Regardless of how many years you plan on staying in school, if it was your junior status that hurt you this time around, chances are you senior status will hurt you even more. It wouldn't be right for you to set yourself up for disappointment again.
I know how disappointing it can be and I can imagine how you must feel when your good friends are running around to their sorority activities, but recruitment is a competitive environment and if your school has a tough Greek system, being in junior or senior standing no matter how many years you have ahead of you can really hurt you.
AChiOSnap made a really good point about how your friend(s) are 1 member or so out of an entire chapter. Friends can always put in good words for you, but they can't necessarily sway an entire chapter. I am sure that your friends were being sincere when they said they felt you'd be a great addition to their chapter, but there's no telling why. You could have been dropped for any number of reasons, but if you think your age was a factor, it most likely was.
Check out COBs/CORs, like the other girls suggested, if you're still interested. If informal is less competitive, that may work out well for you. I admire your dedication. Just keep in mind that things may not work out this time around, but if it means enough to you to give it another shot, good luck! I really hope things work out for you.
