Recruitment as a grad student
 

As the title implies, I'm a graduate student interested in rushing.

I've read numerous other threads here about grad students seeking a bid (and even a few success stories) that give me hope that I might be able to finally be a part of a sisterhood.

I go to a large school that is mostly grad students and commuters with 3 NPC groups. I get the impression that recruitment isn't competitive or aggressive, based on my school's statistics. I live in a very, very diverse area of the country, which makes me think that there's no one mold for sisters here. One group offered on campus is the most well-known for taking graduate students, which I find quite lucky (you know, assuming someone wants a friendly 25 year old hanging around). My undergrad didn't have national groups, just local ones, which didn't appeal to me at the time, and the support of an NPC network means more to me as I get older.

I realize that a grad student may not fit in with a bunch of 18-22 year old undergrads but I'm really not interested in partying or a residential experience (my school doesn't even have houses). I'm interested in a national network that can support me across the country. My boyfriend is a med student and will be gone a lot over the next two years, and I'm starting my second grad degree next year so I understand my time constraints school and work require. I'd just love to be a part of something more.

I guess I'm wondering where to start. I know I need to contact my school to see whether I'm even allowed to rush... Should I consider rec letters, despite the fact that I'm non-traditional? Verify with nationals that the other two chapters on campus even take grad students? Reach out to the chapters themselves? I likely won't be able to consider recruitment until COR in the spring or possibly formal next fall but I'd rather know now whether this is even a possibility for me.

Contact the Greek life office on your campus. You will get the best information from them.

Will Greek Life know know if an individual NPC's policies allow pledging a grad student?

A member of my Phi Mu alumnae chapter on Long Island pledged as a grad student at FIU just a few years ago. I can reach out to her if it would be helpful. Just PM me.

That is a good question.

One group I am sure allows grad students, as several grad students have posted on this forum, including a successful recruitment at a neighboring school. The other two... I have no idea. I have not seen either one on any of the lists in this forum but that isn't to say that they don't. One was founded in a grad program, if I am not mistaken.

I feel like no matter what, I'm facing an uphill battle that may very well fall flat. Just wanted to get some perspective from some individuals who know the system far better than I.

It's just too hard for us to give you much in the way of specific advice; every campus is different and every year is different. Past performance is not a good predictor of future outcome, although there may be exceptions to this, as to anything else.

Definitely you need to contact the Greek Life office on your campus. And if you don't try, for sure you won't get a bid.

They have to in order to know who to allow to sign up for recruitment. So, yes, they are your best source of knowledge. DO NOT contact the individual chapters! That would be a very unwise move.

You seem to be focused on what the sorority can give you, and what your constraints are. Make sure you bring up what you have to offer as well.

Noted.

I'm not positive that I'm prepared to be the old girl in recruitment but I know it has happened, and I know I'm not *totally* atypical in a way that would make it hard to participate (unmarried, 25 but look young enough to get carded everywhere no matter what, fairly flexible career, 3.5 undergrad GPA and 3.7 current master's degree GPA, money for dues and slammin' recruitment outfits (j/k)).

I plan to call our Greek Life office tomorrow and I guess we'll see. I assume, based on the grad to undergrad ratio at my school, that grad students have rushed, but I don't see anything explicit so far.

Thanks to everyone who has chimed in! I know this is a bit of a dead horse topic but I do think my school, like others in my area (FIU and FAU most notably), could make this a possibility for me.

Isn't that kind of like saying that Greek Life would have to know each group's membership selection policies re grades & wouldn't allow someone with grades below all groups' minimums to sign up for rush? Because that's a problem we discuss on here all the time - Panhel's grade requirements to enroll in rush being dramatically lower than that of the individual sororities.

I do agree that contacting the chapters directly is not a good plan at all. At any rate, no matter where you get your information from, just remember that because a chapter can do something doesn't mean they will.

No, it is not. If a Greek Adviser doesn't know whether grad or married students are allowed in her groups, she should be fired.

Being a little older and a little wiser than your standard 18 year old freshman, if I am permitted to go through rush, I will have no expectations. I know one group lets in grad students, but that does not mean they will extend me a bid. I realize that there may be a great chance that I will get cut after round one or round two should I go through formal, simply because the groups on campus can't accept grad students or simply do not want an older woman involved in their greek organization.

I have my fingers crossed that this isn't a new question for our Greek Life office. Guess we'll see!

Please prepare yourself "to be the old girl in recruitment" if you participate, because that is what you are. It doesn't really matter that you "look young enough to get carded everywhere no matter what"- because mentally you aren't 18 and there is no comparison in maturity.

Again, past events can't predict what will happen in the future. Why? I'm sure you know the answer(s). Be realistic and candid when speaking to the Greek Life Advisor and I think you'll get a feel for your chances. We are talking about three NPC groups on campus. It's highly unlikely that he/she isn't aware of what those groups are like!

Sincerely wish you good luck.

A post in the colonization/expansion thread is indicating that a new colony is forming (probably... Obviously GreekChat isn't the best way to get guaranteed information) on my campus of a group that, based on anaballerina's thread from 2005, permits graduate students. This isn't necessarily good or bad news as past performance means nothing but might joining a colony be easier than formal recruitment?

I don't think anyone here is going to tell you that getting a bid from a colony is easier. Quite the opposite, is my understanding.