Women who start out at community college

[DeltaBetaBaby]

As KSUViolet just pointed out, we've had a lot of threads lately from upperclassmen (especially seniors) wanting to rush. Many are transfers from a CC.

With the rising costs of college, I'm hearing the "start at a CC" advice being passed around more and more often. If women do this, are they also deciding to never be in a sorority? What, if anything, should we be doing to accommodate these women? I know some schools have a junior quota, but I'm wondering if, even then, the CC transfers are at a disadvantage as compared to women who have established themselves on campus and made friends in the various sororities.

Or is this not a problem at all?

[carnation]

It is a problem at the competitive universities I'm familiar with, primarily because the women are upperclassmen and no, it's not fair. It does help a bit to come in with a very high average and/or knowing sorority members but it can definitely affect your recruitment. (Not to the point of getting shut wholly out of the sororities.)

It's probably different in, say, Florida and California where so many more women start out at CCs.

[KSUViolet06]

This is probs not going to be the super-PC answer and I'm trying to word it nicely:

I tend to think that being a soph or junior transfer doesn't = "kissing your shot at being Greek goodbye."

HOWEVER, I do think that if you're transfering into a really competitive recruitment, you DO need to go into it understanding that some chapters just aren't going to be interested in you and being okay with that.

Julie Junior can't go into recruitment only wanting Super Sigma and Awesome Alpha and Big Chapter Beta or Dream Chapter Delta who have a history of only pledging freshmen. Frannie Freshman can say "I only want to be in Alpha, Sigma, Beta or Delta or I'm dropping out" and she just might get one of those. As a junior transfer at a Big SEC school where no one knows you at all, those top groups are most likely not going to be interested.

You have to be willing to say to yourself "I'm interested in being Greek and finding sisterhood in ANY chapter who is interested in me" not "I'm only interested in like these 4 chapters who only pledge the best of the best freshmen."

You should be willing to take some invites from chapters that maybe get overlooked and aren't super popular (but are still able to offer you a GREAT experience.)

If you're a transfer and you're going into recruitment only wanting the same list of top chapters that only typically take freshmen, you are going to be disappointed.

I'm sure there are instances of those types of chapters pledging transfers, but I don't think it's something you should go in being focused on.

I really hope I worded that in a way that peeps can understand. I'm a rambler.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by carnation

It is a problem at the competitive universities I'm familiar with, primarily because the women are upperclassmen and no, it's not fair. It does help a bit to come in with a very high average and/or knowing sorority members but it can definitely affect your recruitment. (Not to the point of getting shut wholly out of the sororities.)

It's probably different in, say, Florida and California where so many more women start out at CCs.

Not at the larger, more competitive recruitments in Florida. Those women just need to remain open to any opportunities that might present themselves,not come in with preconceived notions and give each chapter a chance. Sorry for all the cliches', but that is how it is.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I kinda wish there was a way to "rush" these girls the semester before they transfer, and bring them into the fold for junior year.

[AnotherKD]

I think it will be a big thing in Virginia as well. I'm not sure how long this program has been going on or exactly how it works, but there is a program that has guaranteed admissions to almost any Virginia school (even great schools like UVA) in agreements with community colleges in the area. Not saying anywhere in VA is as cutthroat as the SEC, but just another example.

[angels&angles]

Originally Posted by AnotherKD

I think it will be a big thing in Virginia as well. I'm not sure how long this program has been going on or exactly how it works, but there is a program that has guaranteed admissions to almost any Virginia school (even great schools like UVA) in agreements with community colleges in the area. Not saying anywhere in VA is as cutthroat as the SEC, but just another example.

Really? This is a little OT and I'm going to come off pretty snobby (because I kinda am), but... really? I know there are some students who are smart and driven and go to CC right after HS to save costs. But probably 80% of people I know who went to CC couldn't get into a 4-year school.

And in a lot of ways I'm not sure that a CC is going to prepare you for upperclassmen-level classes and culture at a school like UVA. So why give "guaranteed" admission to these people, when more qualified applicants can't get in? I can see giving a little leeway in admissions to a CC transfer, but GUARANTEED admission? Is this guaranteed if you have X GPA, or just guaranteed if you graduate? A 2.5 from Tiny Town CC is not going to get you far at UVA.

