclusively 18 year olds. And who would want it to be? Gack. But you could spend a couple years really enjoying the meat of collegiate sorority membership - scholarship, leadership and service - with maybe less giggling about boys.

I think it is becoming more common in many campuses, maybe not the big flagship school like U-Texas, but they had some 23-25 at Texas State and U. Houston.

And that's how it should be. People pick the type of college they want to attend for a lot of reasons, and social life is part of it. You shouldn't have to miss out on all of the great parts of college just because you weren't ready at 18. You just have to understand that going to school a few years later does change the dynamic and choose your school accordingly. Having a live in chapter house experience, for instance, probably isn't going to happen if a sorority is recruiting pledges who are 20+. The good news for the sororities is the girls will probably kick ass and takes names over everything they choose to do, because they more fully understand their commitments. You NEVER want older students in your classes because you know they're gonna kill the curve. Unless that older student is your sorority sister who is making your chapter win awards at convention ;)

Based on the info you've given us, I'd say to absolutely do it! Best wishes and let us know how it goes.

I say go for it!