Quote:
Originally Posted by afrikanscholar
Well I'm 40 years old and just decided that i want to go back to school. The only problem is I dont want to show up to school and apply for a sorority if it's not permitted to my age group. So please help me not make a fool of myself.  |
While I'm sure more seasoned GCers will soon be on to give you a better idea, this is what I've surmised from my experience at my school and also reading GC threads:
- Most (if not all) groups do not have an age limit, per se, but because the selection process is to a certain extent based on who a group feels comfortable with, there will be many groups that will not be able to see past the fact that you are much older than them. Some of it may be for superficial reasons, but I can imagine my former self in college feeling sort of skeptical in whether I could have a peer-relationship with a 40 year old woman in a sorority. I'd like to think I'm more enlightened now, but that is one thing maturity brings.
- Being barred from the process because of age and receiving a bid are two separate things. A lot will depend on where you are going through recruitment. If it is a competitive recruitment school, women who are less likely to fit the "ideal sorority candidate" mold for that school are unfortunately more likely to get through the process without having received a bid. If it is a less competitive school in terms of recruitment, then who is to say whether there will be a group of 20 something women who find that you would be a great addition to their group and you feel you would like to join.
- In short, find out more about your school and how competitive the process is to better assess your specific situation, and then decide if the chance of having a sorority experience is worth taking the chance of going through recruitment and not receiving a bid.