Grad Students as Phi Sig

phisigduchesscv · #1 06-09-2002, 08:13 PM

HI All,
Thanks to my Iota Gamma Sister Beth I am now checking out Greek Chat. Anyway, one of the subjects I've noticed coming up is recruitment and the fact it is often hard, especially for campuses like CSU Dominguez Hills which are commuter based and the average age is 29.
Anyway, when I was at LTS last year everyone seemed surprised that I was Archon since I am a graduate student. They all assumed that since I'm a graduate student that I must be an Alumna. Were they ever surprised when they discovered that I became a founding sister of the Iota Gamma chapter as a graduate student. Have any of you thought of approaching graduate students and inviting them to recruitment events and inviting them to join Phi Sigma Sigma. This is an untapped base for most chapters - remember we are called Collegiate Chapters now not undergraduate chapters because we are encourged to include graduate students.
Along these same lines don't be afraid to approach women in their 30's. I was 32 when Consultants Casey and Peggy were at CSUDH trying to colonize us. I was trying to get info about Phi Sig for women in the program I worked for on campus. They asked me if I wanted to join. I said I was 32 they said "so", I said I was a grad student. Again they said "so" the rest is history I was the founding MOC and the second Archon. I never had the opportunity to join a sorority as an undergrad and always regreted it. Now I'm having the time of my life thanks to Phi Sig. I hope I've contributed to my chapter as much as they given to me.
We also have another sister who is 36 and a grad student. Plus there are two more women interested in joining in the fall with the same type of background.
Remember we are inclusive - this includes graduate students and "older" women :P . Let me know what you think and what your chapters say.
Carolyn

jess_pom · #2 06-09-2002, 09:00 PM

Hey Carolyn,

Welcome to Greek Chat! Do you have a family? If so, how do you juggle all that plus Phi Sigs? Do you have social events at your campus? Do you all go to the bar together and stuff? Sorry, I'm just really interested!

phisigduchesscv · #3 06-09-2002, 11:26 PM

Hello again,
I am single so that helps with my time. I am dating someone seriously though. If I was married I probably wouldn't have accepted the position of Archon when I won it last year because it is time consuming. But I'm single and have a little more time so I felt I could handle the position. This year I decided to not run for eboard and am the Alumnae chair.
A couple of our founding sisters were married and we had a couple sisters with children as well. One of our newly initiated sisters is a grad student and married.
We don't have a Phi Sig house (none of the greeks on campus have houses) so we don't have as many activities as other schools may have. We have done a few socials with other Greeks. I tend not to go just because most have been with Greeks from other campuses and I'm not sure how they'd feel with an "old lady" at the socials. The one I wanted to go to was this past week. It was a tshirt graffiti party but I was out of town on vacation so I couldn't make it. I am planning to attend a few more socials this coming academic year
I do interact with the other Greeks on campus though. I work in Admissions at school so I have a lot of contacts developed and have gotten to know a lot of the other Greeks.
I have joined the sisters when they've gone out to bars etc. We usually go some place where everyone can go though like National's Sports Bar and Grill or TGI Fridays that way no one is left out because they are too young. We live near Disneyland and a few of us have annual passes so I go with them. I don't think any of us have noticed age differences because we really don't make them issues.
Because I was out in the work force for a while then came back to school and finished my BA I learned a lot of time management skills. With those skills I've been able to balance grad school, 40 hour work week, social life, and Phi Sig. I admit sometimes its a struggle but I also see the same struggle on my younger sisters. I really think the graduate sisters have all succeeded has been because we loved Phi Sig so much we made sure it had a priority place in our lives.
Hope that answered some of your questions,
Carolyn

SapphireSphinx9 · #4 06-10-2002, 03:43 AM

Whooo Hooo... Carolyn's here!!!

LITP~Beth

MooseGirl · #5 06-10-2002, 02:30 PM

It's so good to hear stories like yours. I know my chapter has had Grad students initiated into Phi Isg...I met one at an alum event last October. But they don't actively recruit grad students... We also accept married women and women with children....we had one prospective member last fall that had a baby, she didn't end up joining because she couldn't afford it, but it was good to see that the girls are open to everyone.

#6 06-10-2002, 09:59 PM

Hey Carolyn,
I just wanted to give you a big PHI SIG welcome. You are truly an inspiration. DO YOUR THANG!!!

-KC

AngelPhiSig · #7 06-15-2002, 02:27 AM

I MET YOU AT LTS!!!

Im from Gamma Gamma, I was the MOC at the time!

I am SOOO happy that Phi Sig admits grad students...

Why?

Cos there are so many women out there who didnt have the time or the want to join an org as an undergrad... and see what they miss and we are there for them! Phi Sig is such a great org!

Hey-

When I graduate and become Alum, and then go to a grad school... if they have a chapter, I can become active again, correct? Dood, that would rock.

