Part-time/Commuter Membership Process

[Black Minded]

Good greetings to all:

I have recently become a student again after 6-7 years away from school for a variety of reasons. I work full-time, but also carry a full-time student's courseload (12 credits) and will continue to do so for the forseeable future, until graduation. The University I attend has a chapter of an organization that I am (and have been for a very long time) interested in joining.

My question is, how many of you sought membership in your respective organization while not a full-time on-campus student? How many of you had fellow participants that were older than you (I'm 26, will be 27 in the Fall), and worked during the day? My age doesn't bother me, after all my understanding is that these organizations are for a lifetime, not 18-21. "Making time for it" doesn't bother me either; believe me if I can work 50-60 hours a week and still carry 3-4 classes a term (and I have for over a year now) I can find some time for this thing that I've wanted for so long. It's also important to me to make it as an undergraduate, as it will be several years more before I receive my degree and am eligible for graduate membership. If I need to drop a class or two, so be it. I'd just like to hear if any of you had or had heard of a similar experience.

I've wanted this for so long that I'm not willing to give up on it. Thank you for your time.

--J

[LionOfJudah]

Well I think it is a personal preference. I am assuming that you are seeking undergraduate admittance into your choice fraternity. I have encountered quite a few gentlemen who have been "non-traditional" students and pledged in the undergraduate realm. My best reference would be George Mason U in Northern VA. A large part of that campus is "commuter". They have chapters of well adjusted sorority and fraternity members. So again it is personal preference. I personally would be sure as you "make time" for your "process" that you are not neglecting your work environment, when I crossed I was 20 and still had issues keeping up with my lab work and org chem. classes. So it is truly up to you and your assessment of your situation and self. If you are granted the opportunity by that chapter to aspire for membership and you feel it fits this time in your life go for it. You made the comment "my understanding is that these organizations are for a lifetime, not 18-21" that point can be reversed to say Sigma, Alpha, Kappa, nor Omega are not going anywhere so if you wanted to wait you could. I don't know that I could have waited any longer. I was "dying" to pledge the moment I walked onto the campus but I had to wait until Junior year. So do a little more soul searching and go for it IMO.

LoJ