Quote:
Originally Posted by AGDee
The reality is, the highest quality collegiate sorority experience is dependent on more than one year, and probably more than two years of time in a collegiate chapter. Yes, there is the advantage for the chapter to have longer retention, but it is also better for the member. From a financial perspective, the first term is really expensive for the new member. From new member fees to dues to an Initiation fee, it's a hard hit. Costs go down considerably after that first term so if you simply look at the Return on Investment for the new member, financially, if that first term's costs get you 8 semesters of collegiate experience versus 2 semesters, you're getting a better deal.
During the new member period, it's a big learning curve. You're getting to know the women in the chapter, learning the history, etc. You aren't eligible to run for an office yet. Ideally, leadership begins at a committee level and grows into a coordinator or chairman position and then into an Executive Board/Council role. Being in a chapter for only a year or two robs you of those leadership opportunities. Of course there are anecdotal experiences that will contradict that statement, but the reality is, leadership is generally developed, not an inherent gift. When you're in the chapter only a year or two, it could be difficult to get the chance to live-in when there is a house. When you're only in the chapter for a year or two, it could be difficult to be a big sister/sister-mother. Your own experience as a Junior/Senior new member is lessened by simply not being around for as long. You won't master recruitment skills or get the same feeling of tradition and you'll be gone in the blink of an eye. You won't get the same number or level of personal development programs either.
There are a lot of disadvantages for the chapter itself too, but I decided, this time, to focus on the disadvantages for the new member. You simply cannot get the full collegiate experience in that short of a time period. When I see the "rushing as a senior" threads, my first thought is always "Why?"
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I disagree with this entire post.
Juniors who join may have gotten a bid BECAUSE of their leadership roles in other campus activities. There's no reason those skills can't transfer to sorority roles as well. Not to mention the women (of all class levels) that they've met through those activities who may also become sisters.
As far as learning history...chapters still do that?? (Snarky and sarcastic...but not really. Look at NM programs nowadays.)
The "older" pledges I've known often graduate with nothing but love in their hearts for the sorority and nothing but good to say about the experience. To contrast, the girls who've been involved since freshman year are the ones usually saying "I can't wait to get the eff out of here." Varies between both these groups, of course. It also depends a lot on chapter size. If you're in a chapter under 80 or so, you probably will have enough roles in 2 years that you'll feel sated. By contrast, a woman in a chapter of 200 can stay active for 4 years and never do anything other than nominally serve on A committee. I don't see where that experience is more "fulfilling."