[PenguinTrax]

First, I want to join a sorority, but I have a lot of questions because I am now going to be a senior (graduating in May) and am already 21. Is this really lame if I pledge this late?? I am also going to be going to grad school, though at a different university, so maybe I could continue my membership at this point?? My big concern is that I have waited too long to join and now it will be too late.

I've seen juniors and seniors join sororities and stay active as alumnae during grad school and beyond. I won't lie and say that being a senior may count against you BUT it also works for you. I'm going to suggest that you go through Informal Recruitment (C.O.B.) instead of Formal Recruitment but only if the majority of groups will not reach campus total even after taking quota during formal. Because the groups will fulfill their need to take a full class of freshmen, they will be more inclined to pledge an upperclassman during C.O.B.

Second-- I have no idea how I would find the right sorority for me. (I know that if I rush, then I will have this question answered a lot better, but I also think that there is a big difference between sororities and all.)

The best way to find the right sorority is to research the groups on your campus on a national level - find out what they stand for, their programs, history and scholarship standards. Then - get to know the members of the chapters on campus that you're interested in. Let them know you are interested in membership and let them work with you to learn more about their chapter.

Third-- Do most girls who pledge do it with a friend? My problem is that being a senior, none of my friends will want to pledge with me because they have already decided not to awhile ago and they'll also be graduating soon. Other friends of mine joined awhile ago and we don't talk much anymore becuase we've both become involved in different things.

No, the majority of women don't pledge with a friend. While it's true many girls go through recruitment with a friend, more often than not they pledge different groups and remain friends. The purpose of recruitment is to meet new people and make new friends.

Finally, is there a good way for me to find out more about the sororities?

alpha delta pi - NPC

alpha kappa alpha - NPHC group

alpha omicron pi - NPC

alpha sigma alpha - NPC

alpha pi - local multicultural group@sjsu, http://www.sjsu.edu/orgs/alpha_pi/

alpha pi gamma - must be local group, no website on sjsu.edu

delta gamma - NPC

delta zeta - NPC

delta phi epsilon - NPC

zeta phi beta - NPHC

sigma alpha iota - music sorority, http://www.sai-national.org/

sigma iota alpha - Latina group, http://www.hermandad-sia.org/

sigma kappa - NPC

sigma lambda gamma-Latina group, http://www.uiowa.edu/~slgalpha/

sigma lambda sigma - only 2 chapters, both in Illinois. Don't know if this is the same group as what is on your campus: http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Den/1968/

sigma sigma sigma - NPC

All NPC groups are linked via http://www.npcwomen.org

All NPHC groups are linked via http://www.nphc.org

Are these all the same everywhere, or can they be called different names at other campuses?

They are called the same on all campuses. I've given you links with which you can do further research.

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Fraternally,
Barbara
Zeta Tau Alpha Alumna

If you have to go around telling everyone you're in charge you're not much of a leader.
Tallahassee Area Alumnae of ZTA
Tallahassee Alumnae Panhellenic & Sorority Recruitment FAQ

[This message has been edited by PnguinTrax (edited August 24, 2000).]