Is alumnae life worth the wait?

[c'estlavie]

Is it worth staying in Greek life for the resume boost and alumnae life?

[AOII Angel]

Your experience is only as good as you make it. If you aren't willing to try and improve the situation and make amends with your old roommate, then maybe not. I had a very demanding science major in college as well, but it's amazing how much time you can find to spend with your sisters if you make the effort. Just because some one majors in communications doesn't mean they don't struggle as much as you do in your science major. You may see that they are always around because they are better at managing their time. If you are ready to give up, go ahead and do it all the way. You aren't doing any of your sisters a favor by being an absent sister.

[KSUViolet06]

I would say it is worth it. Realize however that most of the women on this board are VERY active alumnae, so we're a little biased.

No one's collegiate experience within their sorority is perfect. You can ask every girl on this board and they've all had problems and such just like the ones you've had. There are girls who have had some of the WORST collegiate experiences, who end up doing great things within the sorority on an alumna level.

If everybody who ever had a problem within their collegiate chapter terminated their membership, there would be NO alumnae.

You may have issues with your chapter now, but you just never know where life might take you.

You could end up in an amazing science-related job somewhere, joining an alumna chapter full of women who could end up being the people in life that you wonder how you ever lived without. I hate to see people termiate memberships and lose out on the potential to have the experience.

Of course this is all up to you though, so best of luck with whatever you decide.

[ASTalumna06]

I'm going to be honest. Here goes...

To me, these don't sound like good enough reasons to want to quit altogether. If you're really thinking about quitting only because of the reasons you've presented here, I find that kind of sad.

How large is your chapter? Do others not have positions, or is it just you? If you haven't been given a position, maybe it's because you haven't really stepped up. The girls who truly want positions are the ones who put in extra effort with the other ones. Ask your sisters if they need help with planning/setting up for events. Offer suggestions for things like recruitment, fundraising, and social activities. Be active!

If you find that you can't participate in as many activities as other sisters, really stand out at the events that you are able to attend.

You had a major falling out with the President when she was your roommate. Some girls just can't live together (hence the reason why I have never roomed with a close friend). Talk to her! And if you're not living together now, it will make it that much easier.

Your big doesn't talk to you and your little transferred. You sound just like one of my sisters whose big graduated right after she joined, and I don't believe they've spoken in years. Her little, she suddenly left school to get married the summer after she was initiated. And I can think of a few other girls, in my chapter and in others, who aren't extremely close with their big and/or little. It happens.

You ask if it's worth staying in Greek life for the resume boost and alumnae life. I understand that your involvement as a sorority member might look great on a resume, but that should neither be the main reason to join, nor to leave.

And joining a sorority is for life. If staying active for the alumnae part of it doesn't appeal to you (with only these minor problems to worry about now), then.. well.. I don't really know what to say.

[c'estlavie]

Nationally my sorority is recognized as one of the best, however on campus my chapter has become one of the worst over the past couple years. There are many girls that I like, but many that I find unclassy and not the kind of person I want to associate myself with.
What is even involved in active alumnae life?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by c'estlavie

What is even involved in active alumnae life?

*Becoming part of alumna chapter.
*The opportunity to hold alumna chapter offices.
*Assisting local collegiate chapters sometimes.
*Supporting the philanthropy of course via chapter events.
*Social events (but not undergrad style-socials, more "grown up" things).
*Getting involved with the sorority on a NATIONAL level (there are women on GC who are national staff members/volunteers of their respecitve sororities).

I could seriously go on and on, but there's alot of things involved.

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by c'estlavie

Nationally my sorority is recognized as one of the best, however on campus my chapter has become one of the worst over the past couple years. There are many girls that I like, but many that I find unclassy and not the kind of person I want to associate myself with.

Quit. Now. Please.

Originally Posted by c'estlavie

In my chapter we are not allowed to campaign for positions, we are chosen. Nationally my sorority is recognized as one of the best, however on campus my chapter has become one of the worst over the past couple years. There are many girls that I like, but many that I find unclassy and not the kind of person I want to associate myself with.
What is even involved in active alumnae life?

Recognized by whom? Cite your source, please.

[c'estlavie]

What I meant was by numbers we are one of the largest, and at every other school I've visited when you say you are a member of my sorority people are generally wowed. However, at my campus it has become the bottom tier sorority.

Originally Posted by c'estlavie

What I meant was by numbers we are one of the largest, and at every other school I've visited when you say you are a member of my sorority people are generally wowed. However, at my campus it has become the bottom tier sorority.

Largest does not = "best".

If you keep calling yourself a bottom tier sorority, you'll have a hard time convincing people to think otherwise.

[KSUViolet06]

I have a very honest question:

Have you already decided what you're going to do and are just looking for someone to "validate" it? For example, are you planning on quitting and just want to hear someone tell you it's okay?

Also, is the ONLY reason you're considering quitting because your chapter is considered 'bottom tier'? That's a little silly because for the most part, the "tier" of your chapter doesn't mean a whole lot once you graduate (unless of course you live in some isolated part of the south where that stuff matters, in most of the world, it doesn't).

I would suggest that you contact an alumna chapter of your sorority and talk to them about alumnae opportunities. I'm also pretty sure that your national website has an entire section of their website dedicated to alumnae and talking about how to get involved. Check it out.

[Just interested]

I was just discussing this very issue today. I know I'm older than dirt but when I was in chapter, leaving was something that just didn't happen. The big fear was having your pin pulled for some secret infraction and being called before standards was dreaded on every level.
I am amazed that many younger members decide that if things aren't exactly going their way they cut their losses and move on... In my part of the country we call these people "tire kickers" and they should be avoided at all costs.

I think I agree with Leslie Ann. "Quit, Now, Please"

[SWTXBelle]

Just as an aside - alumnae life can be EVEN BETTER than collegiate life. Different, true, but as enriching and enjoyable. I agree with those who can't imagine quitting - .

[UGAalum94]

Honestly, I think just depends on how sincerely you value the overall ideals of your group and what it does for young women and the world.

If you are just in it for the college funzies, which I don't have a big problem with honestly, then you can cut your losses and drop if you are unhappy with the status of the group AND are excluded from leadership in it.

But if you really buy into what your group is about at a ritual level, then those opportunities continue after graduation albeit in a different way, so it would be worth it to stick it out, do what you can informally as a positive group member, and then serve the group as an alumna.

[aephi alum]

You are getting close to the end of your days as a collegian and the beginning of your days as an alumna. You're a collegian for four years at most; you're an alumna for the rest of your life.

By deaffiliating now, you forever close the door to involvement on the alum level. Is that something you really want to do?