Also- when I go to grad- if there isnt a chapter, I am starting one! I would LOVE to get Alpha back, but from what I know CUNY dosent have greeks... anyone know anymore?

phisigduchesscv · #8 06-19-2002, 01:59 AM

Hi There,
You hit the nail on the head about why grads didn't join as undergrads but now want to. The reason I didn't join a sorority as an undergrad is because CSUDH didn't have any sororities when I originally was there in the late 80's early 90's. And when I went back to school to finish my BA in 96 the only sororities were NPHC or Latina based. I know they do recruit others but I didn't think it was for me. Plus at the time I already thought I was too old.
I am just so glad that Phi Sig was the sorority that won the extension bid at CSUDH. It has been an absolutely amazing experience and i have met and become friends with women that I probably never would have met other wise. Including my Sapphire Sister Ana who got married in December and honored me with the request to be her witness at her wedding. That was such an awesome honor, and imagine, I would have missed out if we hadn't joined Phi Sig.
I recommend that all chapters make sure to actively mention in their recruitment that they do recruit Grads. That may bring in one or two more sisters that you would have probably missed getting to know. Who knows that person could end up as one of your best friends.
Always aiming high,
Carolyn

phisigduchesscv · #9 06-19-2002, 02:01 AM

oops I forgot to answer one of your questions AngelPhiSig. From what I understand you can go active at your grad school if they have a chapter. I believe you have to petition to CO about it but it shouldn't be a problem. Or if you go on to grad school you can always apply to be an advisor at that chapter there, or as you suggested start a chapter if they don't have one.
Love in our Bond,
Carolyn

phisigsigchic · #10 07-10-2002, 10:30 AM

Admitting grad students is a great way not only to increase numbers but also to meet new people and share in different experiences. I know as an undergrad, I always wonder about grad school, whether I should go or not, if I can afford it, etc. and having grad student sisters could help out with all that. But I have to say reading these posts is how I even found out that we can admit grad students. Our chapter doesnt have any nor do I think it has had any in the past (I could be wrong). Problem is that the Rutgers grad school is so hard, I think students who go there probably have no time to join or do anything else for that matter. Also, its extremly difficult grad school to get into so most of the people who do make it are so much older or only concerned with their grades. And on top of that the school is SO expensive so the students who attend also don't have money for anything extra. I think these are the reasons why graduate students are not attracted to us. Most of them probably don't even know they could join Phi Sigma Sigma. Still, even if we made it aware, I don't think many , if any, would even rush.

phisigduchesscv · #11 07-10-2002, 09:09 PM

I think you many chapters could be pleasantly surprised at the interest graduate women have in joining a sorority. I was 32 and would have loved to join a sorority when I was younger but CSUDH didn't have one. When Phi Sig was recruiting for the colony and I told them I was 32 and a grad student. Their response was so. We ended up having a few grad students as founding sisters. I'm now 34 and still not the oldest in my chapter as we recruited another "oldie but goodie" (sorry tracey). Plus there are a couple more interested. Check out the Alumni Forums here and you will see a couple of threads from people who want to see if they can be initiated as Alums since they think they're too old to join a sorority.

For grad students school is just another priority in a long list of priorities and if they are interested in Phi Sig then they will make it a priority in their life. If not maybe you've gained a great "friend of Phi Sig" at least.

I suggest you keep the option open and definitely let it be known that grad students are welcome. If you meet one more quality woman who wants to join then you've gained another fantastic sister.

phisig_kuuipo · #12 07-16-2002, 10:04 PM

Well, Carolyn. You sure don't look like your in your thirties!!! And I would love to hang out with you at Socials, etc. Come out and hang with us.
-One of your newest sistas-

phisigduchesscv · #13 07-18-2002, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by phisig_kuuipo
Well, Carolyn. You sure don't look like your in your thirties!!! And I would love to hang out with you at Socials, etc. Come out and hang with us.
-One of your newest sistas-

hey Randi,
I knew there was a reason I really liked you

Thanks for saying I don't look like I'm in my 30's. Well, hopefully we can get some socials planned soon so that I can finally go to one. And I am really curious about a frat "house" party. I'd love to see what one is like since I've heard so much about them.
Proud to call you my sis.
Carolyn

phisigscooby · #14 09-04-2002, 08:36 PM

I'm finally on GC and can respond to this thread.

I am the "old lady" of the bunch (I'm older than Carolyn). I joined as a grad student.

I didn't pledge any sororities as an undergrad because the ones on campus weren't for me. The campus had very few Greeks at all. At the time I think there were only 2 sororities that were active one NPHC and the other Latina. I considered the NPHC group, but after meeting some of the sisters from that chapter, I decided that they weren't for me. They were nice girls, don't get me wrong, but their personalities didn't gel with mine. I know I allowed a few to make my decisions about the rest, but at the time I didn't feel comfortable. I had friends from another NPHC from another campus and they were doing some great things. They were really into philanthropic activities. That is where I wanted to go with this experience. I didn't get the impression that charity was a high priority amongst the folks that I knew.

Then Phi Sig came along. I found a group of young women who were really cool. Charity is a high priority and we have a good time.

So here I am.....

It is tough sometimes juggling work, husband, school, sorority... Sometimes it gets down right overwhelming. But I'm having a blast.

I haven't gone to many socials. I went to our bon fire (way to go Beth). It was pretty fun. I'm not so sure the "frat party" thing is for me. Some of the other socials may be kind of cool though. We'll see as we go along.

That's my story.....

annice22 · #15 01-11-2003, 12:08 PM

This winter semester I will be starting my grad program. So far I still have time to contribute to Phi Sig. So far I am the only grad student in my chapter. I just got elected on e-board for this semester as Scribe. But I had joined Phi Sig as an undergrade. But I will see how the semester goes.

Annice