/pretension

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by angels&angles

And in a lot of ways I'm not sure that a CC is going to prepare you for upperclassmen-level classes and culture at a school like UVA. So why give "guaranteed" admission to these people, when more qualified applicants can't get in? I can see giving a little leeway in admissions to a CC transfer, but GUARANTEED admission? Is this guaranteed if you have X GPA, or just guaranteed if you graduate? A 2.5 from Tiny Town CC is not going to get you far at UVA.

/pretension

I've never heard of a program that didn't have a GPA requirement.


In any case, my original question was less about "will they have a hard time with rush?", and more about "should something be done to remedy that?". Obviously a junior quota is one thing that helps.

Just to be crazy for a minute, what would happen in NPC let chapters pledge women who were in CC's, but not initiate until they were at a 4-year school?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Just to be crazy for a minute, what would happen in NPC let chapters pledge women who were in CC's, but not initiate until they were at a 4-year school?

That would really depend how close the CC is to the college in question. Among other things.

[AnotherKD]

Yes, there is a requirement that the transfers meet the standards of an agreement between each school. that being said, if they have such-and-such gpa and meet those, it's much easier to transfer, allowing them to have that option more readily. So I just think there will be a lot more transfers within the VA colleges.

[AlphaFrog]

If you go to a CC to save money, it may not be in your best interests to then go to a 4 year and blow all your savings on sorority dues, mixers, t-shirts, etc. The schools we're mainly talking about that have super-competitive rushes also tend to have super-expensive dues. Just a thought.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

If you go to a CC to save money, it may not be in your best interests to then go to a 4 year and blow all your savings on sorority dues, mixers, t-shirts, etc. The schools we're mainly talking about that have super-competitive rushes also tend to have super-expensive dues. Just a thought.

So sororities should be exclusively for the privileged?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

So NPC sororities should be exclusively for the privileged?

You all are only talking about NPC sororities.

Non-NPC sororities each have their own policies for CC transfers. The biggest message is that most non-NPC sororities do not accept applicants who are currently enrolled at CCs. That's why there are "CC Sororities" for those who don't want to transfer to a 4 year college/university or don't want to wait until alumnae chapter.

/back in my lane

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You all are only talking about NPC sororities.

Non-NPC sororities each have their own policies for CC transfers. The biggest message is that most non-NPC sororities do not accept applicants who are currently enrolled at CCs. That's why there are "CC Sororities" for those who don't want to transfer to a 4 year college/university or don't want to wait until alumnae chapter.

/back in my lane

Not in the post you quoted, but that's not really here nor there. :-)

Is there an NPHC policy, or is it up to the individual orgs? In the NPC, it's actually a conference policy, and at least a few orgs have had to close existing chapters at CC's (or their last-century equivalent) to join the NPC.

In any case, I think there's a larger discussion to be had about NPC policies and how we do/do not (and whether we should/should not) accommodate non-traditional students. We've come a long way with the different recruitment styles and such, but I think there may be more room to think creatively about these things. We say again and again that "membership is for life", but then we don't let people join if they didn't make that decision when they were 17/18.

Now, some things are org-specific, and I applaud the groups that consider grad students as PNM's and the ones that have more accepting AI (oh, god, I hate to mention that) policies. But there are definitely some areas where a group's hands are tied by NPC policies, recruitment and otherwise.

[DaffyKD]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

If you go to a CC to save money, it may not be in your best interests to then go to a 4 year and blow all your savings on sorority dues, mixers, t-shirts, etc. The schools we're mainly talking about that have super-competitive rushes also tend to have super-expensive dues. Just a thought.

You sure seem to make a lot of presumptions as to why someone would go to a community college.

Some go to save money-- mom and dad do not have the money to pay for kid to go to a big school. Kid is going to school full time and working full time. I know of kids who are working, going to school, active on campus and have 4.0 averages. They plan to work their fannies of so they can get into a good school with a good scholarship.

Some go to a CC because they need to stay close to home to help. I know some helping a dying parent, a family with a very special needs sibling, a temporary financial situation, etc. They too are dealing with hardships and still pulling top grades.

A young lady graduated from our local CC with my son 2 weeks ago. She was only 17 years old. She was taking classes at the CC not offered at the HS, while still partaking in HS activities and AP classes with friends. She is transferring to Cornell on a full ride scholarship. Does this mean she should not be in a sorority?

A friend of my son's went to the CC since she had a horrible illness during her senior year of HS which affected her grades. She finished recuperating while attending a CC. She is transferring to Cal Berkeley.

DaffyKD