Can someone answer my question?
 

Hi.
I'm new here and figured that this is where I need to come for help.
I am 35 years old, married, and have an 8 year old son. I just completed
my Associate's degree and I am continuing at a state university next month, for my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. The reason why it took me so long to get this far is that I have always had to support myself from 18 years old and on. I have had to provide a home for myself
and work full time in order to supprt myself. I have worked very hard these past several years and feel that I have just a little more to go. I will be attending full time and working full time as well. I don not feel like a typical 35 year old and feel as if my heart is very young. I am thrilled to be finishing up my undergraduate career and would also like to fully experience college the right way. I have always wanted to join a sorority, and wonder if this might be the time that I would be able to do that. I admire the sisterhood of sororities and would like to be a part of that.
I am proud to be attending a great university and would love for to make a sorority part of my life. If anyone can respond and tell me your thoughts and even what advice you might have , I have both ears open. Also, if there is a particular sorority that you might know of that might have a member/ members my age, I would love to find out which they are.
I will be attending UNC Charlotte and at this moment cannot recall the sororities by name. If anyone could shed some light here, I would REALLY appreciate it. Thanks!

First you need to ask yourself what KIND of sorority you want to pursue.

I'll be blunt and honest and say that if it's NPC sororities at UNC-Charlotte you want to pursue, you may not stand a chance. The undergraduate chapters are comprised of girls 18-22 who won't want a 35 year old mother joining their sorority.

Looks like your campus as NPHC and Multi-Cultural organizations as well.

I was initiated at UNCC. The NPC sororities are: Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Zeta, and Sigma Kappa. I am thrilled to hear of your persistence to graduate. UNCC is a great college... I recently transferred to NC State. As far as advice on what to do? I would say first thing first call the Greek Life office, if I remember correctly it is located in the Cone Center. You can call the main line for UNCC and tell them what you need and they will direct you to the right person. You can also ask for Jenn Miranda. She is an adpi graduate and a very special friend of mine, she also works closely with the campus and incoming freshman. I hope this helps. If anything you can work with the sororities in their endeavors in their individual philanthropies. ZTA's is Susan G. Komen; breast cancer awareness and education, ADPi's is Ronald McDonald House; Delta Zeta I believe is the deaf children; Chi Omega's is Make A Wish Foundation, and Sigma Kappa's is something with the elderly I believe. Best Wishes to you!

I personally would look into maybe a multicultural or maybe a service organization. With my chapter, we had a woman who was I think either 30 or early 30's and had a 2 or 3 year old son, and she became an active sister with our chapter. Its definitely worth pursuing all options available to you.

In my chapter right now, one of our members is a few years older than the chapter average, she's married, and she has two kids. Surprisingly enough, she's one of the more active sisters and she has taken on fundraising, treasurer, and possibly one other position, I can't remember. We have a small chapter of about 13 girls right now, and for her to be as involved as she is amazes me. She comes to all meetings, philanthropy events, fundraisers, and social events. And obviously on top of all of this she has school. I honestly don't know how she does it.

It is a huge time commitment, especially if you already have a family. In most cases, chapters have at least a couple mandatory events each week that all sisters must attend.

And I can't really answer any questions concerning formal recruitment, as my school doesn't have that. But from what I can tell, you might have a very difficult time bonding with sisters in that environment, if that's what they partake in at your school. Formal recruitment usually lasts a week. At my school, bid day wasn't until about 4 weeks into the semester, and you could take all of that time to get to know your potential new members through as many recruitment and social events that you wanted to have.

Another option (and you'll have to do your research because only some sororities do this) is to become an initiated alumna. I don't have details concerning this, but you'd most likely apply through the national organization and go through an initiation ceremony. After that, you could volunteer for the chapter on your campus or join an alumnae chapter in your area. And once you learn more about the sorority you could become an advisor.

