Thread: AI in School
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Old 07-14-2005, 10:44 AM
LPIDelta LPIDelta is offline
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Texas but missing Wisconsin
Posts: 1,223
I was recently advisor to a group where one of the collegiate members was actually a few months older than me (I was 28-29, now 30), and another was a few months younger. The older women very clearly understood that they were going to have to be flexible and work with younger women who did not bring the same level of life experience to the table--and, in turn, they brought a wealth of maturity to the group that, as an advisor, I found refreshing and helpful.

The younger women were at first a little suspicious as to why an older woman would want to join a sorority--and once the women explained where they were coming from, everyone was very welcoming and open. I think establishing an understanding and expectations upfront made it easier for everyone.

I think the school environment plays a very significant role in older members going Greek. I know in my part of the world, "non-traditional" students are common, and a group could really be missing out from a significant pool of potential members if it were not open to the idea. The other student group I often see overlooked in the recruiting process are international students who will be at school for their entire undergraduate career. As students get busier and busier, at some schools it may become necessary to explore new avenues for membership.

If you're older than the traditional student and interested in joining, as others have said, go through recruitment. Be prepared to explain why you're interested at this point in your life and share what you have to offer the group--and be aware that the younger women are probably curious more than have carrying a bias against age.
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