Basically, do some research. Contact the school and the national organizations of each sorority on your campus. Ask them questions concerning your situation, figure out what your options are, analyze your current situation, and then make an informed decision.

Alumnae initiation is NOT this easy, and it is done, when it is done (which is rarely) by invitation. You don't just fill out a form and get initiated. As the OP is searching to "fully experience college" alumna initiation is not what she wants. You cannot participate as an active member of a college chapter if you are an AI, any more than any other alumna can.

mruff77 - I would be sure to ask the Greek life office questions about housing and whether or not it's required of sorority members to live in the house. Also, whether the majority of women pledging are freshmen. If the answer to these two things is "yes" you might feel uncomfortable in a sorority or have a tough time receiving a bid. This is a generalization but it usually holds up.

Remember, if you do go into this, you will have time commitments you have to fulfill. No one is going to give you a "pass" on mandatory events because of your marital/mom status.

NO..NO...NO!

Instead of suggesting AI, please take some time to familiarize yourself with the discussion in the Alumnae Initiation forum. THX.

UNCC sororities are housed in a dorm. Since it's campus sponsored housing, they probably have more flexable rules about living in the house. Most chapters that have live-in rules are that way because of the need to pay the mortgage.

UNCC is not your typical "Southern" school like UNC Chapel Hill. It's also got a higher percentage of "Non-trad" students and students that are living at home and hoping to transfer to a different university later(which may account for the low Greek numbers). I don't think it could hurt to rush, but I wouldn't go in expecting a bid.

That's kinda what I thought, but I wasn't sure, and thought better to err on the side of caution. Thanks sis :)

I was thinking about you the other day, AF. Haven't seen you around lately. glad you're back!

<3

I'm around, just not much anymore. I spend a lot of time in meetings, at bid openings, etc and am not as much at my computer as I used to be. And the BB is SLOOOW on GC.

Thank you everyone for your advice and help. I figured that this would be a good place to start in order to know what the right questions are that I SHOULD ask when I call the school. Thank you DMBabyZTA for your informative insight. I do know that Greek organizations are not that easy to get into, and know that there would be more than a mere application that needs to be filled out. Thank you all for leading me in the right direction here. I really would like people to know that I have never asked for any type of "PASS" out of obligation because I am a mother or wife. I never bite off more than I can chew and owuld not partake in anything that I felt was not worthwhile and enriching for myself and in return, my family. There really is nothing like having parents( or a spouse ) around who really love what they are doing and are extremely happy because they are living a fulfilling life. I kind of feel that becoming a member of a sorority would add to this fulfilling life that I am building for myself.

ABSOLUTELY NOT! ALPHA FROG DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE SPEAKING ABOUT A SUBJECT AT A COLLEGE YOU HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT!! I am so shocked that you would even give her false info for her to follow. All hail to UNC CH UGH enough!! No UNCC isn't like UNC-CH. For one the students aren't stuck up and think they are God's gift to the entire world just because their basketball team won a few cough championships. Congrats UNC .. you get the biggest prize for having convicts wear your school's paraphernalia. Enough about that rant. THE TRUTH IS THAT UNCC HAS A GREAT GREEK VILLAGE, HOUSING ALL OF THE NPC SORORITIES. AND AS FAR AS I KNOW IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE THERE UNLESS THERE ARE EMPTY ROOMS. THE UNIVERSITY OWNS ALL OF THE GREEK HOUSES. THEY ARE ALL THE SAME JUST DIFFERENT LETTERS ON EACH. BOTTOM LINE, JUST CALL THE OFFICE LIKE I SAID TO. DON'T LISTEN TO THE REST OF THESE IDIOTS WHO THINK THEY KNOW EVERYTHING AND THAT WANT TO START A ARGUMENT ABOUT EVERYTHING ON GC. AND PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH!

God, you're just as bad as the OP.

Thank you, sincerely. You are just the person I was looking for .
Good luck to you at UNC- CH and I hope to meet you again in these forums :)